SOLITO
This extraordinarily moving, unforgettable memoir chronicles the author’s harrowing journey as an unaccompanied minor from his home in El Salvador, where he lived with his grandparents, to “La USA” to reunite with his mother and father. What should have been a two week trip in the custody of a “coyote” or human smuggler, turned into a desperate two month odyssey by truck, bus, boat, and finally on foot through the treacherous Sonoran desert. Told from the perspective of his nine year old self, Zamora recounts his life-altering, life-threatening journey, and the astonishing compassion of strangers who became his makeshift family along the way.
This is a book I want to press into the hands of everyone I know, so that they too can experience this story of humanity, courage and hope. I was captivated by this little boy, who learned to tie his shoes and conquer his fear of flushing toilets at the same time he was hiding from helicopters and soldiers looking to deport him or worse. His tenderness and vulnerability broke my heart, as many times as his pretend-family stitched it back together. With this book, I stayed up late, wept more than once and came see the world in a new way - to me, that’s a recipe for a five star read that will stay with me for many years to come.
Little Javier describes in loving detail his grandmother’s pupusa stand in El Salvador, comforting him with memories of food and home when he is lonesome. Salvadoran pupusas are thick tortillas filled with beans, cheese or meat, served with spicy coleslaw and salsa. I wanted the food for this post be authentic, so I decided to visit Rinconcito Salvadoreño in Westchester County NY where I live, and dress up their delicious pupusas for this photo. What better time to support a small local Central American restaurant and the people who work there than Hispanic Heritage Month, which starts today. I hope some local readers may check it out too - I’ll be back for more!
Thank you @jzsalvipoet for bravely sharing your story and to @readwithjenna for introducing so many to this very special book
