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The Iguana Tree
Set amid the perils of illegal border crossings, The Iguana Tree is the suspenseful saga of Lilia and Hector, who separately make their way from Mexico into the United States, seeking work in the Carolinas and a home for their infant daughter. Michel Stone s harrowing novel meticulously examines the obstacles each faces in pursuing a new life: manipulation, rape, and murder in the perilous commerce of border crossings; betrayal by family and friends; exploitation by corrupt officials and rapacious landowners on the U.S. side; and, finally, the inexorable workings of the U.S. justice system. Hector and Lilia meet Americans willing to help them with legal assistance and offers of responsible employment, but their illegal entry seems certain to prove their undoing. The consequences of their decisions are devastating. In the end, The Iguana Tree is a universal story of loss, grief, and human dignity.
228 pages, Hardcover
First published February 27, 2012
18 people are currently reading
409 people want to read
About the author
Michel Stone
14 books61 followersMichel Stone is the author of The Iguana Tree, and has published more than a dozen stories and essays in various journals and magazines. Her work has appeared numerous times in the Raleigh News & Observer's Emerging Southern Writers series. Stone is a 2011 recipient of the South Carolina Fiction Project Award. She lives in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
February 26, 2017
I first heard this author speak at the South Carolina Library Association conference a few years ago. The book came up again when I interviewed two women from my in-person book club for an episode of the Reading Envy Podcast, and they both spoke highly of it.
I'm waffling between a 3.5 and 4 stars for this book. On the one hand I do not feel the writing is particularly good. There is space for beautiful, lyric writing, and instead much of it feels more like a narrative of stuff that happens. There are opportunities not taken and explored, for instance with the characters of Rosa and Emmanuel in Mexico; Lucas and Elizabeth in Edisto Island. There is no resolution about a central conflict. The editing also leaves a bit to be desired, and I hate to say this since it is an independent press in my state, but there were glaring grammatical errors that would have been corrected even in a regular old spell/grammar check. I'm not sure how those sneak through.
What Stone has done well is portray a realistic struggle of people to cross the USA-Mexico border for work in the north. It isn't necessarily a success story or one of those "exceptional brown person" stories (thank goodness) written in an attempt to win people over because a person is pure and good. Instead she shows the variety of reasons a person might circumnavigate the legal means of immigrating, the incredible challenges and dangers they face in the process, and the wide span of opinions about the reasons why you would even try such a thing in the first place. The characters of Héctor and Lilia are imperfect, and the story ends in a place where I'm not left certain their marriage will even survive. The South Carolinians employing them are hard-working and decent, unlike the way many American employers of undocumented workers are typically portrayed. So I did appreciate the realism, the nuance, and the lack of attempt to solve it through a story. It is just the story of these two people.
I'm waffling between a 3.5 and 4 stars for this book. On the one hand I do not feel the writing is particularly good. There is space for beautiful, lyric writing, and instead much of it feels more like a narrative of stuff that happens. There are opportunities not taken and explored, for instance with the characters of Rosa and Emmanuel in Mexico; Lucas and Elizabeth in Edisto Island. There is no resolution about a central conflict. The editing also leaves a bit to be desired, and I hate to say this since it is an independent press in my state, but there were glaring grammatical errors that would have been corrected even in a regular old spell/grammar check. I'm not sure how those sneak through.
What Stone has done well is portray a realistic struggle of people to cross the USA-Mexico border for work in the north. It isn't necessarily a success story or one of those "exceptional brown person" stories (thank goodness) written in an attempt to win people over because a person is pure and good. Instead she shows the variety of reasons a person might circumnavigate the legal means of immigrating, the incredible challenges and dangers they face in the process, and the wide span of opinions about the reasons why you would even try such a thing in the first place. The characters of Héctor and Lilia are imperfect, and the story ends in a place where I'm not left certain their marriage will even survive. The South Carolinians employing them are hard-working and decent, unlike the way many American employers of undocumented workers are typically portrayed. So I did appreciate the realism, the nuance, and the lack of attempt to solve it through a story. It is just the story of these two people.
May 28, 2012
I hope there is a sequel.
June 3, 2012
A beautiful book.
May 19, 2013
Two-day read. Couldn't put it down!! Just wow!
June 21, 2020
Will review at a later date
April 25, 2012
The Short of It:
The Iguana Tree is written with compassion, yet provides only a brief glimpse into the lives of undocumented workers.
The Rest of It:
Hector, Lilia and their newborn daughter live in Puerto Isadore and dream of a life in America. As the novel opens, Hector has paid someone to take him across the border. The plan, once there, is to find a job, save money and send for Lilia and the baby as soon as possible. Lilia, impatient to be with her husband, finds passage herself and what follows is their story.
This novel had promise. It opened beautifully and I found myself taken with Lilia and Hector and the small town they live in. As Hector makes his way across the border, I considered many times, how desperate a person had to be, to risk everything for the American dream. But what happens seems almost too good to be true and then right when you begin to question just how good things are, they are hit with tragedy which was all-together too convenient for me.
As I was reading, I got the sense that the author didn’t want to upset anyone, including herself. That she wanted these characters to come out on top, but then knew or perhaps felt that it couldn’t possibly turn out well and then at the end, (which I will not spoil for anyone) she goes back into the other direction again. Kind of.
If I had spent more time with these characters in their hometown, I would have understood their motivation more. If the author had focused on one aspect of their story, perhaps more time could have been spent on developing that one aspect instead of trying to touch on all the issues involved with undocumented workers. And last, but certainly not least…what is she trying to say? I don’t feel as if a statement was made. Does she support illegal immigration? Does she support undocumented workers? Is she saying that the process should be easier to enter the country legally? I’m not sure and I really searched for this in order to give this book a fair shake.
I wanted and expected a lot more because there were pieces that did work well and there were times where I did feel something for these characters, but in the end, no stance was made and that choice affected the entire story.
Would I read another book by this author? Yes, because what I liked, I liked quite a bit, but I wanted more. I do think this would make a good discussion book for a book club though. There is a lot to explore.
For more reviews, visit my blog: Book Chatter.
The Iguana Tree is written with compassion, yet provides only a brief glimpse into the lives of undocumented workers.
The Rest of It:
Hector, Lilia and their newborn daughter live in Puerto Isadore and dream of a life in America. As the novel opens, Hector has paid someone to take him across the border. The plan, once there, is to find a job, save money and send for Lilia and the baby as soon as possible. Lilia, impatient to be with her husband, finds passage herself and what follows is their story.
This novel had promise. It opened beautifully and I found myself taken with Lilia and Hector and the small town they live in. As Hector makes his way across the border, I considered many times, how desperate a person had to be, to risk everything for the American dream. But what happens seems almost too good to be true and then right when you begin to question just how good things are, they are hit with tragedy which was all-together too convenient for me.
As I was reading, I got the sense that the author didn’t want to upset anyone, including herself. That she wanted these characters to come out on top, but then knew or perhaps felt that it couldn’t possibly turn out well and then at the end, (which I will not spoil for anyone) she goes back into the other direction again. Kind of.
If I had spent more time with these characters in their hometown, I would have understood their motivation more. If the author had focused on one aspect of their story, perhaps more time could have been spent on developing that one aspect instead of trying to touch on all the issues involved with undocumented workers. And last, but certainly not least…what is she trying to say? I don’t feel as if a statement was made. Does she support illegal immigration? Does she support undocumented workers? Is she saying that the process should be easier to enter the country legally? I’m not sure and I really searched for this in order to give this book a fair shake.
I wanted and expected a lot more because there were pieces that did work well and there were times where I did feel something for these characters, but in the end, no stance was made and that choice affected the entire story.
Would I read another book by this author? Yes, because what I liked, I liked quite a bit, but I wanted more. I do think this would make a good discussion book for a book club though. There is a lot to explore.
For more reviews, visit my blog: Book Chatter.
September 16, 2012
The story could have been great, but the writing was not enough to engross me and I often relied solely on plot to get me through the novel. At the end I also didn't feel as satisfied as I'd like to have been, and I'm not saying this in a "I don't like endings that don't give complete closure" way but in the sense that the novel didn't intrigue me enough to have many questions at the end of the book other than "I wonder what happens to Alejandra." I'm sure many people feel differently, but I hated the dialogue and drama, which didn't pull on my heart strings much, and I didn't find any truly memorable metaphors or symbols. If you want to read a quality book on what it's like to come to America or somewhere in the West (not Mexican immigrants in specific) read The Buddha in the Attic, The Joy Luck Club, or Interpreter of Maladies. Those three all are much more engaging than this book and fulfilling at their finishes.
June 2, 2012
There is no doubt that the immigrants coming from Mexico have a very hard time of it. So many people, from the coyotes to regular people take advantage of them and terrible things happen to them. This book is the story who come over from Mexico, the husband first and later the wife. Can't say I much cared for the husband, Hector, he seemed like the typical macho dreamer until the very end. I did like his wife and felt very bad for her and the things that happened to her. Don't know how I actually feel about the illegals that our in our country, actually feel sorry for all sides. This book definitely gives one room for thought.
June 8, 2012
I did not like this book. A child's safety should always be a parent's first priority. The mother violated this golden rule. I was left beyond angry. I don't think most immigrants would endanger their child in such a way; their own safety, yes. The family was not in some war torn area of Mexico. Their town seemed nice. It didn't make sense to take such risks just because you miss your husband (who wasn't even gone that long). You never, EVER, hand your child over to strangers especially ones associated with an ex-boyfriend! I was horrified. I could not forgive this character. People who like flawed characters will perhaps like this book. She was too flawed for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2017
The Iguana Tree is a story of a family in Mexico with the hope of immigrating to America to better their lives. I read a book with a similar story line last year, The Same Sky, by Amanda Eyre Ward. While The Iguana Tree told of difficulties in the border crossing, it wasn’t as physically graphic as The Same Sky; which made for easier reading, though you aren’t “hit” quite as hard with the power of what can happen to illegal immigrants in their quest to reach the USA.
The story introduces you to Hector and Lillia. As is the case in real life, it’s easy to have an opinion about a broad topic; but when you get to know individuals affected by it, it can paint a different picture. Illegal immigrants are people, not just a group with a label.
The point is also well made that it’s easy to judge someone for making a decision that leads to disaster; however, we will all find ourselves in that same position at some point in our lives. Showing grace to someone else could make a big difference in many outcomes - including our own!
I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the characters in the story come to Edisto Island, SC! Reading of the familiar places was like talking to an old friend.
The book still leaves many unanswered questions as to how to best handle the illegal immigrant problem, but it can open your eyes to what’s actually happening in our world.
The story introduces you to Hector and Lillia. As is the case in real life, it’s easy to have an opinion about a broad topic; but when you get to know individuals affected by it, it can paint a different picture. Illegal immigrants are people, not just a group with a label.
The point is also well made that it’s easy to judge someone for making a decision that leads to disaster; however, we will all find ourselves in that same position at some point in our lives. Showing grace to someone else could make a big difference in many outcomes - including our own!
I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the characters in the story come to Edisto Island, SC! Reading of the familiar places was like talking to an old friend.
The book still leaves many unanswered questions as to how to best handle the illegal immigrant problem, but it can open your eyes to what’s actually happening in our world.
August 4, 2018
As illegal immigration continues to be an emotional topic, this book couldn't be more timely. The author describes the illegal border crossings of Hector and Lilia and ponders the motivations of the main characters when they chose this risk.
I liked the story and how the author developed the main characters and how she explored their relationship with their ups and downs. The reason for only giving a so-so rating were the wooden dialogues in book. There was a lot of dialogue and I thought they were so awkwardly written, that it distracted me of from the story.
I liked the story and how the author developed the main characters and how she explored their relationship with their ups and downs. The reason for only giving a so-so rating were the wooden dialogues in book. There was a lot of dialogue and I thought they were so awkwardly written, that it distracted me of from the story.
December 15, 2022
Harsh tale of a Mexican family trying to make its way to the U.S. Can’t even imagine how desperate one has to be to try such a dangerous crossing. The ending held out a little hope, but not much.
August 19, 2012
An odd book. It started off well; I felt a mix of suspense and hope about the characters' prospects. But before too long, the plot took a dive off a cliff and never recovered, while Hector and Lilia began to seem rather passive and flat. There were also some strange insinuations that seemed uncontested, namely that Lilia should have better obeyed her husband and that the characters' downfalls were the fault of their own bad choices rather than certain international political and economic factors.
October 19, 2015
Timely, well written, and moving. One young couple attempting to fulfill a dream of a better life, illegally come to the US. The cost of this move is devastating, even though the father finds work and many good things in the couple that hires him. He's respectful and a great help to the American who doesn't want to lose his ancestral land to development. The book kept me engrossed start to finish.
February 6, 2013
A tender and troubling look at the topic of immigration, not as an issue but as a story. Our city has chosen it as its One Book One Community read for 2013.
May 23, 2023
The book The Iguana Tree by Michel Stone was more directed to younger people, to show the difficulties of immigrating illegally and what some might go through just to get out of a bad area. This novel has only four really important characters which would be Miguel, Hector, Lila, and Alejandra; This adds a lot of variation to the novel which is proven in the book because when Hector and Lila are separated, the chapters are separated to make a sense of distance. Both of these characters (Hector and Lila) make very terrible decisions adding suspense in most parts of the novel, this including when Lila feels she needs to be with Hector and will do anything to be with him, which in return hurts both of them rather than helps. There is adventure in this novel, adding excitement to it but this adventure really only happens in the first 20 chapters the last 14 have very little fun in it so at the end it will get pretty boring. Out of this Miguel is probably the best character, I only say this because he adds the spice at the end and he also makes the bad parts better and makes you want to read the story further.
There are many people that can probably relate to the characters in this book, but me I can not; as a white american I can’t relate to characters that have it harder than me in every way, but…. this means when I read this novel I gained knowledge about what these people go through on a daily which this book tells really well and as long as you are open minded to this stuff, it’s a great read. Talking about this does not mean I haven’t felt these things that they were feeling, especially the feeling of being lost like Lila and that feeling of difference that Hector felt when he came to America.
This book was okay, you do definitely have to be prepared for some parts as they can be sensitive for some. But as I said in the first paragraph, the last couple chapters get really boring for zero resolution. Then you have to read a whole other book to get information about what happened which really sucks. My personal favorite part of this book had to have been when Hector was getting culture shock, and also when he was learning new words. My least favorite part was again the end, it was just so bland and boring. Michel Stone had built the novel off of real people’s experience which is nice since it added a sense of reality to it. Michel Stone definitely could have put the resolution in the book, she had way too much room in the end.
I could only recommend this book to people willing to learn about hardships in an immigrant's life and people who have an open mind about life. I only say this because this book is amazing at showing how people cross the border and live here and also the corrupt police which are a key part of America. Anyone can enjoy this book whether you want to learn or not and you can be an immigrant yourself and still enjoy this book and if you are you might understand it better.
There are many people that can probably relate to the characters in this book, but me I can not; as a white american I can’t relate to characters that have it harder than me in every way, but…. this means when I read this novel I gained knowledge about what these people go through on a daily which this book tells really well and as long as you are open minded to this stuff, it’s a great read. Talking about this does not mean I haven’t felt these things that they were feeling, especially the feeling of being lost like Lila and that feeling of difference that Hector felt when he came to America.
This book was okay, you do definitely have to be prepared for some parts as they can be sensitive for some. But as I said in the first paragraph, the last couple chapters get really boring for zero resolution. Then you have to read a whole other book to get information about what happened which really sucks. My personal favorite part of this book had to have been when Hector was getting culture shock, and also when he was learning new words. My least favorite part was again the end, it was just so bland and boring. Michel Stone had built the novel off of real people’s experience which is nice since it added a sense of reality to it. Michel Stone definitely could have put the resolution in the book, she had way too much room in the end.
I could only recommend this book to people willing to learn about hardships in an immigrant's life and people who have an open mind about life. I only say this because this book is amazing at showing how people cross the border and live here and also the corrupt police which are a key part of America. Anyone can enjoy this book whether you want to learn or not and you can be an immigrant yourself and still enjoy this book and if you are you might understand it better.
May 24, 2018
The story was based on the risk immigrants take and the consequences they face in search of a better life. The main characters in the story are Lilia, Hector and Miguel. Lilia went on her own way with her daughter to cross the border risking their lives, but Lilia didn’t know other unexpected things could happen. The problems the main characters faced was rape and the loss of their own child. Hector went through a lot crossing the border. Hector had to hide in the underbelly of a truck to get through the border. My favorite character in this novel is hector because he risked his life in search of daughter and didn’t give up which showed his commitment.
I can relate to Hector on the part of taking chances to be with his family which was the baby and Lilia at the time. I knew I was going to be upset after leaving Mexico, but I still went to see my dad and my younger siblings. I could feel some anger Hector did because I knew that my opportunities to see my dad were limited, and that made me mad. “I’ve been so angry at you, Lilia. I thought some days I hated you”.
I loved this book so much, not only because it was about immigrants crossing the border, but because it shows how bad immigrants are willing to put their life on the line for a brighter future. My favorite part of the book was when Hector accepted the fact that he wouldn’t see his daughter again. The reason I chose that part to be my favorite is because it showed the love they have for each other. My least favorite part of the story was when Lilia lost the baby because it changed the life of Lilia and defeated the purpose being in search for a better place to live. I’d say the author did really well on being specific when it came to crossing the border and how Lilia and Hector had to make a living for their own. I do believe there could have been more added to the book by explaining how exactly Lilia and Hector met again, and maybe there could’ve been connections involved.
I would personally recommend this to another reader as well, because it involves so much drama and a lot of twists. The Iguana Tree could be a good novel for almost anybody to read, but mainly for those who travel a lot and aren’t immigrants. The novel helps open the eyes of people and would help them understand why immigrants feel fortunate to be in the land of opportunity and should help them view immigrants more differently.
I can relate to Hector on the part of taking chances to be with his family which was the baby and Lilia at the time. I knew I was going to be upset after leaving Mexico, but I still went to see my dad and my younger siblings. I could feel some anger Hector did because I knew that my opportunities to see my dad were limited, and that made me mad. “I’ve been so angry at you, Lilia. I thought some days I hated you”.
I loved this book so much, not only because it was about immigrants crossing the border, but because it shows how bad immigrants are willing to put their life on the line for a brighter future. My favorite part of the book was when Hector accepted the fact that he wouldn’t see his daughter again. The reason I chose that part to be my favorite is because it showed the love they have for each other. My least favorite part of the story was when Lilia lost the baby because it changed the life of Lilia and defeated the purpose being in search for a better place to live. I’d say the author did really well on being specific when it came to crossing the border and how Lilia and Hector had to make a living for their own. I do believe there could have been more added to the book by explaining how exactly Lilia and Hector met again, and maybe there could’ve been connections involved.
I would personally recommend this to another reader as well, because it involves so much drama and a lot of twists. The Iguana Tree could be a good novel for almost anybody to read, but mainly for those who travel a lot and aren’t immigrants. The novel helps open the eyes of people and would help them understand why immigrants feel fortunate to be in the land of opportunity and should help them view immigrants more differently.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2018
In The Iguana Tree the characters Lilia and Hector are making their way to America. Hector was first to travel with a smuggler, but in Mexico these smugglers are known as coyotes. In Hector’s travels, he meets a travel companion named Miguel, and once they are in the US, Miguel sets Hector up with a job and helps him learn to speak English. Lilia’s journey has more hardships than Hector’s; for example, she was raped and she lost her and Hector’s child. Once Lilia is across, she is traumatized by her experience as she is shaken from the events that accrued.
From my own personal experience, I can only say I had an easier transition than trying to learn English or losing your child or even being raped. Lilia and Hector came at different times, and they weren’t able to become part of a different culture than I was. I was born in Virginia, and I moved to Spartanburg when I was five. I started my first grade year at Jesse Bobo Elementary school, and from there, it has been just a basic transition from home.
In my own personal opinion of The Iguana Tree, I thought the book was unrealistic. The transitions of the book seems like your basic movie going from a happy beginning to a tragic middle and then to a happy resolve. The way the book was moving didn’t seem like the events would unfold the way they did like in chapter when Lilia swam de Rio Grande. Border officials constantly patrol the area, so in the scene, Lilia emerged from the water, and one of the twins was screaming his brother’s name; officials would have heard the yelling and would have detained them, so they would have been sent back. I feel like the author could have made it so Hector would fix the truck or have told Miguel what Lucus told him: “The brakes are out so don’t travel on the main road.” Therefore, instead of Miguel getting hurt and police arriving at the scene and being sent back, Lilia and Hector would have worked through the problems and focused more on getting their missing child back.
If I were to recommend this book to anyone, I would recommend it for its middle and because of the struggles, not the story itself. My recommendation for this story is based on my own personal view of the book. The type of reader that would best enjoy this book would be they type of person who could understand the situations in the book and plot of the story.
From my own personal experience, I can only say I had an easier transition than trying to learn English or losing your child or even being raped. Lilia and Hector came at different times, and they weren’t able to become part of a different culture than I was. I was born in Virginia, and I moved to Spartanburg when I was five. I started my first grade year at Jesse Bobo Elementary school, and from there, it has been just a basic transition from home.
In my own personal opinion of The Iguana Tree, I thought the book was unrealistic. The transitions of the book seems like your basic movie going from a happy beginning to a tragic middle and then to a happy resolve. The way the book was moving didn’t seem like the events would unfold the way they did like in chapter when Lilia swam de Rio Grande. Border officials constantly patrol the area, so in the scene, Lilia emerged from the water, and one of the twins was screaming his brother’s name; officials would have heard the yelling and would have detained them, so they would have been sent back. I feel like the author could have made it so Hector would fix the truck or have told Miguel what Lucus told him: “The brakes are out so don’t travel on the main road.” Therefore, instead of Miguel getting hurt and police arriving at the scene and being sent back, Lilia and Hector would have worked through the problems and focused more on getting their missing child back.
If I were to recommend this book to anyone, I would recommend it for its middle and because of the struggles, not the story itself. My recommendation for this story is based on my own personal view of the book. The type of reader that would best enjoy this book would be they type of person who could understand the situations in the book and plot of the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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May 23, 2023The Iguana Tree Review by Adriana
Starting off with the book, I was really bored but kept reading. It’s very tense. The main characters are super interesting and different in their own way. The adventures are crazy to think about, but that happens in real life, and it’s a huge process trying to come to America. I’d say my favorite character would be Lilia, because she’s really risking her life to meet with Hector and doing the best she can for Alejandra.
I relate to Miguel because he’s a guy that’s super chill and doesn’t take too much stuff seriously. He finds the good in everything and jokes in the most serious situations. He’s a loose person, and that’s me. I always want to make someone laugh or smile in the middle of things that seem scary but I know that we’ll be okay. He’s also very helpful. So I chose Miguel as someone to relate to.
This book is actually interesting because as a Hispanic teenage girl, it’s good to be educated about immigrants and people trying to cross the border. It's also good because I learned about El Rio Grande. So that was a necessary thing to learn about. The author did a great job involving the Spanish language in the book. It gives the book more spice and for those who don’t know Spanish can learn a few words in Spanish too. The tension in the book made me feel like I was watching a horror movie.
I would recommend this book to someone who’s confused about ethnicity and isn’t educated about these kinds of things. This book could really help someone from asking offensive questions and maybe try to give them sympathy for those who try their best for their children, family or even them to have an opportunity to be something great in the future. It’s a blessing that some people actually make it through because not that many make it through. Overall I can say, I am really proud to be Colombian, whether others like it or not. I’m grateful to know English and to be in high school with big goals ahead. So if you question your ethnicity, don’t. It’s the most beautiful thing you could ever have and carry with you.
Starting off with the book, I was really bored but kept reading. It’s very tense. The main characters are super interesting and different in their own way. The adventures are crazy to think about, but that happens in real life, and it’s a huge process trying to come to America. I’d say my favorite character would be Lilia, because she’s really risking her life to meet with Hector and doing the best she can for Alejandra.
I relate to Miguel because he’s a guy that’s super chill and doesn’t take too much stuff seriously. He finds the good in everything and jokes in the most serious situations. He’s a loose person, and that’s me. I always want to make someone laugh or smile in the middle of things that seem scary but I know that we’ll be okay. He’s also very helpful. So I chose Miguel as someone to relate to.
This book is actually interesting because as a Hispanic teenage girl, it’s good to be educated about immigrants and people trying to cross the border. It's also good because I learned about El Rio Grande. So that was a necessary thing to learn about. The author did a great job involving the Spanish language in the book. It gives the book more spice and for those who don’t know Spanish can learn a few words in Spanish too. The tension in the book made me feel like I was watching a horror movie.
I would recommend this book to someone who’s confused about ethnicity and isn’t educated about these kinds of things. This book could really help someone from asking offensive questions and maybe try to give them sympathy for those who try their best for their children, family or even them to have an opportunity to be something great in the future. It’s a blessing that some people actually make it through because not that many make it through. Overall I can say, I am really proud to be Colombian, whether others like it or not. I’m grateful to know English and to be in high school with big goals ahead. So if you question your ethnicity, don’t. It’s the most beautiful thing you could ever have and carry with you.
May 24, 2018
This book is about brave Mexican people trying to cross the border in hopes of living a better life and in search for better opportunity. Those that were trying to come to America were Hector, Lilia, and Alejandra. Hector paid a coyote to bring him in to America. Lilia, and her daughter Alejandra, struggled trying to cross over. She gave Alejandra to a random woman and then she gets raped because didn’t have money to pay them. She will have to cross over alone and wait for them to bring her over. I think Lilia would have to be my favorite character because she made hard decisions for her and her baby to be in a life of freedom.
I could to relate Lucas because I would want to help anyone in any way I could. Lucas gave him a car for transportation and a house to live in and bring his family over. I would feel upset about if my wife would of gave our daughter to some stranger for money, but I also would have faith in her and believe in her in what choices she made for our freedom.
The book was enjoyable to me; it told the journeys from different points of view from other characters. My favorite part about the book was when they got pulled over because you never knew what would happen, and the cop was playing jokes on them. I wish they would have told us what happened to Miguel and if they had died or not. It gets the readers fired up not knowing what did happen to him.
I would have to recommend this to someone that would have similar problems and that may have family members with background of this knowledge. They may be decent from other country’s or maybe from my grandparents and where they come from or just people at my school.
I could to relate Lucas because I would want to help anyone in any way I could. Lucas gave him a car for transportation and a house to live in and bring his family over. I would feel upset about if my wife would of gave our daughter to some stranger for money, but I also would have faith in her and believe in her in what choices she made for our freedom.
The book was enjoyable to me; it told the journeys from different points of view from other characters. My favorite part about the book was when they got pulled over because you never knew what would happen, and the cop was playing jokes on them. I wish they would have told us what happened to Miguel and if they had died or not. It gets the readers fired up not knowing what did happen to him.
I would have to recommend this to someone that would have similar problems and that may have family members with background of this knowledge. They may be decent from other country’s or maybe from my grandparents and where they come from or just people at my school.
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December 15, 2021The book i'll be talking about today is the iguana tree by michael stone ,
This is a story about a young couple journey to america. It talks about how a young father leaving his family for opportunities and his way of doing it wasn't easy but he sure did have it better then his wife . then the wife crossed which was a hard heart wrenching journey that will affect you because it definitely affected me . Unexpected and shocking things happen in this story that will leave you thinking . They also both shared a daughter , while the wife was passing she gave her daughter away thinking they would meet again . Will they? Will they see each other again ? is life going to be different . I could say lilia is my favorite character because of her bravery and commitment to her family .She never once gave up on Alehandra and hector. No matter what even though her baby was lost she did everything she could to try to find her and she tried being a better wife to Hector after everything . I can only reveal so much to you. But the writer did an awesome job trying to make us feel hectors and lilias emotions . She did put a lot of detail into her work which was nice . I wish she could've put an ending to the story. It would have ended better but I feel like there's a hole in the story now because of the lack of knowledge at the end . But overall I think it's a good book. I recommend it to ages 14 and up just because of some inappropriate parts . So I give it an 8/10 just because of the ending . So if you want something that will make you hold your breath this is the perfect book for you .
This is a story about a young couple journey to america. It talks about how a young father leaving his family for opportunities and his way of doing it wasn't easy but he sure did have it better then his wife . then the wife crossed which was a hard heart wrenching journey that will affect you because it definitely affected me . Unexpected and shocking things happen in this story that will leave you thinking . They also both shared a daughter , while the wife was passing she gave her daughter away thinking they would meet again . Will they? Will they see each other again ? is life going to be different . I could say lilia is my favorite character because of her bravery and commitment to her family .She never once gave up on Alehandra and hector. No matter what even though her baby was lost she did everything she could to try to find her and she tried being a better wife to Hector after everything . I can only reveal so much to you. But the writer did an awesome job trying to make us feel hectors and lilias emotions . She did put a lot of detail into her work which was nice . I wish she could've put an ending to the story. It would have ended better but I feel like there's a hole in the story now because of the lack of knowledge at the end . But overall I think it's a good book. I recommend it to ages 14 and up just because of some inappropriate parts . So I give it an 8/10 just because of the ending . So if you want something that will make you hold your breath this is the perfect book for you .
May 23, 2023
The Iguana Tree is about Mexicans coming to America to live a better life. The main characters in the story are Hector, Lilia, Miguel and Lucas. They are helping each other through their journey in America. In the story there were some problems the main characters ran into ; an example is when Miguel got in a car crash. My favorite characters in this story are Hector and Miguel because of the way they have each other back in the story and how they are friends.
I can’t relate to this story, but I know it’s a lot of people that can relate to it. Like the story, all the time people try to cross the border to come to America to live a better life because they are not happy with the life they are living at their home. This is a good story because it happens every day and when people read it they can relate to it.
I think this is a great book to read because of what it’s about. I like that the story has parts where you have to think about why the character did something. The thing I didn't like about the book is how the ending was because the story didn’t have any closure to it. I think the book is good if you like stories that keep you on your toes and books that leave you wondering what happens at the end. Overall I think the book is a 8 out of 10 because of the ending: I'm sure a lot of people will think the same thing about it.
I would recommend this book to 15 and older because it has a couple of bad words in it.
If you like books that keep you wondering and you like books with a little drama in it, I think this book is for you. Other than that, this book is very interesting and it may be the book for you.
I can’t relate to this story, but I know it’s a lot of people that can relate to it. Like the story, all the time people try to cross the border to come to America to live a better life because they are not happy with the life they are living at their home. This is a good story because it happens every day and when people read it they can relate to it.
I think this is a great book to read because of what it’s about. I like that the story has parts where you have to think about why the character did something. The thing I didn't like about the book is how the ending was because the story didn’t have any closure to it. I think the book is good if you like stories that keep you on your toes and books that leave you wondering what happens at the end. Overall I think the book is a 8 out of 10 because of the ending: I'm sure a lot of people will think the same thing about it.
I would recommend this book to 15 and older because it has a couple of bad words in it.
If you like books that keep you wondering and you like books with a little drama in it, I think this book is for you. Other than that, this book is very interesting and it may be the book for you.
May 24, 2018
The book Iguana Tree is about a married couple crossing the border separately. The husband Hector was the one who wanted a better life with his family in America. The major characters are Hector, Lilia, Miguel, Emmanuel, Carlos, Lucas, Lucas’s wife, etc. My favorite character is Lilia. She went through a lot trying to get to cross the border to be with her husband and child in America. But both Hector and Lilia went through a lot crossing the border.
I can relate to Hector and Lilia a little. It was hard for my sisters and I to get to America with my mom. My mom left for six years before I saw her again in person. She went to America to get married and bring us to America. I thought she was the sweetest person when I saw her in person again. After living in America with her for a couple of years, she changed a lot. Therefore, I could understand how hard it was for Hector and Lilia.
I love this book. This was the best book I ever read. I really hate reading, so I was very proud of myself for even paying attention to what was happening in the book. My favorite part of the book was when Hector and Lilia got to see each other again. But Lilia had upset Hector because she didn’t have their child when she made it to America.
I would recommend this book to people that do not like reading. They should read this book to learn about what a lot of immigrants go through. Not everyone have a perfect life like some people.
I can relate to Hector and Lilia a little. It was hard for my sisters and I to get to America with my mom. My mom left for six years before I saw her again in person. She went to America to get married and bring us to America. I thought she was the sweetest person when I saw her in person again. After living in America with her for a couple of years, she changed a lot. Therefore, I could understand how hard it was for Hector and Lilia.
I love this book. This was the best book I ever read. I really hate reading, so I was very proud of myself for even paying attention to what was happening in the book. My favorite part of the book was when Hector and Lilia got to see each other again. But Lilia had upset Hector because she didn’t have their child when she made it to America.
I would recommend this book to people that do not like reading. They should read this book to learn about what a lot of immigrants go through. Not everyone have a perfect life like some people.
May 24, 2018
The Iguana Tree is the suspenseful saga of Lilia and Hector. They separately crossed over from Mexico to the U.S. for work and for their daughter to get a better home. The Iguana Tree is a universal story of loss, grief and human dignity. They go through obstacles trying to pursue a new life. There was family and friends betrayed, rape and manipulate. Hector’s voyage to “El Norte” is very frightening; he hired a coyote to smuggle him over the border. Hector and Lilia make it to South Carolina to work as a farmer.
Hector began to save a lot of the money they made to send to Lilia & Alejandra in Mexico. Lilia grieves hectors absence because she very lonely, when a friend offers to get her across she said yes without a doubt, even though it is very difficult
I have never really experienced nothing like this, I’ve been in Spartanburg for almost all my life. I can relate a little to Lilia being a little lonely when he left because there has been plenty of times to where I’ve been lonely when my parents have left, or maybe some of my friends are busy.
My opinion on this book is that it has a lot of emotion and includes a lot of details and it has very good reactions. If I would to recommend the book I would it’s a good reading book something to keep the reader keep reading and its very interesting to other readers including me, this book has a lot of emotion and a lot of drama, it is very interesting.
Hector began to save a lot of the money they made to send to Lilia & Alejandra in Mexico. Lilia grieves hectors absence because she very lonely, when a friend offers to get her across she said yes without a doubt, even though it is very difficult
I have never really experienced nothing like this, I’ve been in Spartanburg for almost all my life. I can relate a little to Lilia being a little lonely when he left because there has been plenty of times to where I’ve been lonely when my parents have left, or maybe some of my friends are busy.
My opinion on this book is that it has a lot of emotion and includes a lot of details and it has very good reactions. If I would to recommend the book I would it’s a good reading book something to keep the reader keep reading and its very interesting to other readers including me, this book has a lot of emotion and a lot of drama, it is very interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2019
Poor Hector and Lilia! First Hector had good things happen to him after arriving in America: A good job with steady work, a great boss that looked out for him, giving him a truck and allowing him to make payments. Meanwhile, Lilia is back in Mexico, where they're from, but she's impatient to join Hector, and makes her own arrangements to cross, suffering rape by the coyote & losing her baby to who knows where. Now, they're being deported back to Mexico.
I hope things improve for them in the second book, Border Child.
I hope things improve for them in the second book, Border Child.
November 29, 2016
I had to read this book for my American immigration class. I really enjoyed it! The story was so interesting and I couldn't put down the book. I wanted to know what happened. And the more I read the more that happened. I am confused about the ending. Luckily the author is speaking to my class so I will get to know what happens.
A good novel to read about illegal Mexican immigration from the perspective of an illegal immigrant.
A good novel to read about illegal Mexican immigration from the perspective of an illegal immigrant.
August 19, 2017
I liked the idea of this book, which relates the true sounding experiences of a young Mexican couple as they illegally (and separately) cross the border to work on a tree farm in South Carolina. However, the characterization was very simplistic, and in the end, I did not really enjoy it. Also, the ending was truly unsatisfying.
June 24, 2018
I was surprised that my book club members were unaware that Hector was being paid less than minimum wage and that the Nursery owner was not paying social security taxes on Hectors wages.
Also, I wanted to know more of the reasons the family left Mexico. Their seaside village life did not seem to be that terrible. They just wanted to make more money.
Also, I wanted to know more of the reasons the family left Mexico. Their seaside village life did not seem to be that terrible. They just wanted to make more money.
October 8, 2020
This book related the story of Hector, Lilia, and their infant daughter, Alejandra. Hector travels to the United States and promises to send for his wife and daughter but since the ties holding Lilia to Mexico are gone she is impatient and tries to cross without waiting. The story is poignant and the ending surprising and unusual.
November 23, 2019
Written before the current immigration nightmare, a story of a couple from Oaxaca who cross the border into America with the best of intentions. From the Acknowledgments, this seems to be based on a true account of crossing the border. Very well told.
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