Jiménez came to the US with her family looking for a better life. She was smart and motivated and happily she found people to help her with the process to get assistance for college and to be legally documented. It's not as easy as some assume and I felt sad reading what she had to go through but I'm glad this positive, wonderful person is here now making positive changes. Thanks to NetGalley I got to listen to the audiobook which I really liked.

This book opened my eyes to legislation I was too young to understand. The book is very conversational and breaks down her journey and how it coincides with what was happening politically. This wasn't hard to read as someone who doesn't read nonfiction often. This book calls us not to follow what the news tells us unthinkingly, but to research, peacefully protest, and do our due diligence as people to make our voices heard. A book that calls the readers to action. As a second-generation Latina who looks white, I see how people treat my mom for how she looks. I also was made more aware of internalized racism in my Hispanic household that I didn't realize was generational and reinforced by the media. A very good read for other POC teens to understand that they have power even when the system makes them feel powerless.

Cristina Jimenez’s "Dreaming of Home" is an extraordinary and deeply moving book that shines a powerful light on the struggles of growing up undocumented in America. As someone who works with undocumented youth, I thought I understood the challenges they face, but this book opened my eyes to the daily realities and anxieties that are so often overlooked.

Jimenez writes with honesty and empathy, capturing not just the big, dramatic moments, but also the small, everyday fears that shape the lives of undocumented children and teenagers. One of the most impactful aspects of the book is how it reveals the constant undercurrent of anxiety—how even simple things, like disputing a bill or answering a knock at the door, can trigger overwhelming fear of deportation. These details are rendered with such clarity and compassion that they linger long after you finish reading.

The storytelling is both personal and universal. Jimenez’s voice is authentic and compelling, drawing readers into her world and making the stakes feel heartbreakingly real. She doesn’t shy away from the pain and injustice, but she also celebrates the resilience, hope, and dreams that persist in the face of adversity.

What makes "Dreaming of Home" truly exceptional is its ability to foster understanding. This isn’t just a book for those who are already sympathetic to the plight of undocumented immigrants—it’s a book that everyone should read. It has the power to change minds and hearts, to inspire greater compassion and empathy for those whose stories are too often ignored or misunderstood.

In short, "Dreaming of Home" is a must-read. It’s an important, beautifully written book that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. Five stars, without hesitation.

Cristina Jiménez shares her journey from Ecuadorian born to American citizen. A truly heroic journey of self exploration and the heart felt desire to help others. Dreaming of Home explores the ethics in politics and the many fears one has to navigate to survive the many lies of politics. This was such a phenomenally fascinating read!