Solito by Javier Zamora

A young poet tells the inspiring story of his unforgettable migration from El Salvador to the United States at the age of nine in this “gripping memoir” (NPR) of bravery, hope, and finding family. 

“I read Solito with my heart in my throat and did not burst into tears until the last sentence. What a person, what a writer, what a book. A masterpiece.”—Emma Straub

A READ WITH JENNA PICK

“A riveting tale of perseverance and the lengths humans will go to help each other in times of struggle.”—Dave Eggers

Trip. My parents started using that word about a year ago—“one day, you’ll take a trip to be with us. Like an adventure.”

Javier’s adventure is an almost 3000-mile journey from El Salvador, through Guatemala and Mexico, and across the U.S. border to reunite with his family. Traveling alone except for a group of strangers and a “coyote” hired to lead him to safety, Javier’s trip is supposed to last two short weeks.

At nine years old, all Javier can imagine is rushing into his parents’ arms, snuggling in bed between them, and living under the same roof again. He cannot foresee the perilous boat trips, relentless desert treks, pointed guns, arrests and deceptions that await him; nor can he know that those two weeks will expand into two life-altering months alongside a group of strangers who will come to encircle him like an unexpected family.

A memoir as propulsive as it is inspiring, Solito not only provides an intimate account of a near-impossible journey, but also the miraculous kindness and love delivered at the most unexpected moments. “I have waited decades for a memoir like Solito,” says Sandra Cisneros.

Story Locale: El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, the Arizona border

Javier Zamora was born in El Salvador in 1990. His debut poetry collection, Unaccompanied, explores the impact of war and immigration on his family. Zamora has been a Stegner Fellow at Stanford and a Radcliffe Fellow at Harvard and holds fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation.

Author Residence: Tucson, Arizona

Author Hometown: La Herradura, El Salvador; San Raphael, California