SuitabookIdentity and starting again
Miguel wants to reach Mexico and begin again, while the story frames running away as potentially leading back towards what he is avoiding.
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Book details
Matt de la Peña - Author
A young protagonist’s attempt to leave his old life behind becomes a journey involving institutional care, companions, family estrangement and the possibility that escape cannot settle what remains unresolved.
The story of one boy and his journey to find himself.When it happened, Miguel was sent to Juvi. The judge gave him a year in a group home—said he had to write in a journal so some counselor could try to figure out how he thinks. The judge had no idea that he actually did Miguel a favor. Ever since it happened, his mom can't even look at him in the face. Any home besides his would be a better place to live. But Miguel didn't bet on meeting Rondell or Mong or on any of what happened after they broke out. He only thought about Mexico and getting to the border to where he could start over. Forget his mom. Forget his brother. Forget himself. Life usually doesn't work out how you think it will, though. And most of the time, running away is the quickest path right back to what you're running from.
Book Brief
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Sign in for personalised guidanceA young protagonist’s attempt to leave his old life behind becomes a journey involving institutional care, companions, family estrangement and the possibility that escape cannot settle what remains unresolved.
Miguel wants to reach Mexico and begin again, while the story frames running away as potentially leading back towards what he is avoiding.
Consider whether the treatment of the unspecified incident, institutional placement and escape feels compassionate, challenging or simplifying. The book also invites attention to how family estrangement shapes his wish to start over.
This is a grounded book brief while Suitabook strengthens the analysis: the current material supports only a cautious reading; another book-specific source is still needed.
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Anything not established here remains open; it is not being treated as absent or safe.