Solito

A Memoir

De: Javier Zamora

Narrado por: Javier Zamora

New York Times Bestseller • Read With Jenna Book Club Pick as seen on Today • Winner of the Los Angeles Times Christopher Isherwood Prize for Autobiography • Winner of the American Library Association Alex Award • A Kirkus Reviews Best Nonfiction Book of the Century

A young poet tells the inspiring story of his migration from El Salvador to the United States at the age of nine in this “gripping memoir” (NPR) of bravery, hope, and finding family.

Finalist for the PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award for Nonfiction • One of the New York Public Library’s Ten Best Books of the Year

Longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence and the PEN/Open Book Award

“I read Solito with my heart in my throat and did not burst into tears until the last sentence. What a person, what a writer, what a book.”—Emma Straub

“A riveting tale of perseverance and the lengths humans will go to help each other in times of struggle.”—Dave Eggers

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Times Book Review, NPR, The Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Vulture, She Reads, Kirkus Reviews

Trip. My parents started using that word about a year ago—“one day, you’ll take a trip to be with us. Like an adventure.”

Javier Zamora’s adventure is a three-thousand-mile journey from his small town in El Salvador, through Guatemala and Mexico, and across the U.S. border. He will leave behind his beloved aunt and grandparents to reunite with a mother who left four years ago and a father he barely remembers. Traveling alone amid a group of strangers and a “coyote” hired to lead them to safety, Javier expects his trip to last two short weeks.

At nine years old, all Javier can imagine is rushing into his parents’ arms, snuggling in bed between them, and living under the same roof again. He cannot foresee the perilous boat trips, relentless desert treks, pointed guns, arrests and deceptions that await him; nor can he know that those two weeks will expand into two life-altering months alongside fellow migrants who will come to encircle him like an unexpected family.

A memoir as gripping as it is moving, Solito provides an immediate and intimate account not only of a treacherous and near-impossible journey, but also of the miraculous kindness and love delivered at the most unexpected moments. Solito is Javier Zamora’s story, but it’s also the story of millions of others who had no choice but to leave home.

A Young Immigrant Experience

This is one of the most moving immigrant crossing stories I've read. The fact that it's from his 9 year old point of view enhances the story.

Must read!

This is an amazing story. Javier does a great job of being descriptive of both physical things and of how he is feeling. Everyone should read or listen to this book. It really helps shine light on what immigrants face coming into the United States.

Incredible

I loved the book. It breaks my heart as a mom to think about what this young boy endured to be reunited with his family. It is also encouraging though to hear about the wonderful people who helped him and didn’t leave when times were hard. It is a very emotional book. I hope it heals and changes peoples hearts.

Story should be required reading in school

This story should be heard. Anyone born in America needs to understand how fortunate they are and have more empathy for those who are not.

A truth beyond truth

A white American by birth, I formally worked with refugees and immigrants from the global south. This is a story I've heard hundreds of times, yet for the first time from a nine year old who made it.

This is a powerful story of a life like so many, finding a way - to LA USA. Should it really be so brutal? Do we have a right to gate keep this place that does not belong to any one of us?

Stay and die. Cross and maybe die. But certainly pay with every bit of your humanity.

Thank you to the little boy who was so brave then, and now in retelling this story of misery, triumph, and love.