Return to Sender

By: Julia Alvarez

Narrated by: Ozzie Rodriguez, Olivia Preciado

After Tyler's father is injured in a tractor accident, his family hires migrant Mexican workers to help save their Vermont farm from foreclosure. Tyler isn’ t sure what to make of these workers. Are they undocumented? And what about the three daughters, particularly Mari, the oldest, who is proud of her Mexican heritage but also increasingly connected her American life. Her family lives in constant fear of being discovered by the authorities and sent back to the poverty they left behind in Mexico. Can Tyler and Mari find a way to be friends despite their differences? In a novel full of hope, but no easy answers, Julia Alvarez weaves a beautiful and timely story that will stay with listeners long after they finish it.

©2010 Julia Alvarez (P)2010 Listening Library

The swallows that find a place in your heart.

Julia Alvarez fictional account of very hard reality for today's undocumented immigrants. Completely comsuming. Highly recommended to all!

Book for our time

EVERY American should read this book....especially our politicians. It educates the reader not only about the hardships that occur in the lives of American small business owners (in this story farmers) and how immigrants help impact their lives and business in a positive way. You learn about the fear immigrants face coming to a country for survival and encounters with caring people. Yes, we need immigration reform but will also need to remember we are humans and treat humans with understanding and compassion. Our country was founded and prosperous on the backs of immigrants, legal and illegal. Great historical ties in this story and the importance of friendship and family. Excellent read!!!! All classrooms would benefit from studying this story.

a must read

What a beautiful and profound story of the struggle that children both American and Immigrants face while caught on grown up business.
the tail of innocent and violence live by Immigrants every day.

An OK book for school

This book was OK some of the popcorn coins. It didn’t make sense and it was just kind of confusing, but the bus was really good. I thought that the two main reasons characters were decently developed and changed through throughout the story. So I recommend this book to read to your kids or read to your students.

Cannot wait to share this with my 6th graders!

Alvarez makes "adult issues" and world news very accessible for young readers. Living in California, the fictional events that transpired in Vermont will surely hit home for the children in my classroom. #teachingforsocialjustice

Great Book for preteens

I was told to read this book for a college class, did not really think I would like this book. However, thanks to Audible I found myself not wanting to put the book away and sleep. I am not a good reader and am a very slow reader, Audible made it easy for me to read get the enjoyment of reading, understanding and understand what each character plot lines. I recommend this book to any history teacher wanting to place a different style of learning in the classroom!! Thanks Audible

What a story!

I really enjoyed this book. I cried, laughed and cried some more . Julia is an amazing writer.

Not good at all

Socialist crap... "United States of the world." This is the worst book for our county I've found, convincing kids of socialist crap before they are able to understand the meaning of what our country has been founded on.