👶👶👶👶: Infinite Country, by Patricia Engel

So, every once in a while, in between commitments to Publishers, Book Tour companies, or even book clubs, I get a chance to just read a book that I've chosen solely for myself. Of course, these novels end up being put on the backburner as far as reviews🙈! Sooo... this one technically should've been a throwback since I read it in the summer of 2021, but we won't focus on that🤫.

🇵🇹🇺🇲Of course, as a first generation American, immigrant stories are always near and dear to my heart, so I was really excited to pick this one up.

This novel really hits the mark with eliciting the feeling of the immigrant experience. I felt a connection to these characters immediately. The author so eloquently touches on the fact that immigrants never quite feel at home whether here or abroad. When they come to the US, their heart is still in their homeland. And once they grow roots in the US, they are bound to children and grandchildren here, so when they go back "home" they feel like a piece of their heart is still missing. It is something I witness time and again with my parents and my heart breaks for them each time.

Although Mauro and Elena came over legally, they ultimately exist in a morally grey sphere once they transition to illegal status, having to make choices one would not normally have to make otherwise. So, there is that organic tension throughout the novel. I would have liked to see some of these minor storylines further fleshed out, but unfortunately, many of them seemed rather abbreviated.

However, Infinite Country was a solid read for me. It brings to light the innumerable harsh realities that SO MANY people in the US deal with. And it calls to mind the importance of respecting ALL people, regardless of their immigration status, or any other label affixed to them. We are, after all, human beings first.

Read 7/8/21