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Dreaming of Home

How We Turn Fear into Pride, Power, and Real Change

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1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

NOW A USA TODAY BESTSELLER!

"Essential reading
...entirely suited to a turbulent moment." —Washington Post

A MacArthur "Genius" shares her inspiring story, from undocumented newcomer to leader in a powerful immigrant youth movement.

Dreaming of Home is a coming-of-age story for both a young woman finding her true self and a social movement of immigrant youth trailblazers who inspired the world and changed the lives of millions.
Cristina Jiménez's family fought to stay afloat as Ecuador fell into a political and economic crisis. When she was thirteen, her family came to the US seeking a better life, landing in an overcrowded one-bedroom apartment in Queens, New York. She lived in fear of deportation and ashamed of being undocumented, but eventually, Cristina discovered she was not alone. She made it into college when students and advocates won a change in the law, allowing undocumented students to access higher education. She was proud to be the first one in her family to go to college, but she felt out of place until she met professors and student activists who opened a new world where she found her calling within a community of social justice organizers.
With deep candor and humor, Cristina shows us what it's like to grow up undocumented and the reality that being a "good" immigrant doesn't shield you from systemic racism, danger—or even the confusion of falling in love. She invites us to acknowledge the America that never was and to imagine the America that could be when everyday people come together, build power, and fight for change, even when the world around us seems to be crumbling.

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    • Library Journal

      March 21, 2025

      Jim�nez, a MacArthur Fellow, one of Time's Most Influential People in 2018, and co-founder and former executive director of United We Dream, writes about moving from Ecuador to the U.S., the fear of deportation, and becoming a powerful activist in the immigrant youth movement, helping to win DACA. Prepub Alert.

      Copyright 2024 Library Journal

      Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Booklist

      April 1, 2025
      In this powerful memoir, Jim�nez, a MacArthur fellow and cofounder of United We Dream, an immigrant, youth-led organization, shares her family's journey from Ecuador to the U.S. in pursuit of the American dream only to face new struggles upon arrival. Living in constant fear of deportation, working tirelessly to survive, and confronting systemic barriers to education, Jim�nez eventually found her voice in activism. She traces her path from undocumented student to nationally recognized leader playing a pivotal role in the fight for immigrant rights and the enactment of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Weaving personal experience with broader social justice movements, Jim�nez sheds light on the trauma of immigration, the racial and economic inequities undermining U.S. communities, and the resilience of those who fight for a better future. Her candid reflections expose the harsh realities of anti-immigrant policies while offering an inspiring testament to perseverance and collective power. A compelling read for those interested in immigration, activism, and social justice.

      COPYRIGHT(2025) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • Kirkus

      May 15, 2025
      Coming to America--and fighting for the rights of all immigrants. Activist Jim�nez's childhood in Quito abruptly ends when her sister dies and Ecuador's deteriorating economy forces her parents to make an unexpected choice: to leave their beloved country to immigrate to the United States. The family moves to Queens, New York, where, as undocumented immigrants, they strive to hide their status by working hard, avoiding trouble, and paying their taxes. Jim�nez spends her teens living in constant fear while simultaneously dreaming of becoming the first in her family to go to college. With the help of a sympathetic teacher, she is accepted into Queens College, where a recent law allows her to pay in-state tuition despite her lack of immigration status. At college, Jim�nez becomes a talented community organizer, co-founding a national undocumented student-led organization, the United We Dream network. Alongside her peers, Jim�nez organizes actions that pressure President Barack Obama into drafting and signing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which provides amnesty to more than a million undocumented youths. During this time, Jim�nez meets her future husband, fellow undocumented organizer Walter Barrientos, and receives American citizenship. Jim�nez's passionately observed and deeply felt memoir is a fascinating peek behind the scenes of the remarkably successful but little-known immigrant rights movement. Although portions of the book read more like a textbook than a memoir, this is, overall, a captivating and strong debut. An emotional and inspirational recounting of the modern American immigrant rights movement.

      COPYRIGHT(2025) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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