Field Mice: Memoirs of a Migrant Child

Reviews/Quotes

"Field Mice: Memoirs of a Migrant Child" is a must read. It serves as a reminder of the hellish work that our families of migrant workers of past and present have endured and continue to do so. It is educational about the way of life of people who help feed the world, but at times themselves go to bed hungry. "Field Mice" will make you laugh, make you sad, but will inspire you to try harder to succeed in life and not give up on your goals and dreams; to realize the importance of a good education, and always believe, "Que Si Se Puede!" ("It can be done!") Finally, like all good things in life, you hate to get to the end of it.- Jose Maria De Leon Hernandez "Little Joe," - Little Joe Y La Familia "Field Mice: Memoirs of a Migrant Child" has been an inspiring novel to read by someone who has never been a migrant worker but has worked with migrant families and students for 11 years. Emma Gonzalez, in my opinion, is a courageous and gifted author who has been able to keep the audience's attention in a spellbound captivating way by sharing her true life experiences. This book is so unique given the fact that there is no other book in print currently that is able to speak to the horrific experiences our migrant workers have to endure. Emma has a beautiful way of expressing herself in writing and in person to an audience of students and parents that have and are currently living in the same conditions in which Emma shared in her memoirs. She makes everyone feel as though they have a story to tell that deserves to be heard. As Emma herself proclaimed so eloquently, "When friendship turns up unexpectedly, be open to receive it because magic is what you make of what's given." Emma is definitely "open" to becoming a friend to every person to whom she speaks, and she is able to share the exact words that person needs to hear. I hope Emma continues to share vivid stories with her audience as she allows her writing to heal her from the past. I can't wait to read her next masterpiece! Thank you, Emma, for speaking with courage and from your heart! - Linda Aranda. M. Ed., Migrant Education Specialist, Education Service Center, Region 6 Huntsville, Texas 77340. Dear Emma: Thank you for writing such a great book, "Field Mice: Memoirs of a Migrant Child," and for sharing your life's journey with us. You are a very brave soul. I admire you and appreciate that I had the opportunity to have met you. I see Emma, a great, determined, smart, sophisticated and strong woman. Can't wait for the sequel! Good luck and may God bless you. Yours truly, Lidia R. Diaz Granados Emma, meeting you was truly the highlight of our weekend in the Valley. Thanks for the autographed copy of your book. We can relate very well to it because of Jimmy's upbringing as a migrant worker. We loved it....We will always treasure it. Again.....a fabulous book! Jimmy & Terry Rodriguez Migrant life vividly portrayed..... This book allows you to share the ups and downs of a young girl whose imagination allowed her to endure the hardships of migrant life. The descriptions are so vivid, you can see (and occasionally smell) what her life was like. Luckily, she realized that education was the way out and clung to the opportunities to leave the nomadic life that was her childhood. People with migrants in their ancestry will appreciate this book as Emma was dragged from Texas, to Colorado and back, and even to California to search for her father's Shangri-La. Even though it is many short snapshots of little Emma's life, it is difficult to stop reading, wondering what will happen to Emma next. - CK, Texas