74 pages • 2 hours read
Return to Sender
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Book Brief
352
Novel • Fiction
Vermont • 2000s
2009
Middle grade
10-14 years
890L
Super Short Summary
Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez is a 2009 realistic middle-grade novel set in Vermont that alternates between the perspectives of 11-year-olds Tyler Paquette and Mari Cruz. After Tyler’s father becomes unable to work, his family hires three Mexican men, including Mari’s father, to help on their farm. Tyler and Mari form a friendship despite the challenges posed by anti-immigrant sentiments and legal issues relating to the Cruz family’s undocumented status. The book won both the Pura Belpré Award and the Américas Award. This book deals with the complex realities of undocumented immigration, including family separation, legal jeopardy, and exploitation.
Informative
Challenging
Emotional
Inspirational
Bittersweet
Reviews & Readership
4,384 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Readers of Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez applaud its engaging storytelling and timely exploration of immigration issues, depicting the intersecting lives of a Vermont farm boy and a Mexican immigrant girl. Critics point out occasional predictability in plot development but appreciate the book's emotive resonance and its ability to spark important conversations.
Who Should Read Return to Sender?
Readers who enjoy Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez are typically interested in contemporary issues such as immigration and family dynamics. Fans of Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan and The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros will find similar themes of cultural identity and resilience.
4,384 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
352
Novel • Fiction
Vermont • 2000s
2009
Middle grade
10-14 years
890L
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