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Reviewed by: Kathy Jaccarino, High School Librarian Title: Solito: A Memoir Author: Javier Zamora Publisher: Hogarth (Penguin Random House Group)
Year: 2022 Good for Grades: 9-Adult Genre/Type of Book: Memoir
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: None Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book: The reviews were excellent and it filled our need for newer memoirs of Latinx and refugee and immigrant experiences. If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be: "Solito: a Memoir" is an essential and timely read that humanizes the modern immigrant experience, offering a profound insight into the lives of those who leave their homes in search of a better life.
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Review:
"Solito: A Memoir" by Javier Zamora is the powerful and poignant story of the author's journey as an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador to the United States. Zamora describes his feelings and struggles of separation from his family and his treacherous journey to the United States. The memoir delves into Zamora's childhood in El Salvador, marked by the violence and turmoil of the Salvadoran Civil War. He flees the country at nine years old to join his parents in California. His grandparents and aunts send him off with the hope that he will get to his parents in a few days. He embarks on a treacherous and harrowing journey, crossing borders, confronting dangerous landscapes, and facing human smugglers that takes over 3 weeks. Zamora's memoir captures the heart-wrenching moments of fear, courage, and resilience he experiences as a nine year old on his own. As he reaches the United States, Zamora faces a different set of challenges, navigating life as an undocumented immigrant. He recounts the difficulties of assimilation, the constant fear of deportation, and the longing for his family left behind. Throughout the book, Zamora reflects on his identity, torn between his Salvadoran roots and his desire to belong in America, a place where he is often viewed as an outsider. Solito is not just a tale of survival, but a testament to family and resiliency, and a modern story of the American dream. Zamora's story transcends immigration statistics and political debates and puts a human face to the issue of illegal immigration, which is the main reason I loved this book! Having said all of this, I ask myself, Would students like this book? I am not sure. I think there are wonderful curricular connections- it is beautifully written and would be a great addition to the ELA or social studies curriculum. However, it might be a challenge to get students to give it a chance.
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