We Are Not From Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez is an award-winning book that captures the long and dangerous journey of immigration from Guatemala to the U.S. The book is told from two different perspectives. Although the story isn’t true, it is inspired by the brave souls who have attempted the journey. Sanchez aimed to inform others about the journey and highlight the cruelty faced by migrants in detention camps run by the U.S. government.

This book tells the story of three children who run away to seek a better life in the United States: Pulga, Pequeña, and Chico.  It switches perspectives between Pulga and Pequeña, who, even though they are running together, have very different stories and think very differently. Pulga is a very determined and resilient individual who believes that he can’t show any weakness, which he tells his very emotional and sensitive best friend Chico. Pequeña is more scared of what is behind her than what’s in front of her, and shows how different the journey could be as a woman.

The book starts out with Pulga, Chico, and Pequeña going through their everyday life, making it clear that life in Guatemala is dangerous as they emphasize how much they need to leave. Pulga and Chico have the lingering fear of gang leaders that they have wronged in the past, while Pequeña is tortured by the baby she just gave birth to, despite only being 17. What makes them snap and leave their home is after Chico and Pulga witness a murder by the gang leader, and Pequeñas baby’s father starts pushing her towards a marriage she doesn’t want but is too scared to say no. They all know the path to the U.S. will be long and dangerous, thanks to Pulga’s extensive research before they left, but they believe that whatever is in front of them is worth the dangers they are leaving behind.

We Are Not From Here is an eye-opening and heartbreaking story. It shows the path that many people have taken so they can have a better life. This book manages to tell so many different stories despite only having two perspectives.

Although the book is fictional, it still educates the reader on many common occurrences to escape to the U.S., like La Bestia, detention camps, love and loss, and how immigrants are treated throughout the different countries.

I’d rate this book a 9.874 out of ten. I cried many times during this book as it captures the emotions the characters are feeling. I’d recommend this book to anyone who likes sad realistic fiction, is updated in current events, and/or has very strong political views.