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Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Review: Illegal


Author: Bettina Restrepo
Publication Date: March 1, 2011
Genre: YA Realistic Fiction
Copy provided by: Author (ARC tour)
Summary (via Goodreads):

Nora is on a desperate journey far away from home. When her father leaves their beloved Mexico in search of work, Nora fights to make sense of her loss while waiting for her father’s return and a better day. When the letters and money from her father stop coming, Nora decides that she and her mother must look for him in Texas. After a harrowing experience crossing the border, the two are all alone in a strange place called Houston. Now, Nora figures out how to survive while still aching for small comforts: friends, a new school, and a quinceaƱera to mark her fifteenth birthday.

Bettina Restrepo’s powerful and deeply hopeful debut novel captures the challenges of one girl’s unique yet universal immigrant experience.


Why I read this: The author asked me too (which I love when authors do) and it is a debut novel, so I was happy to!

Plot: Nora's father stops sending money back to Mexico for her family, so her mother and her leave their grandmother behind to search for him. Nora learns that America is much different form her small town in Mexico. They luck out and find a couple who let them work for them. Only there is no sign of Nora's father. What has happened to him?

A heart-wrenching plot that made me cry and also a quick read. Definitely a great debut about those who cross the wire.

Characters: I fell in love with Nora. She was strong for a teenage girl and determined to reunite her family once and for all. It's nice to meet such a fantastic character.

Relatability: I think those of us that pay any attention to the new in America can relate to this novel.

Cover Commentary: Love it, especially the colors.

Rating: 5/5 Roses


Buy it on Amazon*
Find it on Goodreads


Read the first 50 pages of Illegal.

Also, to commenters, Bettina will enter you into a drawing for a free hardbound and signed copy of ILLEGAL. (international entries are OK!) There will be 5 winners total!

Just answer the following question: Would you cross a border illegal to find your family?

Winners will be announced on her Facebook page on April 2nd.

*If you buy this book on Amazon through the link above, I will receive a small portion of the sales.

post signature

51 comments:

  1. Thank you Kirsten! Also, to commenters, I will enter you into a drawing for a free hardbound and signed copy of ILLEGAL. (international entries are OK!)

    Just answer the following question: Would you cross a border illegal to find your family?

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  2. http://browseinside.harperteen.com/index.aspx?isbn13=9780061953422

    50 page excerpt to see if this is your kind of book. Happy reading!

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  3. I cannot wait to read this book. Love the cover and the subject matter. Sounds like a great debut!

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  4. Sounds good...and its heart wretching? Now I'm imagining all the bad things that could have happened to Nora's dad.

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  5. I'm not sure what I'd do...probably try to find a legal way if there was one. It doesn't sound like she has a choice, so I really am not sure what I'd do. It's a scary thought and decision for such a young person, but I can understand why she would take that chance.

    Thank you for the entry in the giveaway for Illegal...now I'm really curious about it. It sounds like a really good read.

    Have a blessed day!
    Sandee61

    Muzzley56[at]aol[dot]com

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  6. I would love the chance to win this book for my 14 year daughter and myself.
    My answer to the question would probably be No.
    I love my family but I am also a big chicken and scared to get in trouble with the law.

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  7. I would most definitely cross the borders. I would do just about anything for my loved ones.

    I would love to win a copy of this novel, it sounds really fantastic. I'm from Germany originally, so this means a lot to me.

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  8. Well of course I would cross the borders! Family means a lot to me and to let something as trivial as a BORDER stop our reunion is just... unthinkable. Besides, if I don't do EVERYTHING that I can to find my family, then I'd feel guilty and ashamed of myself for the rest of my life... :( Thanks for the awesome contest!!!

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  9. Yes I would, family means everything to me

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  10. I would love to read this book.

    Would I cross a border to find my family. Yes I would. I love my family and I would do anything to save them.

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  11. Would I cross a border illegally to save my family? If I felt like my family was in danger, there isn't much I wouldn't do to save them. Crossing a border seems minor in that respect.

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  12. I dont know... yes and no. I guess depend the situation.

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  13. hell yes i would. i would do anything to find my family if i was put in that situation. this book sounds wonderful. thanks for making it international

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  14. I think that I would cross the border to find my family. If you don't have your family what have you got? Nothing really.

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  15. For my hubby and kids of course I would cross the border. The books sounds amazing I can't wait to read it.

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  16. I love my family and they mean a lot to me...but I'm not usually a rule breaker. I'd be really paranoid and scared of being caught though.
    The book sound awesome and I can't wait to read it!

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  17. My answer would be YES, I'll do anything even if it has to be my life to put in danger just to save my family's life because I owe a lot of things to them and above all I love them so much. I will do anything to make them safe even if it means conquering my own fear.

    Thanks! great giveaway!

    clarissa.bulatao at yahoo.com

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  18. Definitely, especially for my little sister. I'd do anything for her :)

    jessicamariesutton@msn.com

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  19. Definitely, you bet your life that I would seriously cross the border.

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  20. Yes, I would definitely. I'd do almost everything for my family and to be with them. I would just try not to get caught.

    sauvadeavelle@yahoo.com

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  21. Of course I would! I only have my mom and my little sister. I don't know what I'm going to do without them.

    toprocrastinate @ hotmail.com

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  22. Of Course, I can't live without them!!!!

    korra_950(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  23. Yes, I would. Family means a lot to me. I can't sit still and do nothing if I could do something.

    Gian Faye
    mynameisgianfaye *at* gmail *dot* com

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  24. i will, friends may leave me, but my family will always be there :)

    camilleanne_angel@yahoo.com.ph

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  25. Would you cross a border illegal to find your family?

    Of course, without a doubt. I'd circle the Earth as many times as I needed to, if I had to. Anything for them.

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  26. It's hard say because you never really know what you'd do in a situation (especially if you don't speak the language or have money, etc), but I think I would. It's a scary thought, though. I know people who have crossed borders illegally, and it's terrifying.

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  27. Definitely! I could never leave my family!

    emmanemgirl@gmail.com

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  28. Yes, I would, because the love I have for my family knows no borders.

    thais_rpc(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  29. I've been wanting to read this book. The premise sounds great and I like the cover.

    Yes, I would definitely cross the border illegally to find my family. Breaking the law is a small price to pay.

    monagarg@yahoo.com

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  30. Yes, I'd cross the border illegally to find my family.
    nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  31. I would spend a small amount of time trying to find a legal way, unless danger was involved, and then I would most certainly do whatever was needed to save my family.

    JaidisShaw at yahoo dot com

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  32. i think when it is about your family then no rules or regulations matter. i would definitely try to overcome all hurdles even if it is crossing an illegal border to find my family.

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  33. This book sounds really good. I'd love to read it.
    There is nothing that I wouldn't do for my family so the short answer is YES! I would cross the border illegally to find my family.

    swaggirl01 at gmail dot com

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  34. Come hell or high water I would cross a border to find my family-no doubt. Thanks for the awesome giveaway.
    tmdahle@centurytel.net

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  35. Yes, I would.

    ikkinlala AT yahoo DOT ca

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  36. That's tough question to answer. I'm so law-abiding that the border guards would take one look at me and just know I'm up to something. However, I would definitely do it for my family

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  37. Yes, I would, because my family is very important to me!

    shortcut_2_mushrooms(at)yahoo(dot)co(dot)nz

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  38. In a life or death situation where I have no choice? Yes.
    I'd prefer to be legal though as this is actually something that really bugs me. :)

    shakespeareanlover1215@yahoo.com

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  39. If someone were to take one of my children or family members across a border without permission ... definitely. Otherwise, just to find someone who may or may not be in trouble, probably not ... I'm kinda skeered of jail! :)

    knittingandsundries(at)gmail(dot)com

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  40. Yes, of course! To me, family always comes first. Thats a given.
    girl23rocks at hotmail dot com

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  41. Sounds great, and I'd do whatever it took to find my family. I'd hope that crossing legally would be an option, but if not, I'd do what I had to do to find them!

    kpuleski at gmail dot com

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  42. Thanks for the great giveaway:)

    Yes, if I had no other choice, I would definitely cross the border illegealy for my family.

    sarah.setar@gmail.com

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  43. Yes, I would definitely cross the border illegally for my family. Anything for them.

    Thanks for the giveaway! :)

    chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com

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  44. Yes, I would do anything for my family even if I have to cross the border illegally.

    dl(dot)love(dot)freedom(at)gmail(dot)com

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  45. I can't imagine myself doing anything illegal, but I think... If I had no other choice, then yes.

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  46. For my family? I would do anything.
    Love has no limits, boundaries..much a less a border.

    clarkmurdock@yahoo.com

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  47. Yes, I'd like to think that I would. I'd be scared out of my mind the entire time, but there are worse things. Like losing your family.

    Lovely, lovely giveaway, by the way! I've been wanting to read this one, and your review just reaffirmed it for me.

    lillyisabear (at) gmail (dot) com

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  48. I absolutely would cross.

    Evie.Werner@gmail.com

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  49. I guess it would depend on family - family I don't know, probably not. My kids- in a heartbeat.

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  50. oops I forgot to leave my email address. Sorry

    weblogbooks(@)gmail(.)com

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  51. I think I'd try to get there legally, but if I couldn't do it that way, then yes I would cross illegally. I'm sure it would be really tough though.


    dsym_06 at yahoo dot com

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