Jenny Torres Sanchez Lecture: We Are Not from Here

Jenny Torres Sanchez’s We Are Not from Here explores the immigration crisis with a poignant portrayal of the violence and systemic obstacles unaccompanied child migrants confront as they journey from Central America to the United States through Mexico. Focusing on three Guatemalan teenagers, the novel underscores the prevalence of Central Americans among border immigrants, escaping gang violence and the corruption that leads to impunity. It stimulates discussions on empathy, societal values, and human rights by exploring the violence and support encountered by the protagonists in Mexico. With its well-developed characters, the novel delves into themes of identity, gendered power relations, friendship, resiliency, and hope.

Torres Sanchez will discuss her work on young adult fiction that places into focus the perils unaccompanied child migrants from Central America face in their journeys to the United States border. This event aims to continue and deepen the ongoing conversation initiated by previous guest speakers, including Sonia Nazario in 2020, Seth Michelson in 2021, Carl Lindskoog in 2022, and Juan González in 2023.

Jenny Torres Sanchez is a full-time writer and former English teacher. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, but has lived on the border of two worlds her whole life. She lives in Orlando, Florida, with her husband and children.