The new American
(Book)

"Emilio thinks he is living the American Dream: his parents, who emigrated from Guatemala to California, sacrifice daily to make sure of it. And his life seems relatively normal until he turns sixteen. Like most teenagers, Emilio is determined to get his driver's license--however, his mother dissuades him from doing so. When Emilio asks why, his parents reveal a shocking secret: he is undocumented. Emilio adjusts to his new normal. Under the Dreamers' Act, he attends Berkley. He falls in love. Everything seems fine...until Emilio gets into a car accident and--without a driver's license or any documentation--the policeman on the scene reports him to Immigration Services. Emilio is deported to Guatemala. But he is determined to get back to California, the only home he has ever known. It is an epic journey that takes him through the cities, jungles, and deserts of South America, towards thieves and corrupt law enforcement but also kind strangers and new friends. Drawing from interviews with Dreamers, and told in lyrical prose, Micheline Marcom weaves a heart-pounding and heartbreaking tale of adventure. This is a timely novel that asks us what we have in common, across experiences and borders, and what truly makes us American"--,Provided by publisher.