illegal aliens

Identical twins Ernesto and Ra?l Flores flee from El Salvador when Ernesto makes an enemy of the MS-13 gang and Ra?l fears being mistaken for his brother. They set out through many hardships to reach America, but they fall into the hands of immigration authorities and face more trouble before they make it to Oakland, California, where their older brother lives. Difficulties follow them as the "coyote" who helped them get across the border demands his money--on top of all this, the twins just try to live as normal teens.

Sixteen-year-old Sophie has been frail and delicate since her premature birth, but discovers her true strength during a journey through Mexico, where the six-year-old orphan her family hopes to adopt was born, and to Guatemala, where her would-be boyfriend hopes to find his mother and plans to remain.

Told in two voices, Pen, whose dream of taking over her family's restaurant has been destroyed, and Xander, a new, undocumented, employee seeking his father, form a bond.

New York City high school student Mateo dreams of becoming a Broadway star, but his life is transformed after his parents are deported to Mexico.

"In Chinese, the word for America, Mei Guo, translates directly to 'beautiful country.' Yet when seven-year-old Qian arrives in New York City in 1994 full of curiosity, she is overwhelmed by crushing fear and scarcity. In China, Qian's parents were professors; in America, her family is 'illegal' and it will require all the determination and small joys they can muster to survive. In Chinatown, Qian's parents labor in sweatshops. Instead of laughing at her jokes, they fight constantly, taking out the stress of their new life on one another. Shunned by her classmates and teachers for her limited English, Qian takes refuge in the library and masters the language through books, coming to think of The Berenstain Bears as her first American friends. And where there is delight to be found, Qian relishes it: her first bite of gloriously greasy pizza, weekly 'shopping days,' when Qian finds small treasures in the trash lining Brooklyn's streets, and a magical Christmas visit to Rockefeller Center--confirmation that the New York City she saw in movies does exist after all. But then Qian's headstrong Ma Ma collapses, revealing an illness that she has kept secret for months for fear of the cost and scrutiny of a doctor's visit. As Ba Ba retreats further inward, Qian has little to hold onto beyond his constant refrain: Whatever happens, say that you were born here, that you've always lived here. Inhabiting her childhood perspective with exquisite lyric clarity and unforgettable charm and strength, Qian Julie Wang has penned an essential American story about a family fracturing under the weight of invisibility, and a girl coming of age in the shadows, who never stops seeking the light"--From the publisher's web site.

"Why are some immigrants considered illegal? What happens to illegal immigrants after they are discovered in the United States? These questions and more are answered by this comprehensive look at a hot topic that is often debated on news programs and online. The accessible, objective text and full-color photographs give readers a balanced look at this complicated issue, and detailed sidebars provide additional information. Readers will benefit from having their critical-thinking skills strengthened as they examine this challenging issue"--Provided by the publisher.

"American policy-makers have long been locked in a heated battle over whether, how many, and what kind of immigrants to allow to live and work in the country. Those in favor of welcoming more immigrants often cite humanitarian reasons, while those in favor of more restrictive laws argue the need to protect native citizens. But economist Bryan Caplan adds a new, compelling perspective to the immigration debate: He argues that opening all borders could eliminate absolute poverty worldwide and usher in a booming worldwide economy--greatly benefiting humanity. With a clear and conversational tone, exhaustive research, and vibrant illustrations by Zach Weinersmith, Open Borders makes the case for unrestricted immigration easy to follow and hard to deny"--Provided by publisher.

"Traveling across the country, journalist Karla Cornejo Villavicencio risked arrest at every turn to report the . . . stories of her fellow undocumented Americans. In [this book], [she] . . . reveals the hidden corners of our nation of immigrants. She brings to light . . . stories of hope and resilience, and through them we come to understand what it truly means to be American"--Provided by publisher.

"The nation remains divided on the issue of detention and deportation of undocumented immigrants. Most Americans recognize there are no easy solutions to the problem. The majority of migrants today are not Mexicans but families from Central America. Most request asylum at the border, seeking to escape poverty and violence in their own countries. This explosion has raised many issues related to detention and deportation, including family separations at the border, overcrowding and unhealthy conditions at detention centers, and the rise of sanctuary cities. Throughout this crisis, there is a struggle to balance enforcement with protection of immigrant rights"--Provided by publisher.

In 2032, when sixteen-year-old Vali's mother is detained by the Deportation Forces, Vali must flee Vermont with her little brother, Ernie, hoping to reach their T?a Luna in the sanctuary state of California.