Dreaming of home A young Latina's journey to pride, power, and belonging

Cristina Jiménez

Book - 2025

"A MacArthur "Genius" shares her inspiring story, from undocumented newcomer to leader in a powerful immigrant youth movement. Dreaming of Home is a coming-of-age story both for a young woman finding her true self and for a social movement of immigrant youth trailblazers who inspired the world and changed the lives of millions. Cristina Jiménez's family fights to stay afloat as Ecuador falls into a political and economic crisis. When she is thirteen, her parents courageously decide to seek a better life in the U.S., landing in a one-bedroom apartment in Queens, New York. There are many challenges, but eventually, Cristina discovers she is not alone; she finds her calling within a community of social justice organizers. ...With deep candor and humor, Cristina opens the door to what it's like to grow up undocumented and the reality that being a "good" immigrant doesn't shield you from systematic racism, danger, or even the confusion of falling in love. Through personal stories and historical truth telling, Cristina invites us to acknowledge the America that never was and to imagine the America that could be when everyday people build power and fight for change. And she reminds us that home is more than a physical place on the map, offering each of us a roadmap for finding the home within even when the world around us seems to be crumbling"-- Provided by publisher.

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  • Home 1
  • The Journey
  • How to Be a "Good" Immigrant
  • The War on Us
  • American Dream
  • Wake Up
  • Not Alone
  • People Power
  • Walter
  • Learning to Fly
  • The New Movement
  • Undocumented and Unafraid
  • Here to Stay
  • America the Possible.
Review by Booklist Review

In this powerful memoir, Jiménez, a MacArthur fellow and cofounder of United We Dream, an immigrant, youth-led organization, shares her family's journey from Ecuador to the U.S. in pursuit of the American dream only to face new struggles upon arrival. Living in constant fear of deportation, working tirelessly to survive, and confronting systemic barriers to education, Jiménez eventually found her voice in activism. She traces her path from undocumented student to nationally recognized leader playing a pivotal role in the fight for immigrant rights and the enactment of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Weaving personal experience with broader social justice movements, Jiménez sheds light on the trauma of immigration, the racial and economic inequities undermining U.S. communities, and the resilience of those who fight for a better future. Her candid reflections expose the harsh realities of anti-immigrant policies while offering an inspiring testament to perseverance and collective power. A compelling read for those interested in immigration, activism, and social justice.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

Coming to America--and fighting for the rights of all immigrants. Activist Jiménez's childhood in Quito abruptly ends when her sister dies and Ecuador's deteriorating economy forces her parents to make an unexpected choice: to leave their beloved country to immigrate to the United States. The family moves to Queens, New York, where, as undocumented immigrants, they strive to hide their status by working hard, avoiding trouble, and paying their taxes. Jiménez spends her teens living in constant fear while simultaneously dreaming of becoming the first in her family to go to college. With the help of a sympathetic teacher, she is accepted into Queens College, where a recent law allows her to pay in-state tuition despite her lack of immigration status. At college, Jiménez becomes a talented community organizer, co-founding a national undocumented student--led organization, the United We Dream network. Alongside her peers, Jiménez organizes actions that pressure President Barack Obama into drafting and signing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which provides amnesty to more than a million undocumented youths. During this time, Jiménez meets her future husband, fellow undocumented organizer Walter Barrientos, and receives American citizenship. Jiménez's passionately observed and deeply felt memoir is a fascinating peek behind the scenes of the remarkably successful but little-known immigrant rights movement. Although portions of the book read more like a textbook than a memoir, this is, overall, a captivating and strong debut. An emotional and inspirational recounting of the modern American immigrant rights movement. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.