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Journey of Dreams

3.93 of 5 stars 3.93 · rating details · 54 ratings · 24 reviews

For the peaceful highlanders of Guatemala, life has become a nightmare. Helicopters slash like machetes through the once-quiet air. Soldiers patrol the streets, hunting down suspected guerillas. Villagers mysteriously disappear and children are recruited as soldiers. Tomasa’s family is growing increasingly desperate, especially after Mama goes into hiding with Tomasa’s old...more

Hardcover, 256 pages

Published August 1st 2009 by Frances Lincoln Children's Books

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Leaving Glorytown by Eduardo F. Calcines

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Apr 25, 2013 Barbara Mojica rated it 5 of 5 stars

When The Animals Went To Play (An illustrated bedtime story for children ages Baby - 8 years) (Dixie Tails)
When The Animals Went To Play (An illustrated bedtime story for children ages Baby - 8 years) (Dixie Tails)
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4.0 out of 5 stars ANIMAL ANTICS, April 5, 2013

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This review is from: When The Animals Went To Play (An illustrated bedtime story for children ages Baby - 8 years) (Dixie Tails) (Kindle Edition)
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Mar 02, 2013 Karen Yingling rated it 4 of 5 stars

Tomasa and her family live in the Highlands of Guatemala in 1984. She and her mother weave garments to sell at the market, and her father and brothers farm. When her mother makes an offhand remark about chemicals being sprayed by airplanes making the children sick, the soldiers who have been causing problems target the family. When Carlos is very nearly taken away by soldiers with an older neighbor boy, the mother decides to flee with him. Tomasa, her father, grandmother and two younger siblings...more

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Jan 29, 2012 David Gallin-Parisi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: halfway

This heartbreaking story is about genocide in Guatemala, and those that escape as refugees. This book is recommended for tweens, and their parents as it covers issues I don't think either group are aware of.
Reading it out loud makes the story flow better for me. The work's tone of voice is one reason I would recommend it to parents to read out loud to their children. The words are straight-ahead descriptive, and easier for me to understand when heard aloud.
I especially enjoyed the dreams portion...more

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Jun 06, 2010 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book for many reasons. For one, the story starts in 1984 and is about a girl, Tomasa who is around 14 years of age, which is the age I was in 1984. I kept thinking through-out the book how I was enjoying so many luxuries at 14 that these people didn’t even know existed. I was clueless as to what the Guatemalan refugees were experiencing at that time. My life and Tomasa’s life were so very different and it made me stop and ponder. The Guatemalan government were burning villages and s...more

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Apr 26, 2013 Katrina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-literature

After spending the last month working on projects around the violence in Juárez and the disappearances and torture in Pinochet’s Chile, I have to admit, I wasn’t sure I was up for reading Journey of Dreams. While all the reviews were quite positive, every time I read the synopsis I’d start to feel the dread of one more incredibly depressing story that I was going to have to immerse myself in. I managed to talk myself out of starting it a number of times. Eventually I ran out of time, our book gr...more After spending the last month working on projects around the violence in Juárez and the disappearances and torture in Pinochet’s Chile, I have to admit, I wasn’t sure I was up for reading Journey of Dreams. While all the reviews were quite positive, every time I read the synopsis I’d start to feel the dread of one more incredibly depressing story that I was going to have to immerse myself in. I managed to talk myself out of starting it a number of times. Eventually I ran out of time, our book group meeting was just a few weeks away, and there was no more putting it off. Once I started it though, I loved it.

It is a beautiful book in so many different ways. I obviously had expectations based on the historical context of the book. While the story takes place during the violent period of the Guatemalan Civil War, it isn’t a depressing story in the way one would expect. There are parts that are sad and difficult to read. These parts are even harder to come to terms with when you realize you’re reading them through the eyes of a thirteen year-old girl. Pellegrino manages to deal with much of the violence implicitly, making the novel appropriate for a much broader age range. There is no explicitly gruesome violence. Tomasa talks about the smell of the burning villages or the sights of the mounds of what appear to be bodies in the village square, but the reality of the violence that these things speak to seems to hover just outside of the story. As an adult reader, I know the horror of what these things represent, but a younger reader more than likely would not. This means that a teacher could share the story of Tomasa and her family, without delving into the darker parts of this period in Guatemala if that wasn’t appropriate for the grade level. For more background on both the Guatemalan historical context and the Sanctuary Movement, be sure to read the section “About the Story” at the end of the book.

It’s a book that has the potential to open the eyes of our students to a world that they may not know. It puts a face and a story to the word “immigrant” that’s been so hotly debated. For our students who know this story all too well because it echoes parts of their own, it’s a way to see themselves reflected in our classrooms, to read about a protagonist who represents them. For these same students, it’s a story of hope—an immigration story with a happy ending. Tomasa’s voice is clear, strong, and endearing. Often we hear that we don’t have enough books with strong female characters, but Pellegrino offers us one with 13 year-old Tomasa. But, it’s not just Tomasa; all of the characters seem real and well-developed. I believe students will be able to identify with both Tomasa and her younger brother Manuel in significant ways.

There were many things that I loved about this book, but three things stand out that are present throughout the novel: the storytelling, the weaving, and Tomasa’s dreams. The book opens with Tomasa’s father telling one of their favorite stories. He does this every night before they go sleep. It becomes an important constant as the story unfolds. There are always multiple meanings or interpretations of the stories, and at times they foreshadow what is to come.Tomasa and her mother are both weavers. Tomasa seems to process many of the things she experiences through imagining how she would weave them. Once they flee, she no longer has the ability to actually weave, so instead she draws pictures in her head or in the dirt on the ground. As I read these parts, I was reminded of the other projects we’ve worked on this semester where art became not only a way to heal from these experiences, but also a form of documenting or story-telling, a way to make sure that others would know what had happened. Tomasa’s images seem to do the same: “Even the smallest noise made with a stick in the dirt could alert a civilian patrol. Without my loom, or even the earth, I can only draw in my mind. . .The thought of a stick scratching these images in the earth helps me stop trembling” (p. 88). Tomasa’s dreams are another constant and important part of the novel. Through her dreams we see what she worries about, and often, how she makes sense of their experiences through her father’s stories. In all three of these things—the storytelling, weaving images, and dreams—Pellegrino uses incredibly lyrical and poetic writing. She paints pictures in the minds of the reader with beautiful figurative and sensory language. Many of these sections would be excellent examples to use as mentor texts to show students the power of descriptive writing.

There are many ways to integrate Pellegrino’s book into our classroom curriculum. Aside from the ways it could be used to teach writing, her content connects to multiple topics: the history of the Maya, the role of weaving in Mayan Culture, the Guatemalan Civil War, Día de los Muertos in Guatemala, the Sanctuary Movement, and Civil Rights activism. I’ve included ideas for how to teach on these topics in our Educator’s Guide.

It’s a book that I think will be a very valuable addition to our classrooms. I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from the book: “In the morning, we start walking again, beginning the pattern of our day as Mama might begin a new line on the loom. Each footstep is like a string wrapped by a thread, marking another piece of our journey. Only God knows how large the fabric will grow or how long our lives will be. If my prayers are heard, we will be with Mama and Carlos before it is finished. I wish I knew what kind of images we will weave between now and then” (p. 123).

We have a free Educator’s Guide for the book available on our blog at: http://teachinglatinamericathroughlit...
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Nov 12, 2009 Brittany rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, books-i-own, immigrants

This is Tomasa's story and how she and what's left of her family must try to escape from the Guatemalan army. They must journey far, sometimes retracing their steps, when things go awry. They must hide who they are and be careful who they trust. Their father tells them stories to help them get to sleep after hard days of many miles. All they want is the quiet refuge of the United states and a reunion with the others of their family.

I really appreciated this book and am very glad I signed up to r...more

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Feb 02, 2012 Allison Parker rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, juvenile

Tomasa and her family make the frightening, dangerous journey from their oppressed Guatemalan village through Mexico and on to the United States, relying only on the kindness of strangers, hope, and each other.

This story had so much heart. Tweens are fast developing a sense of empathy, of purpose, of global awareness. This text is a perfect gem to feed this development. I suspect those who read the back matter describing the real life situation in the 1980s will be outraged that the U.S. did so...more

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Jul 12, 2012 Kathy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I hold this book at a very special place in my heart as I have worked extensively with the refugee population in Tucson and have heard very similar stories of many of the people I have met. I also have volunteered with Owl and Panther, the non-profit, the author, Marge, is the director. Marge is extremely inspiring and her enthusiasm and love for writing is easy to find inspiration with. This is an excellent book for young adults to read to learn about the personal journey that a young person wi...more

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Oct 20, 2009 Mary Ann rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 6th, young-adult, realistic, multicultural, historical-fiction

Some novel are written from the heart: they sing with emotion and paint a picture on your soul. Journey of Dreams is just such a novel. Set in 1984, Pellegrino tells the story of Tomasa, a young Mayan girl, who must flee from her small village in the Guatemalan mountains during the Guatemalan army's "scorched earth" campaign.

Tomasa lives with her family high in the Guatemalan mountains, in a native Quiché Maya village. They are a close-knit family, working the fields, going to the village school...more Some novel are written from the heart: they sing with emotion and paint a picture on your soul. Journey of Dreams is just such a novel. Set in 1984, Pellegrino tells the story of Tomasa, a young Mayan girl, who must flee from her small village in the Guatemalan mountains during the Guatemalan army's "scorched earth" campaign.

Tomasa lives with her family high in the Guatemalan mountains, in a native Quiché Maya village. They are a close-knit family, working the fields, going to the village school, weaving clothes for the local market. But the army becomes a growing presence in their lives, intimidating local villagers. After her mother speaks out, complaining to other village women of people becoming sick after chemicals were sprayed by a plane on their fields, Tomasa's family receives threatening notes thrown at their home. First, Tomasa's mother and older brother flee for their safety, and then a few days later Tomasa's father leaves, taking Tomasa, her younger brother and sister. The story follows Tomasa's flight for survival, traveling north through Guatemala, Mexico and eventually to the United States.

Pellegrino crafts a compelling story with several fully drawn characters. Young readers will especially be drawn to Tomasa and Manuel. Tomasa and her younger brother Manuel each struggle with the psychological impact of their family's separation. Many times, Tomasa stifles her own emotions as she takes care of her siblings and acts far older than her 13 years. "As we walk I tuck my feelings into my heart. I hide them away just as Papa tucked our small treasures into the oilcloth and hid them in the earth for when we return." (page 85).

I especially like how Pellegrino shows the power of storytelling: Tomasa's father tells folktales and stories each night, as a way to bring the family together, teach the children lessons, and inspire hope or caution. The language of dreams and stories is woven throughout Tomasa's story.

"Tonight, I wake up from a dream of the jagged teeth - letters tearing at the wall of our ni'tzja, while I cough green. In the darkness, I wipe away the spit from the side of my mouth. I will check in the morning to be sure my fingers and mouth show no trace of green." (p. 39)

At times, I felt that the writing jarred between lyrical descriptions and short, choppy sentences. The contrast seemed to jolt my reading at times. But I wonder if this is how a 13 year old might think or write - at times with beautiful images, and at times with short, factual sentences. Tomasa's voice came across authentic and full of feeling.

The end of the story is uplifting, and I would certainly share this with middle school students. You do not see explicit violence, but you certainly feel the effects of the army's wrath. While 5th and 6th graders would be able to read this story, it might be harder for them to understand the context. Pellegrino includes a very helpful author's note at the end, explaining the Guatemalan Civil War and the Sanctuary Movement in the United States. She also includes a very helpful glossary with Spanish and Quiché words.

Journey of Dreams comes from Pellegrino's work with the Sanctuary Movement, working with refugees from around the world.(less)

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Jul 13, 2009 Cassandra rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When I first saw the cover I suspected this would be a book that I would like, and I'm so bummed that the cover is not showing up on GoodReads but if you hop over to JacketFlap, http://www.jacketflap.com/bookdetail...., or Amazon, you can see the lovely art. This beautifully written story about 13 year old Tomasa and her family during the Guatemalan scorch the earth campaign in the early 80s is gripping and full of truth. I hope young readers find this book.

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Jul 03, 2010 Sandra Stiles rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was an emotional read for me. I have taught ESOL students for years. I’ve had students from all over the world who have had to flee because of political and religious reasons. This is the story of Tomasa and her family’s struggle for survival. When a plane sprays chemicals over their fields and people begin to get sick Tomasa’s mother speaks out. This begins the threats against their family. Her mother and older brother are the first to flee to keep him from being drafted. When soldiers com...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Pat Brazel rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was an excellent book written by a friend of mine. Marge wrote an extremely believable story and taught me a lot about what the Guatemalan Highlanders go through as refugees to the United States. I wanted to learn more about them and didn't want the book to end! I highly recommend it!

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Jun 21, 2010 Em rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was an interesting book to read. It was crazy to think about people living like they did in 1985, with no running water, no electricity etc. I deeply admired their trust and strength. I cannot imagine walking as far as they did, the whole time being terrified for my life. It made me really reexamine some of my feelings about immigrants to our country, especially in light of all that is going on in Arizona.

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Feb 08, 2011 Deana Pittman rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a really heartfelt account of the massacres that have occurred in the Guatemala/El Salvador areas. It is told from the point of view of a thirteen year-old girl. She tells what she and her family go through to find a "safe place."

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Apr 06, 2010 Erin Sterling rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2010, teen-fiction, teen-historical

Jane Addams honor book. Set in the 1980s during civil unrest in Guatemala, a family escapes to Mexico and eventually to America. Traumatizing, heartfelt account of being an immigrant always on the run. Pretty incredible.

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Jan 24, 2010 MMatchak rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, fiction

A family struggles to escape Guatemala during the mid-eighties. Told through the POV of a 12-13 year old girl over the course of a year. Her dreams weave in and out of the story itself. Interesting and touching.

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Sep 29, 2009 Janni added it

Part historical novel and part adventure story, this is story takes a harrowing journey and tells it with surprising gentleness, in the way middle grade fiction is so good at. Tomasa is forced to flee her Guatemalan village in the mid-1980s and journey to the United States, crossing two borders and facing numerous hardships.

Genuinely moving, and along the way it gives some background into the Tucson-based Sanctuary movement, the echoes of which are still a part of Tucson and its politics today.

B...more

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Apr 11, 2010 Tina H. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Good middle school read evoking much empathy to demonstrate the desperation for those trying to get into the U.S. from Third World countries.

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Nov 11, 2009 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Guatemalan refuge experience told in hope-filled voice of young narrator, Tomasa. Marge Pellegrino is poetic in her 1980's fictional account.

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Aug 21, 2011 Abby Johnson rated it 3 of 5 stars

Rich, vivid details of the Guatemalan jungle and seamlessly woven folktales bring this compelling story to life for young readers.

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Aug 05, 2011 Trisha added it · review of another edition

Oh dear. Books that make me cry. I do not like them. An inspiring story which makes me realise how lucky I am to live where I do.

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Jul 26, 2011 Alwen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Loved, loved, loved this book. It's really hard to write about trauma and horror and horrendous social injustices in a way that is hopeful and honest. This book does that. The teenage Tomasa's story and voice are riveting and lovely and so painful. You can tell that Marge Pellegrino has spent years and years talking, working, writing with, and loving the children of refugees who inspired _Journey of Dreams_.

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Jul 16, 2011 Linda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-discussion, jfiction, memoir

fictional memoir of the "scorched earth" campaign in Guatemala imbued with the storytelling of the father

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Dec 22, 2009 Melissa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: cybils-2009, middle-grade

Interesting story topic -- the plight of Guatemalan Indians in the 1980s -- but kind of fell flat for me.

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Jun 13, 2013 Thesentinel rated it 2 of 5 stars

May 19, 2013 Anna marked it as to-read

May 16, 2013 Cathy marked it as to-read

Apr 14, 2013 Amber added it

Apr 06, 2013 Kathleen Mohrmann marked it as to-read

Apr 04, 2013 Lisa Nelms rated it 3 of 5 stars

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About Marge Pellegrino

Pellegrino has been active in the Sanctuary Movement for ten years, working to provide safe havens to refugees from around the world. Her beautiful story about Central American culture and turmoil has received multiple starred reviews.

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