Our Thoughts on Enrique

Yesterday the Brown Bag and a Book Group met to discuss the book,Enrique's Journey. The general consensus of the group revolved around the story's ability to augment one's views on illegal immigration. The book is the true quest of a young Honduran boy who makes the trek across all of Mexico riding secretively on the top of trains to reach the United States. He has seven failed attempts, and is almost killed in the process. Corruption and ruthlessness make his trip a virtual nightmare...but he perseveres. His one wish is to be reunited with his mother who left Enrique and his sister when he was 5 years old. Eleven years later he starts out to find her. Much has been written on the toll that illegal immigration has had on the United States. Not as much has been written about the human tragedy involved in this plight. Maybe we haven't been paying enough attention- particularly those of us who live away from the borders. Author, Sonia Nazario attempted to replicate Enrique's journey across Mexico by train top herself. She put her experience behind the pages of this book in hopes of enlightening us...those of us who feel entitlement and a little bit placated by our own life situations. One of the members of our book discussion works locally for Hispanic Ministries. She reiterated the author's descriptions of the atrocities that can befall children who are left behind when a parent makes the trek to America, as well as the problems plaguing those who actually arrive in the United States in (basically) one piece. She is part of the grassroots community effort to help assimilate those who arrive. Perhaps when we read a book such as this one, our hearts will expand along with our minds.