Across the Border: Interview with a Refugee - Softcover

Rivera, I.C.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0692511237 ISBN 13: 9780692511237

Publisher: El Yunque Publishing, 2015

Synopsis

In a bold search for new life experiences—and the eagerness to alleviate deception with traces of an international romance—the beautiful and ever-independent Isabel Alvarez trades her cozy American Dream for a chance to live within the notoriously-multicultural Kingdom of the Netherlands. Holding on to her ambitious mindset and vast work experience, she assumes to have the expat life completely under her control, unsuspecting that she would soon end up at the very bottom of the social pyramid. As she slowly adapts to her new circumstances, Isabel comes across individuals of different ethnic backgrounds who spontaneously share their life testimonies, helping her become aware of the devastating social issues that exist in the shadows of society. But above all, she is intrigued by the story of a handsome and exotic Iraqi refugee, named Samir Ishmael Youkhana, who she interviews for a special course assignment. Despite their cultural differences and colliding ways, Isabel is strongly drawn by Samir's mysterious character and Middle Eastern charm, curious to learn more of his past in Iraq, but most importantly of his people; the Assyrians—an incredible nation she never knew about before. Setting in the magnetic city of Rotterdam, Across the Border: Interview with a Refugee narrates the stories of some of the most vulnerable and persecuted people in the entire world—some of them almost completely forgotten—and of the courageous woman who takes the sensationalist blindfold off, to find herself in every one of them.

About this title

About the Author:

Raised in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, Isandra Collazo Rivera is a self-proclaimed citizen of the world. She’s an enthusiast of international cuisine and foreign music, devoted to learn from other people’s cultures, and sharing their life stories with the purpose of breaking down the walls of fear and prejudice. She’d majored in Foreign Languages and Tourism with the goal of becoming a tour guide one day, but all of her plans changed when she felt a calling to serve the community within her Caribbean Island, as well as beyond its beautiful, white sand beaches. Committed to help bring change into the world, Isandra is now a Christian missionary, human rights defender, orator, and philanthropist. With her debut novel; Across the Border: Interview with a Refugee, she hopes to raise awareness on many social issues happening today, and that way inspire others to raise a voice for those in need.

Review:

This is an intriguing fictional story that revolves around an Assyrian refugee in the Netherlands named Samir and an Hispanic girl Isabel who moves to the Netherlands on a whim. Isabel leaves her job in the states because she doesn't get a promotion that she has been working towards and believes it is rightfully hers. The promotion is given to her best friend and this is the catalyst that will change Isabel's life forever. This move will take her on a ride of her life that she hadn't bargained for.
The author does a wonderful job of weaving in a page turner plot along with page turner characters. Not only does the author interlace a great plot throughout the book, but she wonderfully introduces a character who is living between two worlds - Samir. The author captures the feeling and thinking of many refugees throughout the world caught in this scenario. Ms. Rivera does an excellent job of providing background information of all her characters, which makes the story come together. It is these very characters that will make you want to continue reading chapter after chapter to see what will happen next.
The descriptions and scenes are so right on and just altogether well written. You feel as if you were in the Netherlands experiencing a different culture, yet you are also immersed into the characters feeling what they feel as the story progresses. The angle that the author takes with the plot is intriguing and this approach added to the overall story line. There is action, romance, intrigue, and history all rolled into one; all the elements for a good read. You can tell that the author did her homework.
If the author's goal was to tell a vibrant and relevant story, she did just that. The story will make you think about the lives of refugees around the world and what they go through not only from a physical standpoint, but from an emotional point of view. It is so poignant to the current times and what is happening today with refugees around the world.
Book reviewed by Corina Martinez Chaudhry. (The Latino Author)

About this edition

• Publisher: El Yunque Publishing
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 0692511237
• ISBN 13: 9780692511237
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 298