This was a title I hesitated to pick up because I knew it would be painful, but some stories deserve to be heard.  We Are Not From Here is unequivocally one of those stories.  Strap in and prepare for a raw, poignant look at the unforgiving and unrelenting realities of living in an unimaginably dangerous environment of constant fear that drives one to take an inconceivable, desperate, treacherous, and almost impossible flight towards an uncertain future.  The first part of this novel clearly paints the palpable danger three young teens experience in their small town in Guatemala, and it is a critical part of the story.  The later part of the book follows not only their physical journey, but also the psychological and emotional journey.  Each is changed uniquely by the experience with different outcomes.  Filled with rich metaphors and one character’s otherworldly visions, there is textured symbolism to also appreciate.

Although this book is fiction, I was deeply moved by the narrative, which I believe is all too real.  This is a challenging read emotionally, but I throw down the gauntlet to older young adult readers and adults to not pass this difficult topic by.  This is a book I didn’t want to pick up, but once I did, I was unable to put it down. Some stories deserve to be heard.

Review of an Advance Reading Copy

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Philomel

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  7 religious exclamations; 12 mild obscenities; 2 derogatory names; 14 scatological words; 6 anatomical terms; 23 F-word derivatives.

Violence/Gore:  Imagery of blood/description of place where people have been killed; character has a broken arm; scene of childbirth with mention of blood and smell of blood; character recalls how he was getting beat-up; reference to death of parent in car accident; descriptive scene of a murder with the victim dying in a pool of blood in front of a young teenager; characters fear repeatedly of being killed; character wants to die and thoughts of death; character recalls how his friend’s mother was murdered and how she looked, some description; character frequently has visions/dreams involving blood and violence; character has nightmares involving blood and violence; thoughts of death and desire for death; character taunts his friend until he beats him up, upsetting scene; character recalls seeing a young boy fall from a truck, death implied/likely; man threatens teenagers with rifle; character purposefully throws self from vehicle in attempt to kill self or terminate pregnancy; injuries from jumping from a moving vehicle; kidnapping; man sliced in half by train; gunshots and screams are heard; story/recollection of a little boy shot, his funeral, and his mother’s subsequent death; man has dog attack teenager, severe injuries; report that someone was robbed and beaten.

Sex/Nudity:  Teenage girl has a baby out of wedlock; character frequently forces kisses and other physical affection upon a girl who finds the giver repulsive; reference to a father cheating on mother; breast is bared to feed baby (non-sexual); brief reference to a parent who used to sell herself to provide for her child; brief scene (recalled) of rape, some description; character pats down another and lingers on breasts and looks at character leeringly.

Mature Subject Matter:

Immigration, violence, illegal immigration, death, murder, death of family member, spiritualism/visions, rape, U.S. immigration detention centers and practices.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Characters smoke; references to narcotics dealers.