The Far Away Brothers

Two Young Migrants and the Making of an American Life

By: Lauren Markham

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

The deeply reported story of identical twin brothers who escape El Salvador's violence to build new lives in California—fighting to survive, to stay, and to belong.

Growing up in rural El Salvador in the wake of the civil war, the United States was a distant fantasy to identical twins Ernesto and Raul Flores—until, at age seventeen, a deadly threat from the region’s brutal gangs forces them to flee the only home they’ve ever known. In this urgent chronicle of contemporary immigration, journalist Lauren Markham follows the Flores twins as they make their way across the Rio Grande and the Texas desert, into the hands of immigration authorities, and from there to their estranged older brother in Oakland, CA. Soon these unaccompanied minors are navigating school in a new language, working to pay down their mounting coyote debt, and facing their day in immigration court, while also encountering the triumphs and pitfalls of teenage life with only each other for support. With intimate access and breathtaking range, Markham offers an unforgettable testament to the migrant experience.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW | WINNER OF THE RIDENHOUR BOOK PRIZE | SILVER WINNER OF THE CALIFORNIA BOOK AWARD | FINALIST FOR THE LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK PRIZE | SHORTLISTED FOR THE J. ANTHONY LUKAS BOOK PRIZE | LONGLISTED FOR THE PEN/BOGRAD WELD PRIZE FOR BIOGRAPHY

incredibly powerful

I love the way that Lauren tells the story of the twins authentically and helps you feel like you are right there next to them following their journey. she also weaves in a lot of explanation about many facets of immigration history and recent events, which is incredibly helpful for many of us who have a hard time understanding it all. She explains it clearly and simply, which I deeply appreciate! This book has helped me feel more informed about the current situation of migrants coming to the US from the south and giving me the courage and confidence to speak out more about this issue and address all the misinformation out there. thank you Lauren for writing this book 2 help all of us better understand the facts and advocate for the change that needs to happen!

A Changed Perspective

It's easy to let conservative values take over...build the wall! I read this book because it was chosen for One Book One Lincoln and my friend highly recommended it. I found my beliefs and values being shifted as I listened and greatly appreciated hearing the other side of an issue. The book introduces illegal immigration in a neutral way that leaves the listener to draw their own conclusions but I began to see the border crisis as less of a national security issue and more of a humanitarian crisis. A great listen if you are looking to educate yourself on current issues.

very good book

informative and well written book. i enjoyed the facts that were given in accordance with the story.

brilliant and so well researched !!

loved this book ...learned so much...the author is a remarkable woman...I read it in two long sittings ...could not put it down ....want a sequel

Must read, we must also do something

A remarkable story. Detailed family relations, agony, loss, suffering and triumph. Donald must be stopped and Ms Markham gives us a call to action. Let go!