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Renowned author Julia Alvarez's award-winning, moving, and timely story delves into the lives of undocumented workers' families. When Tyler's father is injured in a tractor accident, the family is compelled to hire Mexican migrant workers to save their Vermont farm from foreclosure. Tyler is uncertain about these workers and their legal status. The three daughters, particularly the eldest, Mari, are caught between their Mexican heritage and their American lives. Mari is proud of her Mexican roots, but she is also increasingly connected to her American upbringing. Her family lives in constant fear of being discovered by the authorities and deported back to the poverty they left behind in Mexico. Can Tyler and Mari overcome their differences and forge a friendship?

In this novel filled with hope, yet without easy answers, Julia Alvarez weaves a beautiful and timely story that will resonate with readers long after they turn the last page. The book has been recognized with the Pura Belpré Award and the Américas Award, and it has been named a Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies by the NCSS-CBC.

Reviewers have praised the book, calling it a "must-read" and commending its "compassionate and expressive prose" in communicating the complex issues surrounding one of the most pressing social concerns of our time. The San Antonio Express-News has described the novel as conveying "a positive message of cooperation and understanding," while Booklist has noted that the "questions raised about the meaning of patriotism will spark debate."

Publishers Weekly has praised the book as a "tender, well-constructed" work, and School Library Journal has highlighted its ability to "convey a positive message of cooperation and understanding." The plot, which is "purposive" and "torn right from the newspaper headlines," delves into the historical connections between migrant workers, the displacement of Native Americans, the Underground Railroad, and earlier immigrants seeking refuge.

This timely and thought-provoking novel by Julia Alvarez invites readers to engage with the complex issues surrounding undocumented workers and their families, offering a nuanced and empathetic perspective on a pressing social issue. Through the intertwined stories of Tyler and Mari, the book explores themes of identity, belonging, and the challenges faced by those seeking a better life in a new country. Alvarez's masterful storytelling and the book's recognition by prestigious awards and reviews make it a must-read for anyone interested in contemporary social and political narratives.

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