Solito is the story of a young boy's journey from leaving his family in El Salvador to illegally entering America to be with his parents. It's obviously an incredibly difficult and heart wrenching journey that no child should ever have to go through. When I think of my own Sons at that age and imagine them having to do what Javier did and deal with what he experienced, we'll I just can't ever believe that they would get through it.
The book was very well written and I highly recommend it

An extraordinary account of an unaccompanied child and his journey from El Salvador to be reunited with his parents in the U.S. Heartbreaking despite the setbacks he faces yet uplifting as this young child discovers an inner resilience to survive and begin again.

Thanks to Netgalley the author and publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review

Solito: a memoir, tells the brutally honest journey of nine year old Javier trying to make it across the Mexico/USA border to be reunited with his parents. Told from his point of view and memories, we see the dangerous journey through his innocent eyes. To get through the journey at times he pretends he's in a telenovela and they are all actors and actresses playing a part. Which actually isn't far from the truth as Javier has a false Mexican ID and for weeks he's had to memorise the national anthem, the countries president's, the football teams. The attention to detail not to be caught out and the pressure to say the right things.

Javier is in a group of 6, but they soon become The Four. Javier, a young man named Chele and Patricia and her daughter Carla. To make things easier they pretend to be a family.

I loved the whole book, but the last ten percent had me in tears. I was so happy, but so sad at the same time. They were bonded over a unique experience that no one else could understand as every trip is different. The selflessness to treat someone else's child as your own. The adults were heroes. There is a lot of love in this book in unexpected places and really does show the best (and worse) of people.

What can I say about this incredible book other than READ IT! And nobody, should have to do this journey. Nobody should have to go through what they went through or be treated the way they were. A book I will be thinking about for a long time and one I will re read in the future.

A phenomenal book. A must read for all. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.

The novel is written in the voice of a 9 year old boy travelling alone along migration routes to join his parents in America. A two week journey turns into seven weeks with kind and awful people along the way. It is shocking and heart breaking to think of such a young child making such a perilous journey alone. Especially since he has a loving home with his grandparents and cousins but few peospects and going to America is something he dreams of but has no idea of the reality of the journey he will have to undertake. The tale is beautifully crafted.

This was a heartbreaking and emotional memoir, but eye opening and completely necessary as well! Solito will make you feel a warmth in your heart for Javier Zamora, but also feel frustrated and sad for everyone who needs to do the same as he did, and whose story may not have a happy ending as his.

A very emotional read about a nine year old boys migration from El Salvador to the USA, alone with no family members he gets taken in by some strangers who form a family and stick together thoughout all obstacles until the end. It was an interesting insight into what lengths people have to go to to escape into a safer country.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

A memoir as gripping as it is moving, Solito provides an immediate and intimate account not only of a treacherous and near-impossible journey, but also of the miraculous kindness and love delivered at the most unexpected moments. Solito is Javier Zamora's story, but it's also the story of millions of others who had no choice but to leave home.

A thrilling story made all the more gripping by the real life tale behind it.

As someone from the UK I know less than nothing about the problems that cause people to attempt crossing into the USA, or the politics that surround living there undocumented. I was so excited to read this book and fill the gaps in my knowledge. However, rather than focusing overmuch on the politics and details of the situation, I was surprised to find a first person narrative as true to the perspective of a 9 year old boy as possible.

This novel gave me a much needed insight into the actual mechanics and the pains of crossing a border. I don't think a non-fiction text would be able to provide me with any of the insight I hold now and I'm very grateful that such a book exists.

My only criticism is that I found the long passages of Spanish conversation towards the later half of the novel difficult to get through as I had very little idea what was going on. I understand that it's a stylistic choice, but it wasn't one that helped me understand the perspective of the author.

Tragic, emotional, compelling, gripping and a glimpse in a world most of us don't know. We know people cross the border all the time, migrants, illegals - criminals? Every one of them has their own story, and there's always a reason. Javier's story is a difficult one, but it's not unique: there are indeed children doing the trip all alone, depending on a coyote, experiencing whatever the adults in their group experience, the insecurity, the waiting, the risk for their life, in a boat or in the desert, the long march, the thirst, the pain, the fear...
Javier is an incredibly strong and resilient child and is extremely aware of his surroundings: animals, smells, colors, tastes.... He makes us feel with all our senses.
Although I did not get all the Spanish and did not know all the references, jokes, insults or the different meals I learned a lot about the differences between El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico.

With so much hatred and prejudice around human migration, this is a beautifully written, important and emotional read about a young boy who makes a long journey towards his parents.

You will experience a range of emotions as the writer / poet takes you on the journey.

The boy barely remembers his father, who left during the civil war in El Salvador and his mother joined him a few years later. Once sufficient money had been saved, their son can travel to join his them. As this is a memoir, there’s no shock ending - thank goodness! But, rather, a beautifully told story of humanity in all its forms and the strength of the human spirit in adversity. An important read, especially at this time of bigotry and hate and congratulations to the author on a moving, wonderful read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Oneworld Publications for the opportunity to preview.

So you should read this if you want to know a real migrant story. This isn't the flashy running away from criminals that we were served up in American Dirt. This is a true account of one boy's harrowing trek from El Salvador to the USA.

I think what you have to keep reminding yourself is that Javier Zamora was nine years old at the time of his crossing. When he is afraid of getting undressed or peeing in public you have to keep remembering that this is a small boy, alone, amongst a lot of frightened adults without any parent to guide him. I don't know what you were like as a nine year old but I wasn't allowed anywhere but nearby friends homes at that age. I certainly can't imagine my parents contemplating a journey of over 2000 miles by boat, truck, on foot and ostensibly alone at that age.

There are times when the tale is repetitive but crossing a desert by foot, I imagine, is extremely repetitive. However, Javier Zamora's memoir is shocking to say the least. Unscrupulous coyotes, lack of food/water/shade/sleep all play their part.

It certainly makes you realize how afraid and desperate people have to be to undertake this journey.

Highly recommended for anyone who wishes to read a real migrant story. And just keep telling yourself that this is the memoir of a boy of only 9.

This memoir is a must read for anyone who wants to gain an insight into what child migrants go through to get to the US.

It is no easy reading - though the reading is considerably easier than the trip.

Zamora's account it so direct that one feels one makes the whole trip next to 'Javiercito' experiencing the highs and the lows with him. It gives you a window, some understanding, but it also makes you realise that you'll never really really be able to fully comprehend the struggle, the fortitude it takes for a 9 year old to complete a journey like this, or the trauma it leaves behind.

Oh my word! What an engrossing, compelling book, that I can't leave behind in my mind and heart.

Solito tells the autobiographical story through a 9 year old's voice, of the anticipation of leaving the country he has always known, El Salvador, to try to reach his parents who migrated to the US for political reasons when he was almost too young to remember.

We get to know him in his daily simple life living with his grandparents and cousin, hoping that one day he will be old enough to make the risky, illegal journey across 4 countries to be reunited with his parents. He excitedly awaits this adventure, but it doesn't dawn on him until the big day, that he will leave behind everything and everyone he knows and loves, and - scariest of all - that he will undertake the journey alone among a group of strangers.

What he also cannot know is that the strangers will become his new temporary family, with whom he will share fear, excitement, risk, danger, new foods - and come to trust and love as his own kin.

This story is packed full of adventure and emotion, a traveller's delight, and anyone who knows Central America will be transported to its shores through Javier Zamora's talented descriptions, references to food, surroundings and music.

I felt I travelled every step with him. He lived through a massive life-changing experience and it must have formed his character and traumatised him immensely. Javier - please write more books, I cannot wait to read the sequel.

This is the best work I have read this year, I urge you to READ THIS BOOK.

Survival against the odds. An amazing story based on a gruelling journey made by the author as a young boy from El Salvador to California to live with his parents, who had migrated there a few years before. Along the way, there's treachery and friendship, thirst and hunger but it's the kindness of strangers you remember most. The best book I've read in a long time.

This was a really interesting read, very well written and an unusual storyline. It is touching in places and keeps you interested all the way through.

This is the true story of nine year old Javier who travelled 3 000 miles from El Salvador to be reunited with his parents in the United States. Entrusted to the care of strangers and paid coyotes, it should have taken 2 weeks. but in reality it took two harrowing months.
It is an incredible story of an incredibly brave nine year old who withstood terrible hardships along the way. It's a miracle he survived and well worth reading.

A difficult and powerful story, incredibly well told. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.