jinreadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
ali_runs_and_reads's review against another edition
5.0
🎧 Solito by Javier Zamora
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is one of those books that I know I will never forget. It’s the memoir of an El Salvadoran man who migrated to the United States to join his parents, unaccompanied by any one he knew, when he was just nine years old. I cannot fathom the desperation a family must feel to send their nine year old on a 3,000 mile journey alone. I read (and loved) America Dirt years ago. That book came under heavy criticism for being inauthentic and promoting stereotypes. Solito is much better representation of the migrant experience. This book with break your heart. I truly felt connected to Javier and the three strangers who made him a part of their family and ensured he was reunited with his parents in the US. He credits them with saving his life on his journey. Javier Zamora grew up to be a poet and it shows in his writing. I couldn’t put it down. An important read that humanizes the migrants we hear so much about in the news. Javier’s story will stay with me for a long time.
aangel3's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
helencantero's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
5.0
rdotrodriguez's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
5.0
kaylamarch's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0
It feels weird to give a star rating to somebody’s memoir, their memories in their own words. That being said, this was one of the most heart wrenching, emotionally impactful books I’ve ever read and I think it will take me awhile to fully process this story. To read this from the perspective of someone only a few years younger than Javier, and think about the ways our childhoods were similar and yet so incredibly different, I can’t even begin to imagine going through what he went through at that age. And also see it from the perspective of being a parent myself and how unimaginably difficult of a position his parents were put in. I would recommend this book to absolutely everyone. I hope that Javier and all of the people who helped him on his journey have found peace and happiness and lots of love.
bearenda's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Well, first off, just wow. I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been for Javier Zamora to write this memoir. To relive every day of such a traumatic experience. My heart is filled with respect and gratitude. I was heart broken for his parents, grandparents, and aunt that they went so long without word of their boy. Horrified, actually. I felt so sad for the fear, anxiety, loneliness, and physical challenges that Javier experienced at such a fragile age. I felt in awe of Chino and Patricia for embracing Javier and watching over him. I’ve learned so much from this story and as hard as it was to read, it’s one of my most favorite books. It’s eye opening and touches on the worst and the best of human behavior. Everyone should read this. 500 stars!
leo122's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
4.75