Solito: A Memoir | 
pickJavier was 9 when he migrated alone from El Salvador to the US and this is his story.
Going in I knew this was a memoir however I didn't expect it to feel like it was written by a 9 year old. I read a fair bit of Middle Grade but I'm not the biggest fan of non fiction for this age category however after a few chapters I was really invested in this.
If you have youngsters in your life this is a great resource on migration and displacement.
It took me a while to finish this, but once I did it was my favorite book for June. Probably for the year. It‘s moving and poignant and frustrating, but also has humor and grace. #12booksof2023
pickSolito follows Zamora's journey to the United States as a young child.
pickWhile I enjoyed Ted Conover‘s Coyotes and Sonia Nazario‘s Enrique‘s Journey, this first-person memoir takes the experience of migrant children to a whole other level. Beautiful, heart-breaking, and a testament to humanity. Unfortunately it was unable to be nominated for a Pulitzer, as rules still require all authors to be American-born.
I‘m bending the criteria a little because I haven‘t really read enough books in the summer to come up with a true Top Ten. I stretched the timeline to include a book I finished right before Memorial Day, and not every book on this list got my top rating at the time.
Likewise, I‘m feeling a little collage challenged, so I just stuck a picture in the background from my trip to Ladew Gardens in June.
#Top10Summer2023Reads
pick5 🌟, must read! A poet tells of his journey to the USA as a 9 year old boy. Beautifully written. Highly recommend. The audio is read by the author, and since I do not speak spanish, I was glad to listen to this memoir.
I didn‘t just buy books that reminded me of Italy (see my previous posts—guilty) when I went to HPB tonight…I saw this one and thought it looked amazing. Reviews here on litsy are good. #ElSalvador #readingtheAmericas @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB
pickgo read this book now. got to be in my top 5 of 2023. not just an immigrant story but a story of found family , incredible endurance and courage. he opens a window to his 9 year old self and you feel like you get to fall in love with this kids…such a moving book.
pickI can't imagine making this young man's journey, especially at the age of 9!
1. I thought summer was the time to catch up on reading, but I have just as much on my plate as the rest of the year!
#CampLitsy
#ReadingTheAmericas2023
#authoramonth
…and actually catching up with book club reads
2. Tagged
3. Breath, Eyes, Memory - not a bad book, just sad and depressing in a frustrating way
#wondrouswednesday
pickThis will take me a hot minute to process and is quite possibly the best memoir I‘ve ever read. I listened to the audio read by the author. It‘s his migrant story of making the trek from El Salvador to the United States to be reunited with his parents. He was 9 years old, traveling alone with a small group of refugees and coyotes. This one has all the feelings. #ReadHarder2023 read a book you know nothing about based solely on the cover
pickA harrowing account of young Javier migrating from El Salvador to USA when he was just nine years old. He relies on the kindness of strangers who are also taking the trek and has to trust the coyotes that they‘ll get him to his parents safely. I cannot even imagine going through something like that now in my 30s let alone when I was nine.
I was right there with 9 year old Zamora as he crossed multiple borders to make it to his parents in America. From his home in El Salvador, connecting with groups crossing into Mexico and then coyotes assisting people across the boarder into America—it was a harrowing and daunting journey. My son is 8 and I pictured him in the situations Zamora found himself in, and I just cannot believe how much he endured as a child. Necessary reading.
pickRead with my mom for library book discussion. I started this on audio during my drive to NC. I really appreciate the story but I found the author‘s reading a bit dry.
1 Mexico via El Salvador - Solito
England - The Love Sing of Queenie Hennessy
South Dakota - The Long Winter
2 NYC
3 Narnia
#WondrousWednesday
So excited for this live reading and discussion with Javier Zamora author of Solito!
pickI picked this up because the author is coming to my town in a few weeks. I wasn't sure I would enjoy it or get through it and I ended up reading the entire book in one night, which is rare for me. I've started his book poetry now and am looking forward to hearing him speak.
I alo received the pictured bookmarks as part of the Valentine's swap. As a nonfiction reader, they are perfect.
pickAnd exhale. Felt like I was holding my breath for 380 pages. How long can hope last? As long as it needs to.
My natural impatience made this real life recounting almost unreadable but it's certainly makes it easy to empathize with an experience so far outside my own. 1/?
pickA first hand account of a, Javier, 9 year old boy who lived in El Salvador with his grandparents and cousin after first his father then is mother migrated to the US. They waited until they could afford to pay for Javier‘s passage through Guatemala and then Mexico to join them. This story is an incredible and real journey of love, luck, and unlikely friendship. Only the desperate attempt… So many come and so few make it.
pickBook 2
Solito is a memoir about the author's childhood journey from El Salvador to the United States, without family. The emotional, dangerous trek is intense, yet filled with love and hope. It's well-written and a must-read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
pickAudiobook read by author!!! This is a book about a boys journey from Guatemala to the United States on his own without family at 9 years old. It describes what he went through to try to get to his parents who were already in the States. I put myself In his family perspective not knowing where he was. If he was dead or alive. These kind of stories really open you up to the American dream people really want and desire and how they will do anything
#ManicMonday @CBee ♥️
#ManicMonday
@cbee
📕Tagged book - read for #ReadingTheAmericas - SO GOOD!!! #Memoir #ElSalvador
✍🏻Elizabeth Strout
📺 Shas of Sunset
🎤 Sting
🎵 Sowing the seeds of love https://open.spotify.com/track/0PbAyLrJRDxckQBLQ2Addc?si=Sg0YCSBiQj-fipbuS1O8Xg
Recommended by my husband‘s niece, this #memoir is by a man from #ElSalvador who as a nine-year-old child was sent alone to be smuggled into the United States by a “coyote”. Every #immigrant has his or her own story about their struggles. This one is especially upsetting to me because the story is too familiar. My heart breaks at the thought of such a young child traveling with strangers through unknown territory to an uncertain future.
The true story of a nine year old boy making the harrowing journey from El Salvador to the USA without any family accompanying him. His parents having made the crossing several years earlier save up enough money to now send for their son to join them in Los Angeles. Putting their trust in strangers and the promise of a local “coyote”, Javier leaves El Salvador not realizing how long & dangerous the journey will be. 👇🏽
This audiobook is breaking my heart💔#ReadingTheAmericas23 so far #ElSalvador #Guatemala Even though I own the ebook, im so happy I borrowed the audio which is read by the author 🎧 It‘s beautiful outside ☀️so I walked to meet my friend for coffee (tea 4 me) & the barista left the BEST message 😎☮️✌🏽♥️ Happy #BookSpin day everyone 😁
#UpNext My first choice for #ReadingTheAmericas23 🌏 Excited to get an early jump on this challenge @BarbaraBB @Librarybelle Im choosing this for #ElSalvador however if it crosses other countries Im marking those as well. I can always add on but I‘m trying to be less intense!
Haven‘t finished this, but it is giving me all the feels. Listening to the author tell his story of crossing the border as a kid is heartbreaking
pickSuch a good story. The determination and love that The Four had for each was inspiring. The stories of immigrants and their bravery is one that needs to be told, and I hope that Javier is able to reconnect with his "family."
