Author Stephen Briseno and Magdalena Mora (illus.)
Written by Stephen Briseno and illustrated by Magdalena Mora, the story explores the desperate plight of the immigrants from South America, seeking asylum; in the United States.
Inspirited by true events, the story depicts the desperate attempt of a mother and daughter as they undertake a mammoth journey to seek entry into the United States.
Once upon a time "sunshine drenched the yard" and "neighbors' laughter danced in the streets", but now, their homeland is bereft of people and hope.
With just a string of faith, Noemi and her mother, leave their beloved homeland, trekking on an arduous journey to cross the border...
The border...the grim and uninviting border...that separates their precious land...from the much prized... much sought after...United States.
Attired with bare-bone essentials, and, along with a group of desperate asylum seekers, Noemi and her mother eventually reach the forbidden border.
A mob of people throng the border...
The hope gives way to despair, when Noemi and her mother, learn that they need to register themselves.
The kind notebook keeper assigns them a number and Noemi and her mother become another counting mark, amidst the multitude of counting marks.
Days give way to weeks and to months...
Noemi and her mother settled down into a new routine, a new life, a new "home".
The bleakness and the pain of the situation pervades little Noemi.
Noemi, is touched by the kindness of the notebook keeper and gives her (the notebook keeper), her most treasured possession. Her muneca.
One fine day, the notebook keeper leaves the border as it is now her turn to cross the border.
Noemi and her mother become now the chosen notebook keeper to "encourage, remind, and comfort" the beleaguered people...
The sparse text and the intense illustrations really evoke gut-wrenching emotions.
When I read this book, I was astonished, literally beyond words at the plight asylum seekers face. Leaving one's country in defeating circumstances is not anguishing enough, couple it with the vicissitudes of the situation, I am beyond words to express the pain and the misery of such people.
And...history is replete with such examples, of people tolerating and many a times... triumphing such adversities.
And now for the illustrations.
In one word - powerful.
Magdalena Mora has captured the sweeping and vibrant Mexican landscape with her soul-stirring, lush and vibrant brush strokes.
Rendered in "colored pencil, pastel, gouache and Photoshop collage", they capture the severity of the situation.
The blue and the pink stained sky, the orange and yellow draped desert evoke acute emotions of sorrow.
I was eager to move on to the next page to see where the illustrations would lead me to...
The unwelcoming border guards, the few-and-far between palm trees, the agonizing wait, are captured with arresting depth and clarity.
The blue, orange and pink swept evening sky, plunging the tents in darkness, yet lighting up Noemi and her mother's profiles indicating that they are the protagonists...indicate that Magdalena Mora is an artist to be reckoned with.
The small, circular illustrations depicting the daily life, of Noemi and her mother (along with the other refugees) are arresting and evoke a sort-of-vignette-style imagery.
The hope, struggle and desperation of the immigrants is captured with a wistful intensity that evokes sadness and wonder.
I felt like I could go on and on and on, singing praises of the amazing story and illustrations:)
However, for brevity of time, I would like to end by saying that this is a must read.
PS: My apologies for my inability to add the diacritic marks, as Blogger does not let me add the diacritics. If I can figure out a way to add them, I will do so. Thank you...Mousumi
