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Thu 24 Mar 2011
Posted by annastan [9] Comments
Win some signed Illegal bookmarks! Details at the end of this post .
“When will you be back?” I asked, holding Papa’s hand at the bus stop. Worry coated Papa’s face. “As soon as I can earn enough money.” “Should I get a job too?” I asked. “I could ask if they need help in the church.” Papa’s eyebrows drew together over his glasses, “No. Your job is not to grow up until I get back.” He cupped my chin in his hand and his eyes brimmed with tears. I reached up and pulled off his glasses to clean them with the edge of my cotton skirt. “Ignacio’s Papa never came back. Then, her family left.” What if that happened to us? Mama shuffled her sandaled feet in the dusty road and cleared her throat. “Arturo, the bus will be here soon.” “Why can’t we go with you?” I felt the dryness of the land crawling into my throat. “I promise I won’t be a burden. Mama can stay here to take care of Grandma and the orchard. Please, don’t go.” Mama smoothed the stray hairs from my braid, “Nora, we talked about this. You can’t go with Papa. We all agreed this is for the best.” I snapped at her. “I didn’t agree. I don’t even want presents for my birthday or a communion dress. We should just try harder. HERE!” Mama’s face crinkled up in hurt, “It’s not about wanting. Please don’t make this so hard for him.” “I wish I could stay, but the buyers don’t come the pueblos anymore. The drought. No jobs. We need the money, mija.” Papa pulled me close and kissed the top of my head. “I promise I’ll be back. I always keep my promises.” A small gold cross dangled out of his shirt. “I will. Even far away,” his voice vibrated. “Do you really have to go away to make things better?” I asked The bus turned the corner and Papa released me, picking up his black plastic bag. I tangled my arms around his waist. “Don’t go. Please, don’t go. I need you Papa.” Papa tried to separate us. “Nora, there is no other choice. This is how I will protect us. Just for a little while.” “NO!!!” I screamed. “NO! NO! NO!” “I love you, Nora. Ti amo, Aurora.” Mama squeezed between us to hug Papa, but I found that I couldn’t let go. Mama slowly wedged herself into my grasp, and he pulled away. “NOOOOO!” Mama’s tight arms pulled me away and he boarded the bus. I kicked and scratched at her, “We can’t let him go. No Papi, Nooo!” The bus lurched away, leaving me sitting in the dirt with tears streaking down my face. Excerpt © 2011 Bettina Restrepo
“When will you be back?” I asked, holding Papa’s hand at the bus stop.
Worry coated Papa’s face. “As soon as I can earn enough money.”
“Should I get a job too?” I asked. “I could ask if they need help in the church.”
Papa’s eyebrows drew together over his glasses, “No. Your job is not to grow up until I get back.” He cupped my chin in his hand and his eyes brimmed with tears.
I reached up and pulled off his glasses to clean them with the edge of my cotton skirt. “Ignacio’s Papa never came back. Then, her family left.” What if that happened to us?
Mama shuffled her sandaled feet in the dusty road and cleared her throat. “Arturo, the bus will be here soon.”
“Why can’t we go with you?” I felt the dryness of the land crawling into my throat. “I promise I won’t be a burden. Mama can stay here to take care of Grandma and the orchard. Please, don’t go.”
Mama smoothed the stray hairs from my braid, “Nora, we talked about this. You can’t go with Papa. We all agreed this is for the best.”
I snapped at her. “I didn’t agree. I don’t even want presents for my birthday or a communion dress. We should just try harder. HERE!”
Mama’s face crinkled up in hurt, “It’s not about wanting. Please don’t make this so hard for him.”
“I wish I could stay, but the buyers don’t come the pueblos anymore. The drought. No jobs. We need the money, mija.” Papa pulled me close and kissed the top of my head. “I promise I’ll be back. I always keep my promises.” A small gold cross dangled out of his shirt. “I will. Even far away,” his voice vibrated.
“Do you really have to go away to make things better?” I asked
The bus turned the corner and Papa released me, picking up his black plastic bag. I tangled my arms around his waist. “Don’t go. Please, don’t go. I need you Papa.”
Papa tried to separate us. “Nora, there is no other choice. This is how I will protect us. Just for a little while.”
“NO!!!” I screamed. “NO! NO! NO!”
“I love you, Nora. Ti amo, Aurora.”
Mama squeezed between us to hug Papa, but I found that I couldn’t let go. Mama slowly wedged herself into my grasp, and he pulled away.
“NOOOOO!” Mama’s tight arms pulled me away and he boarded the bus.
I kicked and scratched at her, “We can’t let him go. No Papi, Nooo!”
The bus lurched away, leaving me sitting in the dirt with tears streaking down my face.
Excerpt © 2011 Bettina Restrepo
About the book:
Nora is on a desperate journey far away from home. When her father leaves their beloved Mexico in search of work, Nora waits father’s return and a better day. When the letters and money stop coming, Nora decides that she and her mother must look for him in Texas.
What people are saying:
“An important novel that deserves a wide readership.”–Michael Cart, Author of Young Adult Literature: From Romance to Realism and chair of the American Library Association’s Printz Award committee
“ Illegal is a compelling read with a tightly woven plot and great attention to detail…Throughout the book, the importance of family and faith coupled with a strong work ethic and the struggle to survive underscores some basic values of many Hispanics and pinpoints the irony of our current immigration dilemma in this country.”–Pauletta Augustina, Librarian and Teacher in Peoria, AZ
“Thoroughly engaging and thought-provoking, this novel should be recommended to anyone looking for a human interest story.”–Angie Hammond, VOYA (4 out of 5 for quality and popularity)
“This memorable coming-of-age story will awaken readers to the overlooked struggles of immigrants.”– Kirkus Reviews
Released: March 8, 2011
About the author:
Bettina used to wear pantyhose and sit in traffic. Now, she talks to people in her head and wears mismatched clothes. She has a degree from University of Texas, but believes she has learned more from other writers and reading good books. She has a husband that she doesn’t cook for, a dog she walks twice a day, and a quirky little boy who makes her laugh and pull out her hair all at the same time. You can visit her at www.bettinarestrepo.com .
Giveaway:
Bettina has been kind enough to contribute some signed Illegal bookmarks for a giveaway!
To enter simply leave a comment on this post.
For extra entries:
-Be a follower of this site (just click “Join this site”) or a follower on Twitter [+1 entry each].
-Link to this contest on Twitter, Facebook, etc. [+1 entry per each link].
Please list your extra entries in the comments.
The contest is open in the US and Canada and ends on April 6th at midnight EST.
Good luck and happy reading!
Tags: Contest , Immigration , Realistic , Young Adult
Mona Garg says: March 24, 2011 at 4:36 pm Great excerpt and giveaway. +1GFC(MonaG) +1Twitter(@Kulmona)
Great excerpt and giveaway.
+1GFC(MonaG) +1Twitter(@Kulmona)
Vivien says: March 24, 2011 at 10:51 pm I can’t wait to get my hands on this book! +1 follower +1 spread here http://www.goodreads.com/event/show/113459-illegal-bookmarks-for-a-giveaway Vivien deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com
I can’t wait to get my hands on this book! +1 follower +1 spread here http://www.goodreads.com/event/show/113459-illegal-bookmarks-for-a-giveaway
Vivien deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com
Rachel Leigh says: March 25, 2011 at 3:54 am This is awesome! Thanks so much! +1 follower +1 spread here http://www.goodreads.com/event/show/113478-signed-illegal-bookmarks-for-a-giveaway Rachel Leigh theonering111 at gmail dot com
This is awesome! Thanks so much! +1 follower +1 spread here http://www.goodreads.com/event/show/113478-signed-illegal-bookmarks-for-a-giveaway
Rachel Leigh theonering111 at gmail dot com
Deb Marshall says: March 26, 2011 at 1:36 am Thank you guys! SO exited to read this and share it with my book club kids!
Thank you guys! SO exited to read this and share it with my book club kids!
Suzanne says: March 26, 2011 at 3:23 am Was directed here by a friend, sounds like a good read for me as well as my girls 🙂
Was directed here by a friend, sounds like a good read for me as well as my girls 🙂
bettina says: March 27, 2011 at 1:26 am Ahhhh, for being such great commenters, I entered you into my drawing for a copy of Illegal, which I will announce on 4-1 on my FB and Twitter page. Also – all of you here get a bookmark! (email me directly with your address at bettina at bettinarestrepo dot com This entry closes out the contest entries for Illegal. Thank you for hosting Anna!~
Ahhhh, for being such great commenters, I entered you into my drawing for a copy of Illegal, which I will announce on 4-1 on my FB and Twitter page.
Also – all of you here get a bookmark! (email me directly with your address at bettina at bettinarestrepo dot com
This entry closes out the contest entries for Illegal. Thank you for hosting Anna!~
Kimberly Meza says: March 27, 2011 at 3:46 am Cool! Thanks 🙂 +1 Follower (Kim) +1 Twitter follower (@ksmeza) +1 Tweet http://twitter.com/#!/ksmeza/status/51852129001943041
Cool! Thanks 🙂
+1 Follower (Kim) +1 Twitter follower (@ksmeza) +1 Tweet http://twitter.com/#!/ksmeza/status/51852129001943041
annastan says: March 27, 2011 at 3:23 pm Thanks so much, Bettina!
Thanks so much, Bettina!
Stephanie - the girl on fire says: March 27, 2011 at 11:55 pm This is so exciting, please enter me! +1 follower +1 spread here http://www.goodreads.com/event/show/113685-win-some-signed-illegal-bookmarks Stephanie- the girl on fire thegirlonfire27 at gmail dot com
This is so exciting, please enter me!
+1 follower +1 spread here http://www.goodreads.com/event/show/113685-win-some-signed-illegal-bookmarks
Stephanie- the girl on fire thegirlonfire27 at gmail dot com
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Featured Authors J. Anderson Coats Andrea Alban Crystal Allen Sarah Aronson Monica S. Baker Hannah Barnaby Rebecca Barnhouse Hilari Bell Charlotte Bennardo & Natalie Zaman Julie Berry Lauren Bjorkman Jan Blazanin Ellen Booraem Hélène Boudreau Julie Bowe Robin Bridges Leslie Bulion Marissa Burt Erin Cashman Lara Chapman Sheela Chari Julie Chibbaro Lena Coakley Kristi Cook Kate Coombs Leah Cypess Carole Estby Dagg Karen DelleCava Amy Fellner Dominy Marissa Doyle Deva Fagan Beth Fehlbaum Greg R. Fishbone Janet Fox Sonia Gensler Cole Gibsen Hilary Weisman Graham Tessa Gratton Alissa Grosso Lia Habel Teri Hall Kiki Hamilton Janice Hardy Kim Harrington Merrie Haskell Danette Haworth Cat Hellisen Karyn Henley Leanna Renee Hieber Tess Hilmo Amy Holder Elissa J. Hoole Jennifer Hubbard Kirsten Hubbard Denise Jaden Terry Lynn Johnson Mike Jung Julie Kagawa Julia Karr Stasia Ward Kehoe Lynne Kelly Miranda Kenneally Derek Taylor Kent Kami Kinard Jessi Kirby Jo Knowles Ron Koertge R.L. LaFevers Helen Landalf April Lindner Nikki Loftin Natasha Lowe Susan Lubner Elisa Ludwig Jenny Lundquist Michaela MacColl Christina Mandelski Jessica Martinez Shari Maurer C. Lee McKenzie Gretchen McNeil Kate Messner Dawn Metcalf Erin Moulton Erin E. Moulton Kate Kae Myers Anne Nesbet Jennifer Nielsen Kristin Wolden Nitz A.J. Paquette Rosanne Parry Mitali Perkins Gae Polisner Cindy Pon J.L. Powers Joy Preble Cheryl Rainfield Michelle Ray Jenn Reese Diana Renn Bettina Restrepo Laurisa White Reyes Nelsa Roberto Joanne Rocklin Lisa and Laura Roecker Caroline Starr Rose Randy Russell Jeanne Ryan Chris Rylander Kimberly Sabatini Peter Adam Salomon Jeff Sampson Tiffany Schmidt Lisa Schroeder Victoria Schwab Mindi Scott Ruta Sepetys Medeia Sharif Kristen Simmons Angie Smibert Clete Barrett Smith J.A. Souders Jessica Spotswood Anna Staniszewski Kiera Stewart Lauren Strasnick Sarvenaz Tash Sarah Tregay Audrey Vernick Danette Vigilante Sara Bennett Wealer Dianna Winget Jennifer Shaw Wolf Allan Woodrow Brian Yansky Lara Zeises Jennifer Ziegler part: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ] [ 9 ] [ 10 ] [ 11 ] [ 12 ] [ 13 ] [ 14 ] [ 15 ] [ 16 ] [ 17 ] [ 18 ] [ 19 ] [ 20 ] [ 21 ] [ 22 ] [ 23 ] [ 24 ] [ 25 ] [ 26 ] [ 27 ] [ 28 ] [ 29 ] [ 30 ] [ 31 ] [ 32 ] [ 33 ] [ 34 ] [ 35 ] [ 36 ] [ 37 ] [ 38 ] [ 39 ] [ 40 ] [ 41 ] [ 42 ] [ 43 ] [ 44 ] [ 45 ] [ 46 ]
J. Anderson Coats Andrea Alban Crystal Allen Sarah Aronson Monica S. Baker Hannah Barnaby Rebecca Barnhouse Hilari Bell Charlotte Bennardo & Natalie Zaman Julie Berry Lauren Bjorkman Jan Blazanin Ellen Booraem Hélène Boudreau Julie Bowe Robin Bridges Leslie Bulion Marissa Burt Erin Cashman Lara Chapman Sheela Chari Julie Chibbaro Lena Coakley Kristi Cook Kate Coombs Leah Cypess Carole Estby Dagg Karen DelleCava Amy Fellner Dominy Marissa Doyle Deva Fagan Beth Fehlbaum Greg R. Fishbone Janet Fox Sonia Gensler Cole Gibsen Hilary Weisman Graham Tessa Gratton Alissa Grosso Lia Habel Teri Hall Kiki Hamilton Janice Hardy Kim Harrington Merrie Haskell Danette Haworth Cat Hellisen Karyn Henley Leanna Renee Hieber Tess Hilmo Amy Holder Elissa J. Hoole Jennifer Hubbard Kirsten Hubbard Denise Jaden Terry Lynn Johnson Mike Jung Julie Kagawa Julia Karr Stasia Ward Kehoe Lynne Kelly Miranda Kenneally Derek Taylor Kent Kami Kinard Jessi Kirby Jo Knowles Ron Koertge R.L. LaFevers Helen Landalf April Lindner Nikki Loftin Natasha Lowe Susan Lubner Elisa Ludwig Jenny Lundquist Michaela MacColl Christina Mandelski Jessica Martinez Shari Maurer C. Lee McKenzie Gretchen McNeil Kate Messner Dawn Metcalf Erin Moulton Erin E. Moulton Kate Kae Myers Anne Nesbet Jennifer Nielsen Kristin Wolden Nitz A.J. Paquette Rosanne Parry Mitali Perkins Gae Polisner Cindy Pon J.L. Powers Joy Preble Cheryl Rainfield Michelle Ray Jenn Reese Diana Renn Bettina Restrepo Laurisa White Reyes Nelsa Roberto Joanne Rocklin Lisa and Laura Roecker Caroline Starr Rose Randy Russell Jeanne Ryan Chris Rylander Kimberly Sabatini Peter Adam Salomon Jeff Sampson Tiffany Schmidt Lisa Schroeder Victoria Schwab Mindi Scott Ruta Sepetys Medeia Sharif Kristen Simmons Angie Smibert Clete Barrett Smith J.A. Souders Jessica Spotswood Anna Staniszewski Kiera Stewart Lauren Strasnick Sarvenaz Tash Sarah Tregay Audrey Vernick Danette Vigilante Sara Bennett Wealer Dianna Winget Jennifer Shaw Wolf Allan Woodrow Brian Yansky Lara Zeises Jennifer Ziegler part: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ] [ 9 ] [ 10 ] [ 11 ] [ 12 ] [ 13 ] [ 14 ] [ 15 ] [ 16 ] [ 17 ] [ 18 ] [ 19 ] [ 20 ] [ 21 ] [ 22 ] [ 23 ] [ 24 ] [ 25 ] [ 26 ] [ 27 ] [ 28 ] [ 29 ] [ 30 ] [ 31 ] [ 32 ] [ 33 ] [ 34 ] [ 35 ] [ 36 ] [ 37 ] [ 38 ] [ 39 ] [ 40 ] [ 41 ] [ 42 ] [ 43 ] [ 44 ] [ 45 ] [ 46 ]
J. Anderson Coats
Andrea Alban
Crystal Allen
Sarah Aronson
Monica S. Baker
Hannah Barnaby
Rebecca Barnhouse
Hilari Bell
Charlotte Bennardo & Natalie Zaman
Julie Berry
Lauren Bjorkman
Jan Blazanin
Ellen Booraem
Hélène Boudreau
Julie Bowe
Robin Bridges
Leslie Bulion
Marissa Burt
Erin Cashman
Lara Chapman
Sheela Chari
Julie Chibbaro
Lena Coakley
Kristi Cook
Kate Coombs
Leah Cypess
Carole Estby Dagg
Karen DelleCava
Amy Fellner Dominy
Marissa Doyle
Deva Fagan
Beth Fehlbaum
Greg R. Fishbone
Janet Fox
Sonia Gensler
Cole Gibsen
Hilary Weisman Graham
Tessa Gratton
Alissa Grosso
Lia Habel
Teri Hall
Kiki Hamilton
Janice Hardy
Kim Harrington
Merrie Haskell
Danette Haworth
Cat Hellisen
Karyn Henley
Leanna Renee Hieber
Tess Hilmo
Amy Holder
Elissa J. Hoole
Jennifer Hubbard
Kirsten Hubbard
Denise Jaden
Terry Lynn Johnson
Mike Jung
Julie Kagawa
Julia Karr
Stasia Ward Kehoe
Lynne Kelly
Miranda Kenneally
Derek Taylor Kent
Kami Kinard
Jessi Kirby
Jo Knowles
Ron Koertge
R.L. LaFevers
Helen Landalf
April Lindner
Nikki Loftin
Natasha Lowe
Susan Lubner
Elisa Ludwig
Jenny Lundquist
Michaela MacColl
Christina Mandelski
Jessica Martinez
Shari Maurer
C. Lee McKenzie
Gretchen McNeil
Kate Messner
Dawn Metcalf
Erin Moulton
Erin E. Moulton
Kate Kae Myers
Anne Nesbet
Jennifer Nielsen
Kristin Wolden Nitz
A.J. Paquette
Rosanne Parry
Mitali Perkins
Gae Polisner
Cindy Pon
J.L. Powers
Joy Preble
Cheryl Rainfield
Michelle Ray
Jenn Reese
Diana Renn
Bettina Restrepo
Laurisa White Reyes
Nelsa Roberto
Joanne Rocklin
Lisa and Laura Roecker
Caroline Starr Rose
Randy Russell
Jeanne Ryan
Chris Rylander
Kimberly Sabatini
Peter Adam Salomon
Jeff Sampson
Tiffany Schmidt
Lisa Schroeder
Victoria Schwab
Mindi Scott
Ruta Sepetys
Medeia Sharif
Kristen Simmons
Angie Smibert
Clete Barrett Smith
J.A. Souders
Jessica Spotswood
Anna Staniszewski
Kiera Stewart
Lauren Strasnick
Sarvenaz Tash
Sarah Tregay
Audrey Vernick
Danette Vigilante
Sara Bennett Wealer
Dianna Winget
Jennifer Shaw Wolf
Allan Woodrow
Brian Yansky
Lara Zeises
Jennifer Ziegler
part: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ] [ 9 ] [ 10 ] [ 11 ] [ 12 ] [ 13 ] [ 14 ] [ 15 ] [ 16 ] [ 17 ] [ 18 ] [ 19 ] [ 20 ] [ 21 ] [ 22 ] [ 23 ] [ 24 ] [ 25 ] [ 26 ] [ 27 ] [ 28 ] [ 29 ] [ 30 ] [ 31 ] [ 32 ] [ 33 ] [ 34 ] [ 35 ] [ 36 ] [ 37 ] [ 38 ] [ 39 ] [ 40 ] [ 41 ] [ 42 ] [ 43 ] [ 44 ] [ 45 ] [ 46 ]
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