When Nora’s father, Arturo leaves their home in Mexico to search for work in the United States, Nora stays back with her mother, Aurora and her grandmother. Nora struggles to make sense of her loss as the three women live in abject poverty in wait of Arturo’s return and a better day. When the letters and money stop coming, Nora decides that she and Aurora must go to Texas to find Arturo. After a harrowing and dehumanizing border crossing experience, Nora and Aurora find themselves all alone in a new place and not speaking the language. Befriending kind strangers in Texas, the two are offered employment after purchasing work papers, but their life in America is filled with challenges.
In her debut novel for teens, ILLEGAL, Bettina Restrepo shares a slice of the American experience that is compelling and harrowing, yet hopeful and uplifting.
In its starred review, Booklist said:
“The teen’s immediate first-person narrative will grab readers with its gritty specifics, honest anger and sorrow, and the small acts of kindness that occur throughout the harrowing journey.”
Get to know Bettina – this certainly isn’t the last you’ll be hearing of her! You can meet her at the Texas Library Association conference next month: she’ll be on the “Crossing the Border: Migrant Stories” panel on Wednesday, April 13th from 10:15-11:50 am, and she’ll sign in the author aisles afterward from 12:30-1:30 pm. Stop by to say hi!
Bettina is also on Facebookand Twitter, and make sure to check out her website for information on school visits, discussion questions for ILLEGAL, and a list of events.
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