I received a free ARC of Marie Marquardt's young adult novel at BookExpo 2015. (So yes, it has taken me a long time to finally read this book.) In the five years since the book came out, our country still has issues with the way it treats immigrants - legal or illegal - so this book is still relevant to today's teens.
When local officials start rounding up illegal immigrants in an effort to combat Georgia's immigrant "problem", Alma's worst fears come to life just as Evan's eyes are opened to a world he never knew existed.
Yes, this is a typical teen romance where the "love" between the two characters seems to only be built on mutual physical attraction, and even though Evan is played off as a charming "good guy", he does his fair share of acting like a typical white male teen. Kind of a turn off if you know better. Anyway.
But I think this book can shine a light on a variety of topics for today's teens, especially if a parent reads the book in tandem to open up discussions. What do the kids think of the thread of white male privilege throughout the book: Evan's friends defending "good ole boy" Conway and his despicable actions toward females. And how law enforcement treats Hispanic males in contrast to the rich white males in town.
This book might also open up teens' eyes to immigration issues in this country. Just like Evan, most teens probably have no idea what DREAMers (who could be some of their classmates) are going through. Marquardt works as an immigration advocate and has painted an accurate picture of what happens all the time in the United States, especially the South.
Dream Things True is published by St. Martin's Griffin and is on bookstore shelves now. I received a free ARC at BookExpo 2015. The book is recommended for teens in grade 9 and up.
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