In this memoir we read about the migrant crisis that face so many at our Southern border every day and also the story of how grass root organizations can develop with the power of one woman who wants to make a change.

I was very fascinated by this story of Rosa and her process of getting to the United States from Guatemala. It was very eye opening and also disheartened to see how the safety in countries south of the United States are very dangerous due to corruption and prevalent crime. As a mother, it was also so heartbreaking to learn that Rosa had to leave her daughters behind to save her sons at most risk. I felt like her story was cut too short and would love to see the end to her story. In the end, we never read the outcome of her and her children's asylum cases.

I am in awe to read about Julie's desire to help women separated from their children. It gave me hope to read how ordinary citizens can work together without bureaucracy to help those in need. I appreciate the reading recommendations as well.

This is definitely a must read book for those who want to learn more about the border crisis and how you can read.

Thanks to HarperOne and Netgalley for my ebook in exchange for a review!

The Book of Rosy // by Rosayra Pablo Cruz, Julie Schwietert Collazo

It's been so long since I requested this title that I could not remember what it was about. I like to go into books blindly so I did not look at the description before starting this. Oh my. I was so not ready for this read. I've heard a lot of immigration stories from people in my family and from outside of the family but there is another layer to hearing it from someone who is a good storyteller -- and Rosayra Pablo Cruz really knew how to tell her story.

This story broke my heart so many times. I can't even tell you how often I cried while reading this book. The Book of Rosy is split into 3 main parts. It started out with Rosayra's life in Guatemala and her experience of coming to the US illegally twice. We get to hear about the why and the how. If this story doesn't convince you to show some grace to refugees, then I'm not really sure what can. The second part is told by Julie Schwietert Collazo, founder of Immigrant Families Together. She talks about the beginnings of the organization and how she heard about Rosayra's case. Her story eventually picks up where Rosayra's part 1 ended, letting us know the behind the scenes of the organization's help for this refugee mother. Part 3 returns back to Rosayra and her two boys, letting us know about their experience once they got involved with IFT, learning just how much a community can come together in times of need.

I learned a lot of things with this book. I learned some more details about immigration and refugees, the many ways people like me can assist those in need even with small acts of kindness, and how one person can make a huge different just by starting out with small steps. One of my favorite parts of this book though was watching two religions come together the way they did here. I'm not a religious person myself but it fascinates me how religion can drive a person's motivations and affect their daily life. This part was beautifully told in this book and I loved learning about concepts, such as 'Hineni' and 'Tikkun Olam.'

Whether you want a non-fiction read to learn about immigration or to have your heart touched by a true story or because you just like to experience other people's cultures or experiences, I highly recommend this one. I know I for one will be thinking of this book regularly in the future.

Thank you to the authors, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely love this book. Such an incredible, yet heartbreaking story of bravery. Highly recommend. Thank you for the opportunity to review..

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper One for allowing me to read and review this book.

Written in conjunction by the woman who lived this horror and the woman who ultimately put her back on track, this is a real account of an immigrant family crossing into the US from Guatemala.

Rosayra 'Rosy' Pablo Cruz made the agonizing decision to take two of her children, her youngest boys, and migrate to the United States, leaving the care of her two girls to her mother. Seized when trying to get into Arizona, this is her harrowing story of life in an ICE detention camp and having her boys sent miles away from her to live in the care of an unknown family.

Two things kept her alive and sane - her undying faith and a woman named Julie Collazo. Julie had started the non-profit organization Immigrant Families Together. IFT's sole purpose was to keep children with, or reunite them with their parents.

You hear Rosy tell of her experience in the brutal trip to the US, time spent in the detention camp and losing her children. Julie explains IFT and how she helped Rosy and many others make their bail and reunite with their children, find them temporary housing and guide them through their deportation process.

Overall this book is testament to the courage and flexibility of the immigrant and to the resourcefulness of organizations like IFT in their willingness and steadfastness to be there in the time of crisis at a person's most vulnerable time.

Rosy is a story about two women who met through a grassroots organization and how they came to connect. It is also about the Latin American women who were separated from their children after crossing the US border. Rosayra Pablo Cruz came to the US with her sons after escaping an attempt on her life. She was separated from her sons and placed in foster care until she was reunited with them. Julie Schwietert Collazo is the founder and editor of Rosy, an organization that helps reunite immigrant families separated by the US' border policies. Yeni was separated from her children and placed in ICE's custody. As a result, she was unable to pay her bond. Julie and her group were able to raise over a million dollars to help her.

When she was a child, Julie was reminded of the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. In her powerful memoir, Rosys describes the devastating impact of the disaster that occurred in her native country. She also describes the choices she had to make as she traveled north. In her short time with the prison, she has seen women go crazy with hysteria, and they curl up on their bunks. They cry without ceasing. Rosy writes that the icebox detention cells are as chilling as the cells themselves. Rosy concludes her story by telling how she hopes her experience will help other immigrants realize their American dream. Thank you, HarperOne, for the gifted copy via net galley.

I really enjoyed this book! This book was generously provided to me through NetGalley. Highly Recommended!

This is the true story of a Guatemalan immigrant, Rosy, who makes the difficult decision to leave her home in Guatemala and seek asylum the United States. Rosy courageously takes the reader along on her harrowing journey from Guatemala, to a detention center and finally on to her life in America. This is such a timely and important book and I highly recommend anyone who wants to understand the human side of the immigration crisis to read this book. Rosy’s story is one of courage and perseverance, it will break your heart and also make you cheer. My only criticism is I wish it was longer! Thank you to netgalley for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This was a beautiful and intimate look at an Guatemalan immigrant's journey to the United States and her fight to be reunited with her sons. I didn't quite expect such a religious bend to the narrative as it's not very evident in the summary, so I do wish that her faith was mentioned a little more noticeably in marketing. I also had mixed feelings about how much time was spent on discussing the founding and operations of Collazo's organization, although I understand why that was included in the book.

Everyone must read this story. A mother’s agonizing decision to flee Mexico with her two sons results in separation at the border. Her plight had only just begun. There isn’t a sprawling backstory, or fluffy imagery and descriptions. This is a bare bones accounting of an impossible scenario and the struggle is real. Absolutely heart wrenching and essential, immigration in this era must be resolved and families must remain united. Thank you to NetGalley for my free copy in return for an honest review.

The book is divided into two sections, Rosy’s story and Julie’s efforts in creating a non-profit (Immigrant families together) which is how she met Rosy and helped her reunite with her sons. I wanted more of Rosy’s side of the story but it was fascinating to learn about all that Julie does with her non-profit.

I think it is so important for us to read these #ownvoices experiences with immigration. In this book you get to see the difficult decision Rosy had to make in hopes for a better life for her family and the struggles immigrants face in the journey. I felt lots of emotions while reading this book!

This was my book club’s pick last month and we had a great discussion. We were lucky to have the opportunity to virtually chat with the authors. We discussed their writing process, what they are up to now, and the work of Immigrant families together. I’m grateful for Rosayra and Julie for sharing their story with the world.

Compelling and urgently important, The Book of Rosy is the unforgettable story of one brave mother and her fight to save her family.

When Rosayra “Rosy” Pablo Cruz made the agonizing decision to seek asylum in the United States with two of her children, she knew the journey would be arduous, dangerous, and quite possibly deadly. But she had no choice: violence—from gangs, from crime, from spiraling chaos—was making daily life hell. Rosy knew her family’s one chance at survival was to flee Guatemala and go north.

After a brutal journey that left them dehydrated, exhausted, and nearly starved, Rosy and her two little boys arrived at the Arizona border. Almost immediately they were seized and forcibly separated by government officials under the Department of Homeland Security’s new “zero tolerance” policy. To her horror Rosy discovered that her flight to safety had only just begun.

Review: This was a powerful heartwrenching memoir that is sure to make you cry (I shed many tears). I've always been a philanthropic person, but this particular book made me second guess what else I could be doing. Hopefully it impacts many other readers the same way it has impacted me.

Why you should read this book:

1. As a mother my heart broke for Rosy as she was trying to make an impossible decision. After reading this book you will be able to fully understand the strength and faith it requires to undergo a journey like Rosys.

2. This books is sure to help readers understand more about the conditions and corruption immigrants are fleeing in order to provide for their family.

3. This book also helped shed a light on why some of Americans think all immigrants are criminals (not that I agree with this narrative). Julie's husband was a Cubian immigrant and when he came over the government also sent criminals and mentality ill immigrants along with those seeking asylum.

Please pick this book up and read it. Read it to your teenagers. Gift it to friends. Do whatever you can to help spread Rosy's story so even more families can be reunited.

This was the book I sought out and chose to read that was an #ownvoices story about about the immigration process to the United States. The Book of Rosy is the story of one woman's journey to escape the corruption and violence in Guatemala. Compelling and eye opening, she tells of the separation between her and children, the harsh living conditions of the camps, as well as the strength and resilience to endure it all. I was grateful to hear of those that were helpers to her along the way. The story of Julie Collazo (founder of Immigrant Families Together) was interesting, I wish I could have had more of Rosy's first hand account and experience.

This is a compelling human interest story that everyone needs to read. The truth of what is happening in our country right now is heartbreaking and yet the resilience of the human spirit shines through. An unforgettable read.. Highly recommended.

It was both fascinating and painful to read Rosayra Pablo Cruz's detailed account of her escape from Guatemala to the U.S. In the Book of Rosy, we witnessed her two border crossing journeys, the second of which resulted in her (and her two sons) being detained, separately, in Arizona.

Rosy explains what life was like in her desire to leave her home country and the harrowing journey across the border. They faced starvation, dehydration, exhaustion and humiliation. But they knew their lives would be better "up North."

Once captured and detained by Homeland Security, we see what really happens behind the scenes of the detention center. We also see how Rosy meets an immigration attorney and is aided by Julie Schwietert Collazo, founder of Immigrant Families Together, the grassroots organization that reunites mothers and children.

Oddly, toward the end of the book, we hear from Julie and get her side of the story. While her story was well written, it interrupted the flow and I'm not sure it added much.

Overall, this book was interesting and I'm glad I read it, but I'm not sure I would recommend it to friends. I much preferred American Dirt, even though it is fiction. Because this topic interests me, I will be on the lookout for more content from "ownvoices" authors.

I appreciate the opportunity to receive a copy from NetGalley and Harper One. I also listened to the audiobook version once it was published.

Rosayra Pablo Cruz's story is painful to read at times but necessary for all of us to understand the harrowing decisions and experiences of crossing the southern border into the US. The detention centers are glorified concentration camps, an opinion that's only been reinforced by reading this book. While Pablo Cruz and her sons are fortunate thanks to the assistance of Julie Schwietert Collazo's organization, her experience is far from ordinary. Schwietert Collazo's contribution has elements of white saviorism and though her intentions come from a good place, we didn't need her part of the story.

In the wake of the (necessary, important) upset about a certain other book telling an immigrant story, THIS is the book we all need to read. It was raw and real and heartbreaking, and timely. I wish we would’ve gotten even MORE of Rosy’s story, but the vulnerability and humanness in this story will stay with me for a long time.

I feel like most of my knowledge of immigrant and refugee experiences either comes from fictional accounts or brief snippets in the news or on social media. “The Book of Rosy” gave me a more complete, true story. It is the account of Rosayra, a Guatemalan mother who came to the US with two of her children and was separated from them for 81 days while in detention. The story of her journey, detention, and separation from her kids was as frightening and heart- breaking as expected. However, the story doesn’t end there. It’s also about Rosy trying to reunite with her children, the community of volunteers that made that possible, and what happened next. This is a great book that explains what would make someone leave her home in search of a better life and how small acts of kindness can change lives.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Highly recommend!
This book is broken up and told from the viewpoints of both Rosy and then Julie. Rosy's harrowing story of coming to the US from Guatemala and being forced to separate from her children at the border is heartbreaking. Her experiences very much humanize this ongoing issue in our country. Her portion of the story also delves into the complex and conflicting emotions involved in making the decision to leave one's home country and family as well.

Julie's portion was equally interesting. I was not aware of Immigrant Families Together or initiatives as such that work to assist immigrant families such as Rosy's financially and otherwise. Her story is incredibly inspiring and reminds us all that no matter how small we may feel in light of these large issues, great things can still be done.

Note: I was given an advanced copy of this book by publisher with expectation of review.

Add this one to your TBR. Wow. The Book of Rosy is such an important story. After the controversy surrounding other recent releases about immigration, I decided to pick up this book and I am so glad I did. You will leave reading this book changed. And angry. And heartbroken. And hopeful. Read this book!

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When Rosayra “Rosy” Pablo Cruz made the agonizing decision to seek asylum in the United States with two of her children, she knew the journey would be arduous, dangerous, and quite possibly deadly. But she had no choice: violence—from gangs, from crime, from spiraling chaos—was making daily life hell. Rosy knew her family’s one chance at survival was to flee Guatemala and go north.

After a brutal journey that left them dehydrated, exhausted, and nearly starved, Rosy and her two little boys arrived at the Arizona border. Almost immediately they were seized and forcibly separated by government officials under the Department of Homeland Security’s new “zero tolerance” policy. To her horror Rosy discovered that her flight to safety had only just begun.

In The Book of Rosy, with an unprecedented level of sharp detail and soulful intimacy, Rosy tells her story, aided by Julie Schwietert Collazo, founder of Immigrant Families Together, the grassroots organization that reunites mothers and children. She reveals the cruelty of the detention facilities, the excruciating pain of feeling her children ripped from her arms, the abiding faith that staved off despair—and the enduring friendship with Julie, which helped her navigate the darkness and the bottomless Orwellian bureaucracy.

A gripping account of the human cost of inhumane policies, The Book of Rosy is also a paean to the unbreakable will of people united by true love, a sense of justice, and hope for a better future.

Today is World Refugee Day and this memoir is precisely why we need this day to raise awareness.

This book is a harrowing, first hand account of a Guatemalan mother forced seek asylum with two of her young sons. The violence, the danger, and lack of resources at home left her little choice but to set out on a dangerous journey to seek refuge in the US - only be detained and to have her young sons ripped from her arms at a detention center in Arizona.

I don’t review memoirs in the same way I review other books. But the writing in this book paints a very clear picture of the life Rosy fled, the reasons for seeking asylum, and her subsequent, and quite honestly, inhumane experience in my own country.

This is a must read #ownvoices memoir. Thank you to @netgalley for the gifted ebook in exchange for my honest review and also @harperonebooks for the finished copy.