Common Sense Media Review
By Kristen Breck
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Intense story about illegal immigration and friendship.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Eleven-year old Tyler worries about losing his Vermont farm after the sudden death of his grandfather and a tractor accident leaves his father unable to work. Tyler is desperate to save his farm from being sold. But after his father hires a family of illegal Mexican workers, Tyler wonders if saving the farm is worth breaking the law. Soon Tyler meets Mari, the eldest daughter in the Mexican family. While initially wary of each other, Tyler and Mari soon form a unique friendship that opens their eyes to the lives of the other. Both kids worry about their families and their future, and come to realize that they are forever connected through their shared struggles.
Is It Any Good?
RETURN TO SENDER is a compassionate narrative that puts a human heart to the hot-button topic of illegal immigration. The story portrays the desire for a better life and how hard work is the means to achieve it. The author captures the intense emotions of both farmer and worker, and tells the story through the questioning innocence of children. However, the main characters -- both 11 years old -- are strapped with enormous emotional burdens and life's adult responsibilities, and the story is laden with their fear and worry.
Parents and educators will find this an important and significant read, but the question remains if kids will actually enjoy reading it.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about their own perspectives of illegal immigration. How do you feel about illegal workers being hired to aid farming communities?
Did Mari's story help you understand and sympathize with illegal workers?
How do you feel about illegal immigration? Do you think the laws that exist should be changed or more strongly enforced? What would you do to fix the system if you could?
Families can also talk about the role of immigrants in U.S. history. Do you know any relatives that came from other countries? How did they get to the U.S.? What was their story?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Contemporary Fiction
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Alfred A. Knopf
- Publication date : January 13, 2009
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 336
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Pura Belpré Awards and Honors
- Last updated : April 13, 2024
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