Skip to Main Content (Press Enter) Toggle side nav

The Far Away Brothers (Adapted for Young Adults)

Two Teenage Immigrants Making a Life in America

Two Teenage Immigrants Making a Life in America

Two Teenage Immigrants Making a Life in America

By Lauren Markham

By Lauren Markham

By Lauren Markham

By Lauren Markham

By Lauren Markham

By Lauren Markham

Best Seller
Paperback $9.99

Aug 25, 2020 | ISBN 9781984829801 | Young Adult

Hardcover $17.99

Aug 20, 2019 | ISBN 9781984829771 | Young Adult

Ebook $9.99

Aug 20, 2019 | ISBN 9781984829795 | Young Adult

All Formats
+
    The Far Away Brothers (Adapted for Young Adults) by Lauren Markham
    Paperback $9.99
    Aug 25, 2020 | ISBN 9781984829801

    Buy from Other Retailers:

    See All Formats (2) +

    Paperback
    –

    • Paperback $9.99

      Aug 25, 2020 | ISBN 9781984829801 | Young Adult

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    Hardcover
    +

    • Hardcover $17.99

      Aug 20, 2019 | ISBN 9781984829771 | Young Adult

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    Ebook
    +

    • Ebook

      Aug 20, 2019 | ISBN 9781984829795 | Young Adult

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    Buy the Ebook:

    About The Far Away Brothers (Adapted for Young Adults)

    The inspiring true story of identical twin teenage brothers who escape El Salvador’s violence to build new lives in California as undocumented immigrants–perfect for fans of Enrique’s Journey and anyone interested in learning about the issues that underlie today’s conversations about DACA and immigration reform.

    Ernesto and Raúl Flores are identical twins, used to being mistaken for each other. As seventeen-year-olds living in rural El Salvador, they are used to thinking that the United States is just a far-off dream. When Ernesto ends up on the wrong side of MS-13, one of El Salvador’s brutal gangs, he flees the country for his own safety. Raúl, fearing that he will be mistaken for his brother, follows close behind.

    Running from one danger to the next, the Flores twins make the harrowing journey north, only to fall into the hands of immigration authorities. When they finally make it to the custody of their older brother in Oakland, California, the difficulties don’t end.

    While navigating a new school in a new language, struggling to pay off their mounting coyote debt, and anxiously waiting for their day in immigration court, Raúl and Ernesto are also trying to lead normal teenage lives. With only each other for support, they begin the process of carving out a life for themselves, one full of hope and possibility.

    Adapted for young adults from the award-winning adult edition, The Far Away Brothers is the inspiring true story of two teens making their way in America, a personal look at US immigration policy, and a powerful account of contemporary immigration.

    About The Far Away Brothers (Adapted for Young Adults)

    The inspiring true story about identical twin teenage brothers who escape El Salvador’s violence to build new lives in California as undocumented immigrants, perfect for fans of Enrique’s Journey and anyone interested in learning about the issues that underlie today’s conversations about DACA and immigration reform.

    Ernesto and Raúl Flores are identical twins, used to being mistaken for each other. As seventeen-year-olds living in rural El Salvador, they think the United States is just a far-off dream–it’s too risky, too expensive to start a life there. But when Ernesto ends up on the wrong side of MS-13, one of El Salvador’s brutal gangs, he flees the country for his own safety. Raúl, fearing that he will be mistaken for his brother, follows close behind.

    Running from one danger to the next, the Flores twins make the harrowing journey north, crossing the Rio Grande and the Texas desert only to fall into the hands of immigration authorities. When they finally make it to the custody of their older brother in Oakland, California, the difficulties don’t end.

    While navigating a new school in a new language, struggling to pay off their mounting coyote debt, and anxiously waiting for their day in immigration court, Raul and Ernesto are also trying to lead normal teenage lives–dealing with girls, social media, and fitting in. With only each other for support, they begin the process of carving out a life for themselves, one full of hope and possibility.

    Adapted for young adults from the award-winning adult edition, The Far Away Brothers is the inspiring true story of two teens making their way in America, a personal look at U.S. immigration policy, and a powerful account of contemporary immigration.

    A Junior Library Guild Selection

    “Both touching and educational. . . . Gets inside the heads and hearts of immigrants.” –Kirkus, Starred Review

    “A must for all young adult nonfiction shelves.” —School Library Journal, Starred

    “Visceral and informative, this is a necessary read for today’s youth.” —Booklist

    About The Far Away Brothers (Adapted for Young Adults)

    The inspiring true story about identical twin teenage brothers who escape El Salvador’s violence to build new lives in California as undocumented immigrants, perfect for fans of Enrique’s Journey and anyone interested in learning about the issues that underlie today’s conversations about DACA and immigration reform.

    Ernesto and Raúl Flores are identical twins, used to being mistaken for each other. As seventeen-year-olds living in rural El Salvador, they think the United States is just a far-off dream–it’s too risky, too expensive to start a life there. But when Ernesto ends up on the wrong side of MS-13, one of El Salvador’s brutal gangs, he flees the country for his own safety. Raúl, fearing that he will be mistaken for his brother, follows close behind.

    Running from one danger to the next, the Flores twins make the harrowing journey north, crossing the Rio Grande and the Texas desert only to fall into the hands of immigration authorities. When they finally make it to the custody of their older brother in Oakland, California, the difficulties don’t end.

    While navigating a new school in a new language, struggling to pay off their mounting coyote debt, and anxiously waiting for their day in immigration court, Raul and Ernesto are also trying to lead normal teenage lives–dealing with girls, social media, and fitting in. With only each other for support, they begin the process of carving out a life for themselves, one full of hope and possibility.

    Adapted for young adults from the award-winning adult edition, The Far Away Brothers is the inspiring true story of two teens making their way in America, a personal look at U.S. immigration policy, and a powerful account of contemporary immigration.

    A Junior Library Guild Selection

    “Both touching and educational. . . . Gets inside the heads and hearts of immigrants.” –Kirkus, Starred Review

    “A must for all young adult nonfiction shelves.” —School Library Journal, Starred

    “Visceral and informative, this is a necessary read for today’s youth.” —Booklist

    Read An Excerpt

    Read An Excerpt

    Read An Excerpt

    Also by Lauren Markham

    The Far Away Brothers
    See all books by Lauren Markham

    Also by Lauren Markham

    The Far Away Brothers
    See all books by Lauren Markham

    Also by Lauren Markham

    The Far Away Brothers
    See all books by Lauren Markham

    About Lauren Markham

    Lauren Markham is a writer based in Berkeley, California, focusing on issues related to youth, migration, the environment, and her home state of California. Her work has appeared in outlets such as Harper’s, the New Republic, Orion, the Guardian, the… More about Lauren Markham

    About Lauren Markham

    Lauren Markham is a writer based in Berkeley, California, focusing on issues related to youth, migration, the environment, and her home state of California. Her work has appeared in outlets such as Harper’s, the New Republic, Orion, the Guardian, the… More about Lauren Markham

    About Lauren Markham

    Lauren Markham is a writer based in Berkeley, California, focusing on issues related to youth, migration, the environment, and her home state of California. Her work has appeared in outlets such as Harper’s, the New Republic, Orion, the Guardian, the… More about Lauren Markham

    Product Details

    Category: Teen & Young Adult Nonfiction | Teen & Young Adult Social Issues

    Paperback | $9.99
    Published by Ember
    Aug 25, 2020 | 288 Pages | 5-1/2 x 8-1/4 | Young Adult | ISBN 9781984829801

    Category: Teen & Young Adult Nonfiction | Teen & Young Adult Social Issues

    Hardcover | $17.99
    Published by Delacorte Press
    Aug 20, 2019 | 288 Pages | 5-1/2 x 8-1/4 | Young Adult | ISBN 9781984829771

    Category: Teen & Young Adult Nonfiction | Teen & Young Adult Social Issues

    Ebook | $9.99
    Published by Delacorte Press
    Aug 20, 2019 | 288 Pages | Young Adult | ISBN 9781984829795

    Inspired by Your Browsing History

    Buy other books like The Far Away Brothers (Adapted for Young Adults)

    ‹ ›
    Just Mercy (Movie Tie-In Edition, Adapted for Young Adults)
    Just Mercy (Movie Tie-In Edition, Adapted for Young Adults)
    Bryan Stevenson
    Sanctuary
    Sanctuary
    Paola Mendoza and Abby Sher
    Enrique's Journey (The Young Adult Adaptation)
    Enrique’s Journey (The Young Adult Adaptation)
    Sonia Nazario
    A Queer History of the United States for Young People
    A Queer History of the United States for Young People
    Michael Bronski
    Trash
    Trash
    Andy Mulligan
    The Miracle & Tragedy of the Dionne Quintuplets
    The Miracle & Tragedy of the Dionne Quintuplets
    Sarah Miller
    Warhead
    Warhead
    Jeff Henigson
    When You and I Collide
    When You and I Collide
    Kate Norris
    The Wave
    The Wave
    Todd Strasser
    Mountains Beyond Mountains (Adapted for Young People)
    Mountains Beyond Mountains (Adapted for Young People)
    Tracy Kidder and Michael French
    Outcasts United
    Outcasts United
    Warren St. John
    The New Queer Conscience
    The New Queer Conscience
    Adam Eli
    The Chocolate War
    The Chocolate War
    Robert Cormier
    Code Talker
    Code Talker
    Joseph Bruchac
    145th Street: Short Stories
    145th Street: Short Stories
    Walter Dean Myers
    The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh
    The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh
    Candace Fleming
    An Uninterrupted View of the Sky
    An Uninterrupted View of the Sky
    Melanie Crowder
    Neverworld Wake
    Neverworld Wake
    Marisha Pessl
    What the Night Sings
    What the Night Sings
    Vesper Stamper
    Origin
    Origin
    Jessica Khoury
    Justin #1
    Justin #1
    LJ Alonge
    The Electric Kingdom
    The Electric Kingdom
    David Arnold
    Walk Toward the Rising Sun
    Walk Toward the Rising Sun
    Ger Duany and Garen Thomas
    The Assignment
    The Assignment
    Liza Wiemer
    Orleans
    Orleans
    Sherri L. Smith
    Mapping the Bones
    Mapping the Bones
    Jane Yolen
    Knights of the Hill Country
    Knights of the Hill Country
    Tim Tharp
    Bamboo People
    Bamboo People
    Mitali Perkins
    The Islands at the End of the World
    The Islands at the End of the World
    Austin Aslan
    The Living
    The Living
    Matt de la Peña
    Anna and the Swallow Man
    Anna and the Swallow Man
    Gavriel Savit
    A World Without You
    A World Without You
    Beth Revis

    Praise

    “Never intrusive with her research, [Markham] keeps an eye on the family story while weaving in bits of history, geography, and politics. As a result, the fear and displacement the boys felt in California are both touching and educational. The informative afterword offers historical context and suggestions about what might be done to remedy the humanitarian crisis. Gets inside the heads and hearts of immigrants.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred

    “Markham tells the story honestly and vividly, and while at times the book reads like fiction, she inserts her expertise as well as facts and data on the issue. Readers will get a very human glimpse into the lives of two immigrants while also learning more about the larger picture of immigration in the United States. A must for all young adult nonfiction shelves.” —School Library Journal, Starred

    “Markham has adapted her own book into a version for teens that loses none of the urgency or timeliness of the original. . . . The narrative includes accounts of economic policies that drive farmers into gangs, social policies that create animosity between people, and political policies that fuel anger and enable corporations to profit from vulnerability and loss. We learn how these policies affect real people, casting families into hopeless situations, debt, and separation. . . . Visceral and informative, this is a necessary read for today’s youth.“ —Booklist

    Praise for the adult edition of The Far Away Brothers

    Named one of the Best Books of the Year by the New York Times Book Review

    “Impeccably timeed, intimately reported and beautifully expressed.” —The New York Times

    “You should read The Far Away Brothers. We all should.” –NPR

    Awards

    CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young Readers SELECTION 2020

    Chicago Public Library Best Books SELECTION 2019

    NCSS-CBC Notable Trade Books for Young People SELECTION 2020

    Looking for More Great Reads?
    21 Books You’ve Been Meaning to Read
    Get the latest updates from Lauren Markham
    And go from well-read to best read with book recs, deals and more in your inbox every week.
    And go from well-read to best read with book recs, deals and more in your inbox every week.
    By clicking SIGN UP, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Random House’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
    Dismiss
    Thanks!
    Something awesome is on its way.
    Back to Top

    Visit other sites in the Penguin Random House Network

    Raise kids who love to read

    Brightly

    Raise kids who love to read
    Today's Top Books

    Today's Top Books

    Want to know what people are actually reading right now?
    An online magazine for today’s home cook

    TASTE

    An online magazine for today’s home cook