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

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.

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.