Solito - The Library of the Uncommons

Paperback, 416 pages

Published June 6, 2023 by Hogarth, Crown/Archetype.

ISBN:: 978-0-593-49808-8

(2 reviews)

A young poet tells the story of his harrowing migration from El Salvador to the United States at the age of nine in this memoir.

Trip. My parents started using that word about a year ago--"one day, you'll take a trip to be with us. Like an adventure."

Javier's adventure is a three-thousand-mile journey from his small town in El Salvador, through Guatemala and Mexico, and across the U.S. border. He will leave behind his beloved aunt and grandparents to reunite with a mother who left four years ago and a father he barely remembers. Traveling alone except for a group of strangers and a coyote hired to lead them to safety, Javier's trip is supposed to last two short weeks.

At nine years old, all Javier can imagine is rushing into his parents' arms, snuggling in bed between them, living under the same roof again. He does not see …

A young poet tells the story of his harrowing migration from El Salvador to the United States at the age of nine in this memoir.

Trip. My parents started using that word about a year ago--"one day, you'll take a trip to be with us. Like an adventure."

Javier's adventure is a three-thousand-mile journey from his small town in El Salvador, through Guatemala and Mexico, and across the U.S. border. He will leave behind his beloved aunt and grandparents to reunite with a mother who left four years ago and a father he barely remembers. Traveling alone except for a group of strangers and a coyote hired to lead them to safety, Javier's trip is supposed to last two short weeks.

At nine years old, all Javier can imagine is rushing into his parents' arms, snuggling in bed between them, living under the same roof again. He does not see the perilous boat trips, relentless desert treks, pointed guns, arrests and deceptions that await him; nor can he know that those two weeks will expand into two life-altering months alongside a group of strangers who will come to encircle him like an unexpected family.

8 editions

KnitAFett reviewed Solito by Javier Zamora

Definitely worth a read.

5 stars

Javier is a migrant that made the journey to "la usa" as a child with strangers. The recollection of emotions and trials that he experienced is a testament to how ingrained the experience is, from the good moments to the traumatizing ones. He tells it from his perspective as a child, and he does not hold back on his fears or worries to try to cover up what some adults would likely be too anxious to ever put down into words. He also does not try to fill in gaps or add extra information to try to get points across. There is a lot of information that you do not know about because the kids wake up to adults arguing or things happening and they just have to run. Unless he got an answer on what was going on, the blanks are left in.

There is a lot of misconception …

Javier is a migrant that made the journey to "la usa" as a child with strangers. The recollection of emotions and trials that he experienced is a testament to how ingrained the experience is, from the good moments to the traumatizing ones. He tells it from his perspective as a child, and he does not hold back on his fears or worries to try to cover up what some adults would likely be too anxious to ever put down into words. He also does not try to fill in gaps or add extra information to try to get points across. There is a lot of information that you do not know about because the kids wake up to adults arguing or things happening and they just have to run. Unless he got an answer on what was going on, the blanks are left in.

There is a lot of misconception on what crossing the border looks like and I feel like this could help some understand what actually goes on. But I don't know if it would really be the best option for that because while the journey is harrowing and dangerous and bad things happen, I feel like Javier and his group ultimately found quite a bit of luck along the journey, and this is especially noted when they speak to other families that have been sent back into Mexico.

I'm very glad that I read this book and I feel like it would be a worthwhile read for anyone to be able to get a glimpse into what the journey into America can look like.

loppear reviewed Solito by Javier Zamora

gripping and clear

4 stars

A child migrant story from 1999, fearfully relevant, and set in a prelude to the worst cartel and DHS aspects of today. The youthful perspective keeps much of the terror hidden, and so we experience the physical toll and chaotic uncertainty in its raw immediacy with the humanity of coyotes and older companions cast in complicated and appreciable light.