America's dream Book

Debut fiction novel from one of my favorite non-fiction authors.

This book has plenty of heartbreak. America's mother is an alcoholic, her daughter is 14 and run away from home, her boyfriend is married and is abusive. America gets the chance to leave her home and move to New York and work in the suburbs. She thinks she can disappear. She thinks she can start a new life.

Life always seems to follow you tho, no matter where you go. I liked how America was practical. She wasn't bliding herself with fantasy. She was realistic about her situation, her chances. But like anyone who has been in an abusive relationship knows.. it is hard to escape the past.

I enjoyed the book. The ending was tense, even if it was a little cliche. I think that the ideas that the author touches on are interesting.. immigration, class, economics, naturalization, abuse... these could all be individual books.. so she only touched on them. But I like where she went.

The only reason I would say not 5 stars was b'c I've read similar.. but not from a Puerto Rican point of view.