Efren Divided
Written by Ernesto Cisneros
Narrated by Anthony Rey Perez
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
Winner of the Pura Belpré Award!
“We need books to break open our hearts, so that we might feel more deeply, so that we might be more human in these unkind times. This is a book doing work of the spirit in a time of darkness.” —Sandra Cisneros, author of The House on Mango Street
Efrén Nava’s Amá is his Superwoman—or Soperwoman, named after the delicious Mexican sopes his mother often prepares. Both Amá and Apá work hard all day to provide for the family, making sure Efrén and his younger siblings Max and Mía feel safe and loved.
But Efrén worries about his parents; although he’s American-born, his parents are undocumented. His worst nightmare comes true one day when Amá doesn’t return from work and is deported across the border to Tijuana, México.
Now more than ever, Efrén must channel his inner Soperboy to help take care of and try to reunite his family.
A glossary of Spanish words is included in the back of the book.
Ernesto Cisneros
Ernesto Cisneros was born and raised in Santa Ana, California, where he still teaches. Efrén Divided is his first book. He holds an English degree from the University of California, Irvine; a teaching credential from California State University, Long Beach; as well as a master of fine arts in creative writing from National University. As an author, he believes in providing today’s youth with an honest depiction of characters with whom they can identify. The real world is filled with amazing people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. His work strives to ref lect that. You can visit him online at www.ernestocisneros.com.
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Reviews for Efren Divided
84 ratings9 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A moving story of a kid caught in the middle of his mom's deportation, trying to help the rest of his family still in the States while feeling like his world is falling apart at home and at school. The narrator did an amazing job bringing Efren and the rest of the characters to life.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Well written, well narrated, and pretty heartbreaking, a touching portrait of a family and circle of friends facing the everyday reality of immigration law in the United States.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Cried quiteba few times. Really good narration and a heartfelt story.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book was really entertaining and fun to read, it is one of my all time favorites.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is a Great book. It is Very inspirational and thought provoking.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Very moving, very now. Well written and some readers will definitely find themselves in it, but I wonder about one part. You need to have a STRONG or persistent reader to push through the language challenges presented by the English to Spanish and vice versa transitions. There is a glossary of all the terms and phrases used in the back, and you can gather the meaning without knowing the language from surrounding paragraphs, but it still requires more dedication to the story/book/task than your average book. Still, a great read that will touch hearts with its challenges, heartaches, and triumphs.
**copy borrowed from library; read for Cybil's Middle Grade Fiction, Round two - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Efrén's mother gets caught in a sweep and deported, leaving him, his father and his siblings to try and figure out how to get her home. The audio book was excellently read, and the story is a too-familiar one. Great book, great characters. Efrén's big heart makes it necessary for him to do some scary things.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Efren lives with his parents and twin 5-year old siblings. When his mother is caught by ICE and deported, it turns his life upside down. He tries to hold things together. He steps up when his dad asks to take care of his siblings, which puts new pressures on him to get his work done and get to school on time. Who can he trust with what is happening? When he needs to carry money to his mom in Mexico, he thinks a lot about why his parents left and the privileges he has even if he doesn't have all that some of his classmates do.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Efren's mother has been deported, leaving behind Efren, the little twins and her husband. Although Efren is aware of la migra and of ICE raids happening in his community, he hasn't thought deeply about their impact until now. Now he's old enough to worry about taking care of his siblings and noticing his father's haggard and worried appearance through the ordeal. This book is a window and mirror on the very real trauma of family separation due to deportation; Efren is a good kid caught up in tough circumstances and readers will identify with or appreciate his battle.