Enrique’s Journey
Sophomore World History/World History AP
This year the entire school community will be reading Enrique’s Journey as part of the Notre Dame Reads
program. Community events during the upcoming school year will allow for discussion and exploration
of the issues this book examines. Students will be examining the issues in the book in their classes.
Please actively the book and as you read or at the end of each chapter, take the time to thoughtfully
respond to the questions. The responses do not need to be in full sentences or paragraphs. You can just
cite examples or references to the book. Bring the book and responses to your World History class on the
first day of school.
Prologue
1. What motivated Sonia Nazario to investigate the immigration of children from Latin American to
the United States?
2. How did she prepare for this journey?
3. Why do Latinos come to the U.S.? How many come to the U.S.?
Chapter 1: The Boy Left Behind
1. What memories does Enrique have of his mother?
2. Why does Lourdes leave or the U.S.?
3. Describe Lourdes’ life in the U.S. – jobs, homes, lifestyle, community.
4. What do children in Honduras do to meet their basic needs?
5. What challenges does Enrique face when living with various family members in Honduras?
Chapter 2: Seeking Mercy
1. Describe the corruption in police/law enforcement.
2. How does immigration from Central America affect Mexico.
3. Why do some not return home after they have physical harm such as amputation?
Chapter 3: Facing the Beast
1. What makes Chiapas so dangerous?
2. List reasons why the freight train called El Tren de la Muerte.
3. Why is it also referred to as El Tren Peligrino?
4. Why is La Arrocera a difficult stop for immigrants?
5. Who is Olga Sanchez and what does she do? Describe one migrant in her care.
6. How does Enrique blend in while in Oaxaca.
Chapter 4: Gifts and Faith
1. How is Veracruz different from Chiapas? What motivates residents in this area to act this way?
2. Give examples of individual and community acts to help migrants.
3. What are risks to helping migrants?
4. How do migrants treat one another?
5. How does Maria Rodriguez feel about migrants and why?
Chapter 5: On the Border
1. Describe the community that Enrique stays with on the border.
2. Why do some migrants want the INS to catch them?
3. What does Padre Leo do for migrants? Provide examples.
Chapter 6: A Dark River, Perhaps a New Life
1. Describe the experiences of children in Texas jail waiting for deportation.
2. Describe the smuggling ring El Triníndaro is part of.
3. How and why is forging the relationship between mother and son difficult?
Chapter 7: The Girl Left Behind
1. How does Enrique act once in the U.S.?
2. Should Maria immigrate to the U.S.? Explain pros and cons.
Afterward
1. Have things gotten better or worse after Enrique’s journey? Support your answer.
2. How is a home country affected by emigration?
3. How is the U.S. affected by legal and illegal immigration?
4. How and why has U.S. immigration policy fluctuated?