In this thoughtful and timely second novel, Daniel Aleman addresses immigration and physical and emotional borders through the story of a girl who crosses into the US for school and work, but finds it difficult to return to the ones she loves in Mexico.Every morning, sixteen-year-old Sol wakes up at the break of dawn in her hometown of Tijuana and makes the trip across the border to go to school in California. Though the commute is exhausting, and her odd schedule makes having a social life nearly impossible, it's the only way to achieve her dream-a life where she is successful, able to help support her family, and where maybe she won't feel so lonely. But with the family restaurant struggling after the death of her mother, Sol must add yet another thing to her plate-a part-time job in San Diego. Sol's complicated work schedule means moving in with her best friend and leaving her family behind-at least until the weekends But the job leaves her almost too drained for school, her little brother is struggling without her, and the bills are piling up. With so much responsibility on her shoulders, her once simple dreams seem impossible. With her life divided by an international border and her family relying on her, Sol must come to terms with the loneliness she hides, the pressure she feels as the only American-born citizen in her family, and who and where she wants to be. This timely and thoughtful story about a teen girl shouldering impossibly large responsibilities and ultimately learning that she doesn't have to do it alone is the perfect follow-up to Daniel Aleman's award-winning debut novel, Indivisible.
About the Author :
Daniel Aleman is the award-winning author of Indivisible. Born and raised in Mexico City, he has lived in various places across North America and is currently based in Toronto, where he is on a never-ending search for the best tacos in the city. Brighter Than the Sun is his second novel.
Review :
Praise for Indivisible: Winner of the 2022 Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
A YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults 2022 Nominee
* "Stellar, clear and emotional, realistic and suspenseful. The story is complex and heart-wrenching, yet full of hope and familial love."
- Booklist, starred review
"A thoroughly openhearted debut, which will leave an indelible mark on the hearts of readers."
- Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Indivisible is a deeply moving tribute to those caught between two worlds in the immigration crisis in America--a potent reminder that no human being is illegal, and that hundreds of thousands of children in this situation are forced to grow up too quickly. Although this is fiction, it's far too real."
- Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The Book of Two Ways
"Indivisible is a powerful story about family, friendship, and home. In a world divided by so many labels, this story is a reminder that there are no boundaries for love. It shines a light on the difficult choices people make for their family and community, and reminds us that each family is a little world. Mateo, Sophie, and their parents are now part of my heart."
- Yamile Saied Méndez, author of Pura Belpré Inaugural YA Award winner Furia
"Daniel Aleman is a fearless writer who never shies away from the complexity of his premise, yet gives Mateo such agency and drive, you never lose hope as a reader. A total miracle of a book."
- Adam Sass, author of Surrender Your Sons
"Aleman effortlessly draws in the reader with a character-driven novel of survival laced with optimistic themes of growth, perseverance, and accepting change."
--Booklist
"Sol's character is complex, as her identity is torn between worlds. ...The stream-of-consciousness narrative grabs the hearts of readers and is perfect for building empathy as a mirror, window, or sliding glass door."--School Library Journal
".... Aleman's direct, accessible prose believably conveys the heavy responsibility teens carry as they support their struggling families. ....(T)he emotional stakes here are compelling, and amidst all the hardship, Aleman inserts potent moments of joy and connection, the power of female friendship, and the perseverance of possibility." --BCCB
