"Indivisible" is an incredibly moving read that tells the story of a gay kid navigating life under the weight of his immigrant parents' deportation. The author does a fantastic job of weaving together themes of identity, love, and resilience.

What I Loved:

Authentic Characters: The characters feel real and relatable. You can’t help but root for the protagonist as he grapples with his own identity while dealing with the harsh realities of his family's situation.

Powerful Themes: The book tackles tough issues like immigration, LGBTQ+ acceptance, and family dynamics. It doesn’t shy away from the struggles but also highlights hope and the importance of community.

Emotional Depth: There were moments that genuinely made me tear up. The emotional weight of the protagonist's journey is beautifully portrayed, making it a gripping read.

Cultural Insight: The story provides a glimpse into the immigrant experience, showcasing the complexities and challenges faced by families like his. It’s educational while still being an engaging narrative.

Overall Impression: "Indivisible" is a heartfelt and compelling story that stays with you long after you’ve finished reading. It’s a must-read for anyone interested in diverse narratives that challenge societal norms and celebrate love in all its forms. Highly recommend!

Gosh. I'm not even sure I have words for how much I loved this book.

"Indivisible" tells the story of Mateo and his efforts to keep his family together as his parents face deportation. It's powerful in its explorations of immigration in America and tells a deeply intimate portrait of a teen boy driven by his fierce, protective love for his parents and his sister.

I couldn't put it down once I started, and was completely engrossed from beginning to end. What a beautiful and important book -- tender and heart-wrenching and resonant. The writing was beautiful and meaningful without being flower-y or over-the-top, the characters were real and well-developed, and the story is incredibly important and impactful. ...Just wow.

It's a book I'm going to be thinking about -- and recommending to everyone -- for a long time. (I know I'm also going to be buying several copies for myself!) An incredibly moving and important debut. Adding Daniel to my list of auto-buy authors!

I had expected a book that told a story and that I would be captivated. I expected emotional disappointments in a story about illegal immigrants. What I did not expect was to be stuck processing a story I could not put down.

Mateo is the high school aged son of two illegal immigrants from Mexico. His sister is just six when the story starts. Their lives are not comfortable, but they have what they need in New York City.

Mateo is dealing with being in high school, wanting to achieve his dreams of going to college, becoming an actor, and keeping his family safe. Like most teens, Mateo does not process things that are not in front of him. This is what caught me and made me believe Mateo. Once Mateo's parents are picked up by ICE, Immigration Customs Enforcement, Mateo knows he needs to take care of his sister and that becomes his ultimate priority. School doesn't matter. Only keeping Sophie safe and cared for is his dominant thought. But Mateo struggles and has no one to turn to, Mateo strives for the wall of silence that his parents imposed on Mateo from the moment they told him they were illegal immigrants when he was six years old.

There were some plot pieces I found challenging, mostly surrounding Mateo's command of the English language. Mateo, being the son of immigrants would have been more fluent in Spanish than he demonstrates in the story. Kimmie's parents who are known to help in their community and are close with their daughter, never discuss how much Mateo kept to himself and how much he might have struggled in the months since his parents were taken by ICE. A few things that also were challenges-- after Mateo's visit with the Immigration Court, there were visits by Child Protective Services since Mateo and Sophie were not living with genetic family.

What warmed me about the story, though the entire arc of the story did not surprise me in the least, the way the community rallied for Mateo and Sophie, not just the people close to the family. It spoke to the nature of the connectivity of immigration no matter where one is that community builds up over time. The story is a great connector to modern friendships of teenagers and how friendships truly matter to teens no matter where they are.

Daniel Aleman's INDIVISIBLE is one of those books that you can't put down, but also one that you have to set aside periodically because you're afraid your heart might break if you turn the page. It's an important and timely story about immigration, but even more than that, it's a story about the very real and very painful experience of one family, and one teen, in particular. Mateo's heart is in every sentence, and his fear, his shame, and his determination to be there for his sister will bring you to tears. This story belongs on every shelf, in every library, and in every classroom. I'll be handing it to my own kids, and recommending it to everyone I know.

Hello.

The storyline of this book is cute & heartwarming.

It has a good message.

It is well-written.

I am glad I read this book.

Thank you to the author for writing this book.

As a teacher, I read this book before putting it in my classroom library. I never expected to love it as much as I did. The story is powerful and so timely for our country. If every American read a book like this, they might show a little more compassion toward immigrants in our country. I can’t wait to give a book talk on this for my 8th graders!

I loved the meaning of family. It talks about the inseparable moments that summarizes the story. Family is the most important thing because they can never be separated, but within our hearts when they are no longer with us.

This was a difficult book to read given that it tears a family apart. It was also very political given the time period. I am giving it three stars because the plot line frustrated me and I thought some of the characters were selfish.

I realize unfortunately that there are more situations out there and it breaks my heart that families have to live in fear of deportation. I confess I do not understand why hard-working immigrants who have been established in this country for many years, pay taxes and feed the economy are being deported. The media can paint a picture that these people are all criminals living here illegally and committing a crime simply by existing without the proper paperwork but I do not feel this is an accurate depiction. I recently read another book about a retired nurse who volunteers with the Samaritans in the Sonoran Desert region of Arizona and Mexico. She paints a picture of hopeful migrants who want a better life, who want to work and who just want to feel safer than they do in their home countries that are full of political turmoil and actual criminals. She describes people she meets at the comedor across the Mexican border, some who had been living in the United States for years with families and businesses and good jobs being deported for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

This is a politically charged issue already. In regards to the actual book, there was a lot of the book that frustrated me due to some of Mateo's parents' behaviors and putting Mateo and his sister in some impossible positions and keep telling them to be brave. Sophie is only seven years old and suddenly her brother is now her sole caregiver. There were a lot of what ifs and uncertainty that leapt off the pages. There were parts that made me teary, especially knowing that while this is a piece of fiction, a lot of families are living this as a reality.

This is a good book overall. I think the writing is solid and the ideas are good (although Hamilton tickets for $10 still makes me say WHAT?!). I think this would be a good book for high schoolers since it is a hot button issue but I think it would only upset the younger readers.

This was my most anticipated read of 2021. I’ve been waiting for this release date eagerly, so I can read the book and see what it has in store. Today, I consumed the whole book in one day and it did not disappoint. It’s been a long time since I consumed a book in this way, since I’ve put life and all other duties and current reads on hold, to just read a book start to finish in one day. But it was so worth it. The book was worth every day I’ve waited for the release. Every word on every page more than made up for it.

This is an emotional read. It’s heartbreaking and hard hitting so so powerful. My heart broke for Matteo and Sophie as they kept getting knocked down by life again and again. I felt their heartbreak, their hope, their feelings of loneliness through the pages.

I love how the book is about Matteo’s parents getting taken by ICE - but that’s not *all* it’s about. Daniel Aleman covers how this affects not only Matteo and Sophie, but their friends and family too. You see the impact their parents had on their local community and how loved they are, realising how much harder them being taken by ICE is.

By this I mean - this book is about family, friendship, community, kindness, belonging, isolation, hope. It’s about life carrying on when Matteo has really been beat down by everything. It covers so many themes and feelings and emotions in such an impactful way. It works beautifully.

I want to add that Matteo is a character I just want to hug and make everything better for. He cares so much for his family and friends, you can feel his anxiety and fear through the words - especially as they heighten.

I also love how Matteo is such a real character. Sometimes he doesn’t handle situations in the best way - mainly with his friends. Having him openly admit this and tell himself that he is at fault here, but then reading him actively doing better and changing before our eyes is beautifully refreshing. Matteo is going through a LOT so I think the actions he takes in the book can be forgiven, but having a realistic character in a book - someone who is human and does make mistakes but uses them to learn and grow - is something I will never, ever tire of. Daniel Aleman has written this so well in the book that despite all this - I still absolutely adore Matteo and only want the best for him and his family.

The book was paced so well - always wanting me to read more and more (hence my reading it all in one day). I loved the unexpectedness. How the book didn’t go where I was expecting at all throughout from start to finish, but it far from disappointed me.

This book was just fantastic. It’s raw, honest, and has had me consistently in tears throughout today as I’ve read it. I truly can’t recommend it enough.

A great insight into what the immigration system is like in the United States. The story was well written and I became very invested in the characters and overall storyline.

A must-read!

Fast-paced, light and easy-to-read fiction novel that explores some rough and controversial topics (experienced through the eyes of a teenager) such as illegal immigration, deportation and LGBTQ life choices. Most importantly, the core focus of this book is family love, friendship, and overcoming great difficulties together. Highly recommended for young and mature open-minded readers who are looking for a moving and inspiring story.

Te involucras y encariñas con los personajes desde un inicio. Te sientes parte de la historia y todo es muy familiar, además de generar conciencia sobre uno de los problemas de mayor actualidad a la que se enfrentan los migrantes.