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kessler21's review against another edition
5.0
This short but powerful essay pulls at the heart strings and gives a perspective that I would say most are unaware.
Luiselli is a translator for the federal immigration office in New York for children facing deportation and needing a lawyer. While telling her own story, she covers the 40 questions she must ask the children. In between, she gives her feelings, statistics, background, and perspective of these children, their families, and the state within the United States. Her essay shows a broken, unsympathetic, and blame based system.
Powerful must read.
Luiselli is a translator for the federal immigration office in New York for children facing deportation and needing a lawyer. While telling her own story, she covers the 40 questions she must ask the children. In between, she gives her feelings, statistics, background, and perspective of these children, their families, and the state within the United States. Her essay shows a broken, unsympathetic, and blame based system.
Powerful must read.
warmrats's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
Loved hearing from a translators perspective on immigration. Very impactful
ducksfloat's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
I just love her !!!! Frankly thought this was going to be just about death. Guess it's much more intersectional than that (lol) but so informative and just gah
dedempsey's review against another edition
5.0
Concise, impactful, beautifully and clearly written, and hard as hell to stomach. Possibly no other piece of writing has ever made me this angry and this desperate to do something that matters.
I don't have words strong enough to describe how important I believe this essay to be, so here's a passage that hit me hard:
“But, despite the dangers, people continue to take the risk. Children certainly take the risk. Children do what their stomachs tell them to do. They don't think twice when they have to chase a moving train. They run along it, reach for any metal bar at hand, and fling themselves toward whichever half-stable surface they may land on. Children chase after life, even if that chase might end up killing them. Children run and flee. They have an instinct for survival, perhaps, that allows them to endure almost anything just to make it to the other side of horror, whatever may be waiting there for them.”
I don't have words strong enough to describe how important I believe this essay to be, so here's a passage that hit me hard:
“But, despite the dangers, people continue to take the risk. Children certainly take the risk. Children do what their stomachs tell them to do. They don't think twice when they have to chase a moving train. They run along it, reach for any metal bar at hand, and fling themselves toward whichever half-stable surface they may land on. Children chase after life, even if that chase might end up killing them. Children run and flee. They have an instinct for survival, perhaps, that allows them to endure almost anything just to make it to the other side of horror, whatever may be waiting there for them.”
marie_adina's review against another edition
5.0
This was an incredibly eye opening essay/book. I really appreciate the context that Luiselli provides that frames the 40 questions and their often heart-breaking answers.