Tolog Review: Enrique's Journey

Enrique's Journey
by Sonia Nazario
reviewed by Krista Celo 

Enrique’s Journey by Sonia Nazario is a suspenseful, eye-opening novel about the dangers that South American children are faced with as they flee poverty in their home country to journey to the United States. Conveyed from the perspective of a young Honduran boy, readers are shown the underlying, harsh truth of the treacherous journey these children must face to reach the United States. Enrique’s journey exposes readers to the real-life and concurrent adversity concerning immigration into the United States. Nazario puts this current debate of immigration into perspective, and gives us a strong view of the migrant’s lives.

From the moment Enrique’s mother stepped off of the porch, Enrique is unaware that his mother is leaving their home in poverty-stricken Honduras, to find work in the United States. While his mother is away, Enrique begins to grow angry and miserable imagining a life where his mother is there. Enrique, determined to escape unbearable circumstances, decides he will follow his mother to the United States. However, Enrique and other Central Americans know that it is not as easy as embarking a plane. These migrants must ride atop trains waiting to maim or kill them, while keep watch for dangerous gangs, spiteful immigration agents, and bandits waiting to strike. Enrique takes us alongside him through his physical and emotional journey, as he endures horrendous and death-defying conditions to reunite with his mother.

Enrique’s Journey is a well-written novel, told through the perspective of Enrique, but including many perspectives to show readers the important, yet avoided, issue of immigration. Nazario gives readers awareness into the experiences of Central American families who have no choice but to live separately in order to survive. Nazario digs deep within her heart-felt writing through an in-depth look at immigration and its effect on families. I personally enjoyed this novel, simply because I was able to gain a different perspective on life and receive insight on immigration into the United States.