Solito: A Read with Jenna Pick: A Memoir

Zamora's first person account of his immigration to "La USA" is intriguing. Hardships, defeat, fear, and success litter the path like the items and the relationships that the "migrantes" abandon along the way. Zamora is first a poet, and he writes to engage his readers in the feelings and impressions of the main character. He uses details to draw you in and illicit sympathy and heighten tension. At times the plot drags along because of it. The story is told through Zamora’s nine year old eyes and senses. Smells, snippets of conversations, tastes, touches, dreams, and thoughts impact the storyline. Consistent use of the present tense adds a sense of drama. Zamora is a master of language. The book is a primer on Spanish slang and dialects--and especially swear words. There are insights into both Nicaraguan and Mexican colloquialisms. Although I know some Spanish, I had to look up some terms to get the sense, usually a foul sense. Such language would of course impress a nine year old boy. In that way it is a brilliant approach by the author. Often the English reader is left to guess at meanings. Was it necessary on nearly every page? Empathy and disappointment build and wane for the players in the story. Some become heroes, others turn out to be villains, and a sense of distrust dogs the tale all along the way, up to the final page. In that way the suspense never quits. Whom can a migrant trust, especially when so totally vulnerable and terribly desperate? And even more when you are a child who is “solito”. The book opens up a whole new world to those of us who have never experienced the trauma of difficult immigration. Good literature should do that. It is timely in light of the crisis erupting on our southern border. Spoiler alert: the denouement beginning on page 379 is crucial.