La Linea

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Consider what you know about the term “the American Dream.” What does it mean? In which ways does it influence how people view the United States (US)?

Teaching Suggestion: While Jaramillo’s text does not explicitly state the phrase “the American dream,” readers may see an implication that life north of the border (la línea) is a more desirable place than south of the border. The phrase “the American dream” has a wide variety of interpretations; however, it is usually associated with the idea that any person, regardless of their background, can come to the US and work their way up from the bottom and reach success. Ultimately, the belief that the US provided equal opportunities for hard work led many communities around the world to leave their homelands and come to the US. Historically, immigrants from different parts of the world have come to the US for various reasons, but the brunt of contemporary migration policy contends with individuals with Latin American backgrounds who hope to enter the US from the southern border with Mexico.

• This article from Ohio State University discusses the history of migration from Latin America to the North in “Global Migration and the Americas.”
• The World Economic Forum’s 2017 article explores the changing reality of the American Dream in the 21st century.

2. The US is typically considered a nation comprised of peoples from immigrant backgrounds. Based on your prior knowledge of the subject, where have many of these individuals come from over the course of US history? What is the current rhetoric surrounding the discussion of migration to the US? Has this rhetoric changed historically?

Teaching Suggestion: Linking to the prior Short Answer question, this prompt invites students to explore the idea of the US’s roots as a multicultural society. Although only one chapter in the novel takes place in the US, the primary motivation for the characters in the novel to migrate north of the border is the promise and allure of better opportunities. Particularly for Elena, Javi, and Miguel, Family Is Everything, and they are motivated to make a new life in the US with desperate hopes of reuniting with their families there later.

The subject of the movement of migrants and refugees to the US can sometimes be a particularly contentious issue. Political discussions are often bolstered by inflammatory rhetoric surrounding the necessity of “safety” from individuals crossing the border, under the assumption that they pose “threats” to national security. As a result, new legislation has been introduced to attempt to stem the flow of migrants/refugees, the most notable being the building of a border wall on the US-Mexico border. Additionally, rhetoric has centered on the discussion of “illegal” versus “legal” immigration, with emphasis on the distinction between the two forms of entry and, as a result, the increase of precautionary measures toward “illegal” attempts at entry, including the use of detention centers on the southern border of the US.

• This 2020 article from The Pew Research Center reports statistics related to US immigration, including country of origin and method of entry into the US.

Human Rights Watch discusses human rights violations committed by the US in their 2022 article “Mexico: Asylum Seekers Face Abuses at Southern Border.”

Short Activity

Many people who are now famous in the US came from migrant backgrounds with very humble beginnings. Working in small groups, research one of these celebrities and consider the following questions: What is this person’s background? Why did this person come to the US? How is this person famous? Finally, share your results with the class.

Teaching Suggestion: Along with the previous two Short Answer prompts, this Short Activity prepares students for the reading from the perspective of why people risk their lives to make the dangerous journey across the border. Students should be invited to consult the lists below for their selected person. This Short Activity is a good opportunity for students to practice their group work and presentation skills, with each student responsible for both researching and presenting a particular segment, while the group maintains a cohesive presentation.

• The World Economic Forum shares “5 Refugees Who Have Made a Big Impact.”
• The International Rescue Committee’s list highlights refugees to the US and other countries in their comprehensive list of “Famous Refugees.”

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the novel.

Throughout time, people have left their homelands, their families, and their friends to make journeys to new parts of the world. Many of these journeys are dangerous, often resulting in injury, trauma, or even loss of life. Why would someone leave their home? Under what conditions would you leave your home? What might be some of the challenges that you would face?

Teaching Suggestion: This Prompt encourages students to consider the narrative of migration from a personal perspective. Individuals leave their homelands for many reasons; some are refugees (individuals forced out due to war or persecution) while others are migrants (those who choose to leave to seek better educational or economic opportunities). Regardless of the differentiation between these two words, individuals who leave do so because the circumstances in their countries of origin are less than desirable, including, but not limited to, political and economic instability, social discrimination, and/or lack of access to resources for basic human dignity. In the case of this novel, Family Is Everything, and Elena and Miguel seek to be reunited with their parents. This desire for familial reunification helps them continue in the face of numerous obstacles, ultimately arriving at the theme of ¡Sí, se puede! Grit Overcomes Adversity.