About the Book
"An emotional entry point to a larger, necessary discussion on this complex and difficult subject." — Kirkus Reviews
“A must read.” — Mrs. Book Dragon
“A heart-breaking & hopeful glimpse into immigration that will be useful to start important conversations.” — Lisa Maucione, Literacy Specialist
Four unaccompanied migrant children come together along the arduous journey north through Mexico to the United States border in this ode to the power of hope and connection even in the face of uncertainty and fear.
Every year, roughly 50,000 unaccompanied minors arrive at the US/Mexico border to present themselves for asylum or related visas. The majority of these children are non-Mexicans fleeing the systemic violence of Central America’s "Northern Triangle": Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. A Journey Toward Hope tells the story of Rodrigo, a 14-year-old escaping Honduran violence; Alessandra, a 10-year-old Guatemalan whose first language is Q'eqchi'; and the Salvadoran siblings Laura and Nando. Though their reasons for making the trip are different and the journey northward is perilous, the four children band together, finding strength in one another as they share the dreams of their past and the hopes for their future.
A Journey Toward Hope is written in collaboration with Baylor University’s Social Innovation Collaborative, with illustrations by the award-winning Susan Guevara (Chato's Kitchen, American Library Association Notable Book, New York Public Library's 100 Great Children’s Books / 100 Years). It includes four pages of nonfiction back matter with additional information and resources created by Baylor University's Global Hunger and Migration Project.
To read a Q&A with both authors and the book’s illustrator, head on over to this blog post!
Learn more about immigration
Home Countries
The majority of Central American migrants originate from Northern Triangle countries: El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras— each of which have some of the highest homicide rates in Latin America. Families and children from the Northern Triangle flee a combination of factors that include gang violence, organized crime, natural disasters, climate change, hunger, and poverty.
The Journey
When migrants leave their countries of origin, a treacherous journey through Mexico awaits them en route to the U.S. In order to apply for asylum status in the U.S., migrants must be physically present at a port of entry, which requires the journey through Mexico. Here, migrants face terrors like human traffickers, “coyotes,” and “La Bestia” or “El Tren de la Muerte.”
At the Border
When asylum seekers arrive at the US/Mexico border, they present themselves to U.S. Border Officials. All asylum seekers must pass a “Credible Fear Screening” performed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to show reasonable fear of persecution and/or violence in an asylum seeker’s home country.
Further Reading Sources
If you enjoyed reading A Journey Toward Hope and want additional materials to read, check out our team’s list of research sources and general reading books that shape our understanding of the migration crisis.