Yenebi's Drive to School

by Sendy Santamaria

Dreamers meets School's First Day of School in this vibrant story that puts a whole new spin on one loving family's morning drive to school.
Every morning, I'm up at four o'clock.

I brush my teeth, get dressed, and drag my sister Melanie to the car where Mami's waiting for us.

¡Se nos va hacer tarde! ¡Apurarse!

For the next two hours, we'll be in the car driving—past tamale vendors (my favorite part), through la linea (my least favorite part), and across the US border. That's how we get to school every day. This is our normal. ¡Vamos!

In a winning, sunny voice in a bright, friendly palette, debut author-illustrator Sendy Santamaria tells the story of one girl's commute—a commute Sendy herself made growing up as an American citizen living in Mexico. Yenebi's Drive to School takes readers on a trip to school that many will recognize as very similar to their own.

WE NEED DIVERSE This book is from a young, up-and-coming artist of color. By reflecting and celebrating the daily details of a child that reflects the author's experience, it is a work that is universal and inviting—truly a mirror, a window, and a door.

TIMELY An accessible approach to a serious (and seriously underdocumented) part of American life for many young readers. Teachers, librarians, and parents will appreciate the way this book blends the importance of current events in an easily understandable narrative that kids will enjoy following along with.

The journey described in this story—a loving family's daily trip to school—is timeless and relatable, yet wonderfully specific.

UNIQUE Like Last Stop on Market Street, this book leans into the narrator (and creator)'s very particular experience and yet makes the individuality of such an experience highly relatable, communicating to readers that even their most personal routines are part of what connects them with all humans. Young readers who take the bus to school or get driven a few blocks by their parents will see what makes them similar to kids like the author, even if the shape of their routines are different.

FRESH APPROACH TO A CLASSIC The author turns the "back to school" trope on its head by making the book all about the trip, rather than focusing on apprehension or excitement about school itself.

Perfect Teachers and librarians looking for Latinx picture books Parents looking for bilingual content and bicultural kids' books Kids who want to read about experiences different than their own Fans of Dreamers, Our Class is a Family, and The Name Jar

Genres: Picture Books, School, Family, Childrens, Fiction, Spanish Literature, Travel

40 pages, Hardcover

Published June 27, 2023

Reviews

[Emma]

Not really feminist content for Rise criteria but interesting story about life in a border city with a young girl and her family crossing from Mexico into the US every day for school and work. Love the vibrant colors. Author’s note at the end.

[Stacie]

Author Sendy Santamaria grew up living along both sides of the US/Mexico border. As an American citizen, she took a similar commute to school just like Yenebi in this story. This story has been in her heart for a long time, especially after being asked in college to write a story that would resonate with young people. By reading this story, she hopes that it will encourage the reader to have empathy for each other. This book comes in both the Spanish and English versions. Since our community has a large Hispanic population, I plan to donate both copies to our elementary school ELA instructor. If your school has this program, you may also consider adding these books to your school library or resource programs.


Yenebi and her sister Melanie must get up at 4:00 in the morning in order to make it to school on time. They must get up early to get in the long line to cross the border into America to get to school. Since the line moves so slowly, vendors line the paths between the cars selling hats, necklaces, and food including tamales. Yenebi and her sister love getting a tamale for breakfast.


As they get closer to the border, the girls sit up straight and their mom passes the documents to the officer. All is clear and Yenebi and Melanie will be able to get to school on time. The girls head off to their classrooms with promises to meet their mom by the blue tables at the end of the day.

For children that live near the border, this is a common scenario and one that is hard to imagine in our area of the country. Here, it is common for farm kids to get up at 4:00 in the morning to do chores before getting on the school bus, but there is no fear that they will not be able to get there. For Yenebi and other children like her, there is a chance they will not make it to school on time due to crossing the border. This book can offer an excellent conversation about sacrifices some children make to be able to attend school in America. The English version also includes several Spanish phrases that make the reading authentic and offer an opportunity for learning.

[Katie Lawrence]

A wonderful addition to inclusive library collections about living in a border town and commuting many hours to another country for school. At times the phrasing felt a little stilted to me, but overall this is a picture book all libraries should purchase. The Author’s note adds a great personal touch as well. This would be a great discussion book with students about Yenebi’s experiences but also their own drives to school. The illustrations are vibrant and capture the delights and difficulties of la linea.

Thank you to Chronicle Books for the finished copy received at the ALA Annual Conference.

[Mary]

Did you know that some children (and parents!) get up at 4:00 a.m. and spend hours in the car waiting to cross the Mexico border and go to school in the U.S.?
Yenebi's first person account tells how happy she is to go to school, despite the challenge of getting up so early, sleeping and eating breakfast in the car, becoming anxious every day as their documents are approved, and finally arriving at school.
Spanish words are included and mostly explained from the context.
Tie-in with
--beginning of the school year
--SEL discussions of perseverance
--social studies lessons re Southwest, Mexico/US relations.

[Jillian]

Pair with families at the border stories: My Two Border Towns, My Town Mi Pueblo, The Notebook Keeper, Between Us and Abuela & U.S. / Mexico Border stories: Bright Star, Dreamers, Hear My Voice, Playing at the Border, To the Other Side.
Or pair with getting to school stories like My First Day, Adventures to School, etc.

[Alara Jennings]

This one felt important to share with my kids especially in the current political climate. It details a routine drive over the border that still evokes anxiety and uncertainty even when going through the correct process to legally be able to exist in a place that isn’t home. It highlights the discipline involved in order to seek opportunity that many take for granted.

[Caroline]

A thought provoking picture book of a kid living in a border town and commuting across the border to go to school. The illustrations are especially inviting and the use of untranslated Spanish adds extra appeal.

[Sandy]

A picture book about 2 sisters on the Mexican-American border. The story follows there commute to cross the border to go to school. A good conversation starter on immigration issues. Includes some Spanish text interspersed with the English.

[Peacegal]

Some children's experience getting to school is far more arduous than what we may expect. This is the story of two sisters' experience of community and harshness as they travel to attend school on a border town. I could definitely relate to the sleepy sister.

[Lilian Daniel]

I thought this was a great story, and I think it would help students realize the privileges they may or may not have, especially when it comes to transportation. I also like how the book included pages that were sideways and upside down.

[Sherrie]

Yenebi’s Drive to School includes a very early morning wake up, 4 AM, and a crossing the border from Tijuana into San Diego. This book shows the perseverance of those who must cross the border daily to provide for their families and the children who attend school over the border.

[Talia Ferrante-Roseberry]

A story about a family who lives in Mexico and crosses the border every morning to go to school. This story about routine could open up discussions and lessons about students’ daily routines with their families and what identities they carry with them.

[Jerusha]

This picture book is perfect for our students that cross the international bridge daily. The Author’s Note at the end would be especially important to share with older students. Many of them may feel the same!

[SamSamSam]

I was transfixed by this rich story!

[Aolund]

Themes: Transport, School, Family, Migration, Borders
Age range: Preschool-Early Elementary

[Rebekah]

This is a must read!

[Marcia]

The story of a border family and their hours-long morning ritual to cross from Mexico to the US for school. Pair this one with the graphic novel Twin Cities.

[Ranette]

I never knew that kids on one side of the US/Mexican border could cross to attend school. This family arose at 4am to make the trip.

[Mandy]

3.5

[Tiff]

Commuting from Tijuana, Mexico to San Diego for school, we travel with Yenebi to school. Breakfast sounds so heavenly, and her little sleepy sister trailing behind her. What a wonderful book!

[Paula Billiter]

Our students did not know that students ever crossed the border to come to school each day. Learning about Yenebi and her sister’s experience led to wonderful discussions.

[stefany]

so amazing to read such a beautiful book with a familiar story. thank you.

[Kristen]

September is back to school month reading

This was a very heartfelt picture book. I gained a whole new appreciation of the privilege of proximity to good schools around the block or just a short bus ride away, as this author shares a picture book memoir of her journey as an American citizen, living in Mexico and waiting in line to cross the border each day to go to school.

[Tania]

reminds me of a similar story here in SEA