Where We Come From

A novel

By: Oscar Cásares

Narrated by: Yareli Arizmendi

A stunning and timely novel about a Mexican-American family in Brownsville, Texas, that reluctantly becomes involved in smuggling immigrants into the United States.

From a distance, the towns along the U.S.-Mexican border have dangerous reputations--on one side, drug cartels; on the other, zealous border patrol agents--and Brownsville is no different. But to twelve-year-old Orly, it's simply where his godmother Nina lives--and where he is being forced to stay the summer after his mother's sudden death.

For Nina, Brownsville is where she grew up, where she lost her first and only love, and where she stayed as her relatives moved away and her neighborhood deteriorated. It's the place where she has buried all her secrets--and now she has another: she's providing refuge for a young immigrant boy named Daniel, for whom traveling to America has meant trading one set of dangers for another.

Separated from the violent human traffickers who brought him across the border and pursued by the authorities, Daniel must stay completely hidden. But Orly's arrival threatens to put them all at risk of exposure.

Tackling the crisis of U.S. immigration policy from a deeply human angle, Where We Come From explores through an intimate lens the ways that family history shapes us, how secrets can burden us, and how finding compassion and understanding for others can ultimately set us free.

Loved this book

This is a heartwarming tale about love, loss, and belonging told, alternately, through a woman in her 60s, and a 12 year old boy. Highly recommend!

Fantastic Read

This is such an amazing story, not just of the complexities of illegal immigration, but also border culture, identity, and family. I saw so many faces of people I know from my hometown in the characters, and have had similar conversations to theirs. I highly recommend to anyone!

An extremely well-told story

This is an eye- and heart-opening story. I loved every minute of it and would recommend it to anyone!