Voces Sin Fronteras: Our Stories, Our Truth
Voces Sin Fronteras: Our Stories, Our Truth
by the Latino Youth Leadership Council of LAYC
With a foreword by Newbery Medal-winning author Meg Medina
Winner of the 2019 'In the Margins' Top Nonfiction award and 2020 International Latino Book Awards
“Spotlighting underrepresented voices, this work is highly recommended for all communities in their efforts to promote empathetic, inclusive discussions around immigration.” — Starred review in School Library Journal!
"Enlightening and inspiring #ownvoices accounts by young activists." – Kirkus Review.
During a time of heated immigration debate and unrest, this book is an opportunity to hear directly from youth who are often in the headlines but whose stories don’t get told in full. Sixteen young people from the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) in Washington, D.C. came together to tell their own stories of immigration and transformation in comics form. The result is this side-by-side bilingual collection of graphic memoirs that not only builds connections across language, but also breaks down barriers and expands hope.
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En tiempos de inquietud y acalorados debates sobre la inmigración, este libro representa una oportunidad para escuchar directamente a los jóvenes quienes suelen ocupar los titulares en la prensa, pero cuyas historias no se alcanzan a narrar por completo. Dieciséis jóvenes del Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) en Washington, D.C. se unieron para contar sus propias historias de inmigración y de transformación en formato de cómic. El resultado es esta colección de memorias gráficas bilingüe, que no sólo construye conexiones entre los idiomas, sino que también elimina barreras y abre un espacio a la esperanza.
ISBN: 978-1945434921
Age: 12+
Lexile: 720L
Page Count: 320
Published: 2018
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Meet the Authors
As immigrants and activists, the young people at LAYC recognized the urgent need for #OwnVoices stories to provide a human face to the U.S. immigration debate. With few youth-focused books reflecting their personal narratives, they decided to boldly share their own. Our team of teaching artists worked with these youth leaders on two projects. In Voces Sin Fronteras: Our Stories, Our Truth, young authors share their memoirs--in hand-drawn comics and in personal essays--about immigrating to the U.S.
Lisa was a senior in high school when she wrote Voces Sin Fronteras. She is from El Salvador. She wants to study psychology to help other young people overcome their fears and fight for their dreams. She hopes that sharing her own story can touch hearts and inspire others to write.
Lisa estaría en su último año de la secundaria cuando escribía Voces Sin Fronteras. Ella es de El Salvador. Ella quiere estudiar psicología para ayudar a otros jóvenes a superar sus miedos y luchar por sus sueños. Ella espera que compartiendo su propia historia pueda tocar corazones e inspirar a otros a escribir.
Nataly was a senior in high school in Washington, DC when she wrote Voces Sin Fronteras. She is from El Salvador. Nataly loves to go to the beach, to read, and to eat things that are delicious. She also likes to ride her bicycle by lakes and be in nature. Her future plan is to graduate from college and travel the world.
Nataly estaría en su último año de la escuela secundaria en Washington, DC cuando escribía Voces Sin Fronteras. Ella es de El Salvador. Nataly ama ir a la playa, leer, y comer delicioso. Ella también le gusta andar en bicicleta por los lagos y estar en lugares naturales. Su plan futuro es graduarse de la universidad y viajar por el mundo.
Tato was an eighteen year old junior in high school in Washington, DC when he wrote Voces Sin Fronteras. He is from Honduras. He likes to skate. In the future, he wants to be a soldier.
Tato es un joven de dieciocho años en el undécimo grado de la escuela secundario cuando escribía Voces Sin Fronteras. Él es de Honduras. Le gusta patinar. Él quiere ser un soldado en el futuro.
Alejandro was in the twelfth grade when he wrote Voces Sin Fronteras. He is from El Salvador. Through his story, Alejandro wants to show the true meaning of sacrifice. Children being displaced by violence and starting from scratch is difficult. His message is one of hope and possibility for all.
Alejandro estaría en el último grado de la secundario cuando escribía Voces Sin Fronteras. Él es de El Salvador. A través de su historia, Alejandro quiere mostrar el verdadero significado del sacrificio. Los niños desplazados por la violencia y comenzando desde cero es difícil. Su mensaje es de esperanza y posibilidad para todos.
Yeca was in the tenth grade in Washington, DC when she wrote Voces Sin Fronteras. She is from Washington, DC. She would like to get a scholarship to go to college and study to be a psychologist.
Yeca estaría en el décimo grado en Washington, DC cuando escribía Voces Sin Fronteras. Ella es de El Salvador. A ella le gustaría obtener una beca para ir a la universidad y estudiar para ser psicóloga.
Sebastian was eighteen years old when he wrote Voces Sin Fronteras and graduated from high school in Washington, DC. He is from Ecuador. He is planning to go to college to study graphic design. He likes to watch anime, play video games, hang out with his friends, and enjoy life.
Sebastian tenía dieciocho años cuando escribía Voces Sin Fronteras y acaba de graduarse de la escuela secundaria en Washington, DC. Él es de Ecuador. Él está planeando ir a la universidad para estudiar diseño gráfico. Le gusta mirar anime, jugar videojuegos, pasar el rato con sus amigos, y disfrutar de la vida.
Selena is in college. She is in Mexico. She is studying social work and wants to become an immigration lawyer. Selena hopes her story encourages those who misunderstand the refugee situation to have compassion for children fleeing violence.
Selena es estudiante en la universidad. Ella es de México. Está estudiando trabajo social y quiere convertirse en abogada de inmigración. Selena espera que su historia aliente a quienes malinterpretan la situación de los refugiados a tener compasión por los niños que huyen de la violencia.
Brenda is a recent high school graduate. She is from El Salvador. She likes to spend time with her family and watch movies. She wants to go to college, possibly to study medicine or international business.
Brenda es una recién graduada de la escuela secundaria. Ella es de El Salvador. Le gusta pasar tiempo con su familia y ver películas. Ella quiere ir a la universidad, posiblemente para estudiar medicina o negocios internacionales.
S.R.P. was a sixteen-year-old eleventh grader in Washington, DC when she wrote Voces Sin Fronteras. She is from Cuba. She likes to learn and to listen to people. In the future, she would like to study math.
S.R.P. era una estudiante de dieciséis años en el undécimo grado en Washington, DC cuando escribía Voces Sin Fronteras. Ella es de Cuba. A ella le gusta aprender y escuchar a la gente. En el futuro, le gustaría estudiar matemáticas.
Tania was an eleventh grader in Washington, DC when she wrote Voces Sin Fronteras. She is from Guatemala. Tania likes to act, and over the summer, she helped write and perform in a play with the GALA Theatre.
Tania era una estudiante en el undécimo grado de la escuela secundaria en Washington, DC cuando escribía Voces Sin Fronteras. Ella es de Guatemala. A Tania le gusta actuar, y durante el verano, ella ayudó a escribir y actuar en una obra de teatro con el Teatro GALA.
J.J. was a sixteen year old sophomore in high school when he wrote Voces Sin Fronteras. He is from El Salvador. He likes to read, listen to music, and play badminton. He wants to study engineering. J.J. is an inquisitive young man, hungry for knowledge, and he respects the power of education.
J.J. era un estudiante de dieciseis años de segundo año en la escuela secundaria. Él es de El Salvador. Le gusta leer, escuchar música, y jugar bádminton. Él quiere estudiar ingeniería. J.J. es un joven inquisitivo, hambriento de conocimiento, y respeta el poder de la educación.
Yesi was in the eleventh grade in Washington, DC when she wrote Voces Sin Fronteras. She is from El Salvador. She likes to listen to music, watch movies, and spend time with friends. In the future, she wants to go to university and have a job related to health so she can help people.
Yesi era en el undécimo grado en Washington, DC cuando escribía Voces Sin Fronteras. Ella es de El Salvador. Le gusta escuchar música, ver películas, y pasar tiempo con amigos. En el futuro, ella quiere ir a la universidad y tener un trabajo relacionado con la salud para poder ayudar a las personas.
Rosa was nineteen when she wrote Voces Sin Fronteras. She just graduated from high school and is going to major in biology in college so she can pursue a medical career. Rosa likes to cook and watch movies, a lot of movies.
Rosa tenía diecinueve años cuando escribía Voces Sin Fronteras. Ella acaba de graduarse de la escuela secundaria y va a especializarse en biología en la universidad para poder seguir una carrera en medicina. A Rosa le gusta cocinar y mirar películas, muchas películas.
M.C. was nineteen years old when he wrote Voces Sin Fronteras, and had just graduated from high school. He is planning to attend college in Washington, DC. He likes to play soccer and videos games and to spend time with his family. He wants to study mechanical engineering.
M.C. tenia diecinueve años cuando escribía Voces Sin Fronteras, y acaba de graduarse de la escuela secundaria. Él planea ir a la universidad en Washington, DC. Le gusta jugar fútbol y videojuegos y pasar tiempo con su familia. Él quiere estudiar ingeniería mecánica.
Erminia was a senior in high school in Washington, DC when she wrote Voces Sin Fronteras. She is from El Salvador. She participates in a lot of leadership programs. In the future, she would like to be an immigration lawyer.
Erminia era en el último año de la escuela secundaria en Washington, DC cuando escribía Voces Sin Fronteras. Ella es de el Salvador. Ella participa mucho en programas de liderazgo. En el futuro, le gustaría ser una abogada de inmigración.
Recognition and Impact
Voces Sin Fronteras won the International Latino Book Award for best young adult nonfiction.
“Everyone Has an Important Story to Tell: Immigrant Narratives in a Fifth Grade Classroom”
Shout Mouse Press’ writing programs and books were featured in an article on Reasons to Be Cheerful.
VERDICT Spotlighting underrepresented voices, this work is highly recommended for all communities in their efforts to promote empathetic, inclusive discussions around immigration.
Voces Sin Fronteras received the top fiction award in fiction category of the 2018 In The Margins Book Awards.
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