Infinite Country-Patricia Engel

Infinite Country tells the story of a Colombian family who comes to the U.S. in search of “The American Dream.” The family is severed by deportation and mixed-status. This is a story of the power of love and the great lengths two parents will go through to reunite their family while still wanting to make sure they are making the best decision for their children’s future.

Infinite Country will 100% shatter your heart but that’s kind of why you have to read it. The U.S. has a way of sheltering its citizens in this little ignorant bubble. We want to believe we are the best. It’s what’s been instilled in us from birth. We like to tell ourselves that slavery is over while children, forever separated from their families, are locked in cages on our soil awaiting their fate. I’m thankful for stories like these that shed light onto situations not often discussed at the dinner table. We can read the headlines and hear the stories on the news, but how long does that stick with you? Engel’s writing appeals to the HEART and gives a face to the turmoil, the impossible decisions, and the fear that come with being “undocumented.” Combining political facts from both Colombia and the U.S., with an intriguing storyline, and some beautiful mythology, this book has something to offer all of its readers.

While this story will greatly appeal to people who see parts of themselves reflected in these pages (and will hopefully offer them comfort in not being alone,) I think it’s just as, if not more, important that this is read by people who are less knowledgeable regarding this matter.

That’s part of the magic of reading. As Jean Rhys said, “reading makes immigrants of us all.” We are taken away from our limited confines and opened up to a world we otherwise may not have explored.

Engel, - on a personal note, I’d love to thank you, from someone who was told to tell people she was Italian so she wouldn’t be called a spic, from someone who is sick of getting asked the question “what are you?” and from someone who waits eagerly, with open ears, for words that will change the world. Thank you for broadening my understanding a bit more of what it is like to experience life the turmoil, frustration, and unrest as a part of a family splintered by immigration and deportation. I know I’ll never fully understand, but I’d like to try my best regardless.

TW ⚠️ rape