Return to Sender
When Tyler's father is injured in a tractor accident, the family decides to hire a family of Mexican migrant workers. For Tyler, the workers' presence on the farm — as well as that of the three young daughters — is shrouded in mystery. As he develops a friendship with Mari, the eldest, he begins to wonder about the family's immigration status and what it means to be patriotic. In the meantime, Mari struggles with her own complicated feelings and worries about her mother, who is missing. This unforgettable, award-winning novel, told from both the perspectives of Tyler and Mari, opens the door for discussing important questions about immigration, friendship, and family with students of all backgrounds.
Language: Spanish vocabulary featured
Culture/Community: Mexican / Mexican American
Heritage & History: Hispanic Heritage and History
Book Awards: Américas Award & Honor Books, Pura Belpré Award & Honor Books, YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults & Honor Books
Themes for Middle Grade/YA: Animals and Pets, Nature and the Outdoors, Coming of Age, Family and Friends, Health and Wellness, Immigration
Genre: Fiction
Format: Novel
Audiobook: No
Age Level: 9-12, Middle Grade
Publisher: Knopf