A poignant novel of desperation, escape, and survival across the U.S.-Mexico border, inspired by current events.A BookPage Best Book of 2020
A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best of 2020
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2020
A New York Public Library 2020 Top 10 Best Book for Teens Pulga has his dreams.
Chico has his grief.
Peque a has her pride. And these three teens have one another. But none of them have illusions about the town they've grown up in and the dangers that surround them. Even with the love of family, threats lurk around every corner. And when those threats become all too real, the trio knows they have no choice but to run: from their country, from their families, from their beloved home. Crossing from Guatemala through Mexico, they follow the route of La Bestia, the perilous train system that might deliver them to a better life--if they are lucky enough to survive the journey. With nothing but the bags on their backs and desperation drumming through their hearts, Pulga, Chico, and Peque a know there is no turning back, despite the unknown that awaits them. And the darkness that seems to follow wherever they go. In this striking portrait of lives torn apart, the plight of migrants at the U.S. southern border is brought to light through poignant, vivid storytelling. An epic journey of danger, resilience, heartache, and hope. Praise for We Are Not From Here "A fierce and tender story . . . Relevant, timely, and perceptive." --Margarita Engle, winner of the Pura Belpre Award and Newbery Honor With poignant, exhausting lyricism and heart wrenching poetic prose, Jenny Torres Sanchez digs deep and shows us the throbbing, aching coraz n--the hopeful, unbreakable spirit of the embattled immigrant. A book for the starving, lost soul. --Guadalupe Garc a McCall, Pura Belpr Award-winning author of Under the Mesquite An incredibly powerful, soul-searing YA. I]mportant and necessary.... I could not put this book down. --Padma Venkatraman, award-winning author of The Bridge Home We Are Not From Here is one of the most relevant and needed young adult novels of the year, a must-read. --Jennifer Mathieu, critically acclaimed author of The Liars of Mariposa Island and Moxie An achingly beautifully story...masterfully told...Jenny Torres Sanchez is a true leader within young adult fiction. --Christina Diaz Gonzalez, award-winning author of The Red Umbrella We Are Not From Here is absolutely stunning. It's raw and real, gritty and gorgeously told. A story that's painfully relevant today, and told with such precision and beauty, you can feel it. It's breathtaking and left me absolutely breathless. --Lauren Gibaldi, author of This Tiny Perfect World We Are Not From Here is a book that will mark your heart. Jenny Torres Sanchez challenges us to feel, empathize and understand. A searing, necessary and ultimately beautiful book. --Alexandra Villasante, critically acclaimed author of The Grief Keeper * A brutally honest, not-to-be-missed narrative...gripping, heart-wrenching, and thrilling. --Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW * A candid, realistic story that will leave readers thinking about the characters--and about our own world--long after the last page. --SLJ, STARRED REVIEW * Gripping, poignant...this soul-shaking narrative recalls] the works of Gabriel Garc a M rquez. --Booklist, STARRED REVIEW * A devastating read that is difficult to put down, this unforgettable book unflinchingly illuminates the experiences of those leaving their homes to seek safety in the United States. --Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW The short chapters, candid writing, and strong character development should appeal to even the most reluctant of readers as suspense about whether the characters will survive the journey builds in one heart-rending scene after another. --Horn Book