Young Readers Edition
Written by Reyna Grande
Reyna Grande is a young Mexican girl living in rural Mexico. Along with her younger siblings, she is shuttled back and forth between her neglectful mother’s home and her abusive paternal grandmother’s home. Reyna longs for her father (a man she only knows from photographs) to return from America where he has gone to earn money for the family. Unfortunately, things don’t go as planned and the young siblings find themselves making their own treacherous journey to a strange land which holds so much promise, but also the fear of the unknown.
This is the actual memoir of the author and it is truly a remarkable story of courage, hope, and love of family – even when that family never quite provides the happily-ever-after ending to a child’s hopes and dreams. The author doesn’t shy away from the ugly realities of child abuse, both physical and emotional, and that can make for a hard read sometimes. But, having said that, the author ends her story on such a high note and in such a positive way that I can easily recommend this for 5th grade and up.
Review by Lynda H. Wilson, David Gourley Elementary Media Center
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5 stars)
Interest Level: Ages 10 and up
The Distance Between Us: Young Readers Edition
Written by Reyna Grande
Aladdin, Simon and Schuster Childrens Publishing
322 pages
Release Date: September 6, 2016
