Book 1 Post 1
For this reading assignment, I chose Solito by Javier Zamora, a New York Times bestselling memoir about his journey as a nine-year-old boy migrating from El Salvador to the United States. I chose to read this memoir because I am a huge fan of adventure and coming-of-age of age novels, so I was immediately captivated by the moving story of a young boy migrating all alone to find his parents. Another reason I chose Solito is because, as a California native, I have heard many inspiring stories from people I know who have made the journey from Mexico to begin a new life in the United States -- some crazy enough to be a movie. Therefore, it would give me more perspective to read an in-depth story of someone's migration story from start to finish.
In addition to perspective, I hope to receive many lasting life lessons from the author. The reviews mention that the readers often feel so close to the boy in the story that they think about him long after the book is done. They feel that changed as readers from the experiences that they read from his perspective. Coming from a privileged background of being born in the United States and with both of my parents my entire life, I hope to learn humbling lessons about bravery, perseverance, and appreciating the little things I take for granted. So far I have already realized how lucky I am to have always had both my parents attend parents' day during my early school days. Zamora recalls being jealous of the children who had their parents there to support them on these holidays while he was usually unaccompanied because his grandma was usually working.
Deeper appreciation is only one of the many impressions I have had so far from this memoir. I feel that this book was crafted with stunning intimacy and that Zamora feels like a little brother to me in only Chapter 2. The ability to see life and struggle through the eyes of someone so young is both so raw and so moving. There are also many small literary elements that Zamora included which completely elevate the reading experience. For example, he does not shy away from using Spanish words and slang throughout the dialogue without definition to allow the readers to use context clues for their meaning. Also, he uses Spanish grammar in the text to preserve the authenticity of the writing (i.e. question marks at the beginning and end of sentences).
In addition to perspective, I hope to receive many lasting life lessons from the author. The reviews mention that the readers often feel so close to the boy in the story that they think about him long after the book is done. They feel that changed as readers from the experiences that they read from his perspective. Coming from a privileged background of being born in the United States and with both of my parents my entire life, I hope to learn humbling lessons about bravery, perseverance, and appreciating the little things I take for granted. So far I have already realized how lucky I am to have always had both my parents attend parents' day during my early school days. Zamora recalls being jealous of the children who had their parents there to support them on these holidays while he was usually unaccompanied because his grandma was usually working.
Deeper appreciation is only one of the many impressions I have had so far from this memoir. I feel that this book was crafted with stunning intimacy and that Zamora feels like a little brother to me in only Chapter 2. The ability to see life and struggle through the eyes of someone so young is both so raw and so moving. There are also many small literary elements that Zamora included which completely elevate the reading experience. For example, he does not shy away from using Spanish words and slang throughout the dialogue without definition to allow the readers to use context clues for their meaning. Also, he uses Spanish grammar in the text to preserve the authenticity of the writing (i.e. question marks at the beginning and end of sentences).
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