Efrén Divided

Starred review from December 1, 2019
A young boy must become an adult overnight when his mother is deported. Twelve-year-old Efrén Nava's world is turned upside down the day he comes back from school and his mother is nowhere to be found. His neighbor Doña Chana tells him that an ICE raid was conducted at the supermarket and that Amá was picked up and deported to Mexico. When his father takes on a second job to make ends meet, Efrén becomes the primary caregiver for Mía and Max, his younger twin siblings. Unsure of how much information about his mother's fate to give them, Efrén tries his best to make Amá's miracles his own as he struggles to keep his siblings safe, feed them, and take them to school while still dealing with his own schooling. Taking care of Max, whose oxygen supply was cut off during childbirth and has learning disabilities, and figuring out which friends and adults to trust with his secret add layers of responsibility Efrén feels unprepared to deal with. Debut author Cisneros paints a vivid and palpable #ownvoices picture of the lost childhoods as children and parents are separated due to immigration issues. But even as Efrén's world seems to be crashing around him, Cisneros celebrates the kindness of the Mexican American community and its richness of food, culture, and resilient spirit. Honest and tender: a must-read. (Fiction. 8-13)

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Starred review from January 27, 2020
As affecting as it is timely, Cisneros’s debut depicts how draconian U.S. immigration policies rip through one Southern California family. At the novel’s start, the Nava family lives a hardworking, loving existence—American-born Efrén, the seventh-grade narrator, is mostly concerned with the upcoming school election. But when his undocumented mother is deported after an ICE raid one afternoon, Efrén must care for his five-year-old siblings, one of whom has a learning disability, while his father works extra hours for funds to bring his mother back from Mexico. Cisneros tells this urgent story with focus and heart-wrenching realism, especially concerning the ripple effects of family separation, not just at the border but also among those in the U.S. Cisneros layers in stories of other deportees, underlining the importance of taking part in change as he portrays a community rallying around its most vulnerable members. (Efrén’s burnt-out history teacher shares cautionary tales of past exclusionary practices via Martin Niemöller’s “First they came for the socialists” poem.) If Efrén seems to shoulder burdens beyond his years with alarming maturity, he mirrors many children in this country who are forced to grow up fast. Ages 8–12. Agent: Deborah Warren, East West Literary.

February 28, 2020

Gr 5-7-A timely story of one boy's fight to reunite his family, save a friendship, and stand up for justice. Efr�n's favorite spot to read is the bathtub-when he wants to hide from his twin siblings, that's where he retreats, though the smell of Am�'s delicious sopes always has a way of drawing him out. To Efr�n, Am� is a Soperwoman! Living undocumented in the United States, Am� and Ap� both work hard to provide a better life for their children. Although their apartment is small and money is tight, Efr�n knows he has a lot to be thankful for. But one day everything changes. When he arrives home from school, Am� is gone. She has been deported. Stepping in to care for his siblings while Ap� works overtime, Efr�n tries to channel Am�'s superpowers. But when teachers and friends notice something is wrong, will Efr�n find the courage to share the truth? Efr�n's story is not uncommon. In the last few years, the news has become saturated with headlines about deportations and separated families. Cisneros provides a heart-wrenching and evocative glimpse of what one family's life might look like on both sides of the border. Using down-to-earth characters and authentic scenarios, he tells a story of resilience, strength, and love. VERDICT In a time full of divisiveness and unknowns, this resonant title will inspire young readers to make a difference, no matter the hardships they face.-Rebecca Redinger, Lincoln Park Branch, Chicago Public Library

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Starred review from February 1, 2020
Grades 3-6 *Starred Review* Efr�n Nava has a tight-knit family?Max and Mia, his younger twin siblings; his hard-working father, Ap�; and his mom, Queen of the Best Sopes, Am� (otherwise known as "Soperwoman" in Efr�n's mind), who is the glue that keeps the family together. Efr�n is happy with the way his life is going?he's working hard at school, spending time with his best friend David, and visiting his school library. But one day, Efr�n's world comes crashing down when his beloved Am� gets deported. Now he must do his part in supporting his family, which means helping take care of his siblings, managing money, and being strong for his father, all while keeping up at school and helping David become class president. How long, he wonders, can the family go on without Am�? With matter-of-fact storytelling from Efr�n's point of view, Cisneros' debut offers a vivid glimpse into the difficult, tenuous lives of immigrant families, succinctly communicates the heartbreaking impact of deportations, and demonstrates the resiliency of those affected, all grounded in the perspective of a relatable protagonist. This timely middle-grade novel will not only open dialogue with children on the issue of immigration but also encourage conversations on the subjects of kindness, empathy, and activism. A moving novel perfectly pitched to its audience.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)