A very moving, poignant, and informative depiction of life in the US as an illegal citizen. Garcia writes with vivid prose, giving great insight into her characters' minds. I really enjoyed Linda and Juanita's stories, and all the weaving in of Mexican foods made me HUNGRY! I struggled a bit more with Tim's storyline, but Garcia clearly paints him as a desperate man. The inclusion of many Spanish words and phrases, with footnotes of translations, was quite helpful (but occasionally challenging, as I know little Spanish). I think Ms. Garcia has opened up a whole new subgenre of fiction - English-written, but appealing to the diverse population of the United States. She brings much-needed light and empathy to the struggles of those here "illegally." A tale worth reading!

This was a well written book that pulled me into the world of the character. Every chapter pushed forward. I loved the Spanish phrases and the interpretations at the bottom of the page. That was fun-almost felt a part of the community The author was not pushy about her message, but you will certainly never forget it. Poignant. Meaningful. Well done.

Vivir el Dream gives us a realistic glimpse into the immigration struggle in the Hispanic community. Ms. Garcia weaves a tale giving the reader three view points.
Linda Palacios is an undocumented college student. Brought to the United States at the age of three, Virginia is all she knows. It’s her home and the community she lives in helps define her identity.
I loved how Ms. Garcia explored the prejudice and ignorance the outside world has regarding immigration. I loved getting to know Linda and see her strengths. She taught me so much.
Ms. Garcia also gives us the view point of Juanita, Linda’s mother. You get to see the reasons behind her decision to immigrate across the Mexican border into the U.S. My heat ached for her as bits and pieces of her story were slowly shared.
And Tim. I struggled between empathizing with his plight and being extremely annoyed (that’s the nicest thing I can say) about his prejudice and ignorance of the Latino community. As a fellow writer, I admire the depth Ms. Garcia went through creating his character. You can see the stereotypes that others believe through his eyes. I think he’ll be the eye opener for readers. Will they see similar prejudices and ignorance?
Vivir el Dream really made me think about the truth of “walking a mile in someone’s shoes.” This is a must read for all who want to understand another culture and widen their views.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. This review is my own, honest opinion.

Allison K. Garcia's book, Vivir El Dream belongs among the pantheon of must read novels for the 21st century, especially now with so much discussion of undocumented aliens and travel bans, etc.

Linda Palacios was brought to the United States by her mother when she was just three years old. Now, forced to pay the price for a decision she had no part in, Linda is deported back to Mexico though she has broken no laws and has lived the life of a hard working American.

Well done, Allison. This was such an enjoyable read. I learned things about the plight of undocumented people I never took into consideration before. You've opened my eyes.

I purchased a copy of this book from the author. The review is my own honest assessment of this wonderful book.

I had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Garcia on Monday evening. What a bright, gifted and spirit filled young woman. I was able to get an autographed copy of the book and have not been able to put it down. Living in this world of undocumented immigrants and it being a headline every day, this novel, although fictional characters, truly depicts the life of these law abiding, Christians who have come to the United States to fulfill their dreams. Allison is a great story teller and can['t wait to get back to the story!!!!!!

This book was amazing! The character development was impressive and the depth of understanding the undocumented struggle in the USA was expressed well. It made me want to learn more about the Dream Act and ways that I can get involved. The story portrays the struggle of so many people in this country who have escaped tragic lives, who have come here to find a better and safer life to then experience more trauma and tragedy due to unfair laws and people's ignorance. I couldn't put this book down and at the end I found myself yearning for more. This would be a great book club read as it evokes much thought and could offer a vast array of discussion. Well done Allison!!!

This was a moving book for me. It gave me an insight of the struggles undocumented immigrants live and go through on a daily basis. I loved the Spanish references, I recommend this book to anyone who aside from wanting to read a good novel, wants to learn a little Spanish on the side. Needless to say this story kept me wanting to read on. The twist towards the end also kept me intrigued. Overall amazing work!

This was a moving book for me. It gave me an insight of the struggles undocumented immigrants live and go through on a daily basis. I loved the Spanish references, I recommend this book to anyone who aside from wanting to read a good novel, wants to learn a little Spanish on the side. Needless to say this story kept me wanting to read on. The twist towards the end also kept me intrigued. Overall amazing work!

Well written and a moving story. This novel gave me much needed insight into the life of an undocumented college student. If you're looking for a novel with excellent characters who show strong faith amidst adversity, this book will not disappoint.

I enjoyed getting to know these characters, and through them experience a little bit of the latinx culture (and food!) as well as the struggles that immigrants might face coming to the USA and then dealing with the reality of making a life in a new country.

A very moving, poignant, and informative depiction of life in the US as an illegal citizen. Garcia writes with vivid prose, giving great insight into her characters' minds. I really enjoyed Linda and Juanita's stories, and all the weaving in of Mexican foods made me HUNGRY! I struggled a bit more with Tim's storyline, but Garcia clearly paints him as a desperate man. The inclusion of many Spanish words and phrases, with footnotes of translations, was quite helpful (but occasionally challenging, as I know little Spanish). I think Ms. Garcia has opened up a whole new subgenre of fiction - English-written, but appealing to the diverse population of the United States. She brings much-needed light and empathy to the struggles of those here "illegally." A tale worth reading!

Very much enjoyed this book! The topic certainly fits in with current immigration issues and gave me a different perspective. Well worth reading. Not too many characters to keep track of, which I liked. Good character development with people you'll enjoy getting to know as you read the story. 

Our Pastor read it, but since he's not very computer saavy, I'll add his comments: He liked the book, said it kept his interest, and was a page-turner. 

Check it out Amazon in print or Kindle. :-)

Allison K. García’s first novel is a flavorful read with a refreshing voice that celebrates diversity and examines justice, immigration, and faith. It tells a contemporary and timely story about an undocumented college student, Linda, and her mother, Juanita, who made a cruzada from Mexico when Linda was only a toddler.

This story manages to be both light and deep, showing the real-life problems that undocumented people face in various contexts, with humor and compassion. Readers who enjoy diverse fiction, light romance, bilingual stories (there’s a fair amount of Spanish, all footnoted/linked with translations), and tales of faith and healing will enjoy Vivir El Dream.

Be warned, the food descriptions will make you crave home cooked Mexican food!

The story was a great page turner as well as an education on the struggles of life for the undocumented in our country. Author was not preachy but told a story I will not forget. I still hope for the characters, after the story is over. Well done!

Though this compelling novel, I experienced the plight of the undocumented in America in a very real way. It opened my eyes and my heart to la gente, bringing the music, the food, the culture, and the struggles alive. The book keeps you reading at an unhurried pace and blends diverse characters and languages in a sweet, uplifting tone. Beautiful and inspiring.

Vivir el Dream gives us a realistic glimpse into the immigration struggle in the Hispanic community. Ms. Garcia weaves a tale giving the reader three view points.

Linda Palacios is an undocumented college student. Brought to the United States at the age of three, Virginia is all she knows. It’s her home and the community she lives in helps define her identity.
I loved how Ms. Garcia explored the prejudice and ignorance the outside world has regarding immigration. I loved getting to know Linda and see her strengths. She taught me so much.

Ms. Garcia also gives us the view point of Juanita, Linda’s mother. You get to see the reasons behind her decision to immigrate across the Mexican border into the U.S. My heat ached for her as bits and pieces of her story were slowly shared.

And Tim. I struggled between empathizing with his plight and being extremely annoyed (that’s the nicest thing I can say) about his prejudice and ignorance of the Latino community. As a fellow writer, I admire the depth Ms. Garcia went through creating his character. You can see the stereotypes that others believe through his eyes. I think he’ll be the eye opener for readers. Will they see similar prejudices and ignorance?

Vivir el Dream really made me think about the truth of “walking a mile in someone’s shoes.” This is a must read for all who want to understand another culture and widen their views.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. This review is my own, honest opinion.
**Review first posted at https://diversitybetweenthepages.wordpress.com