Starred review from February 1, 2025
Finding the comedy in coming to America. Torres Medina, a writer forThe Late Show With Stephen Colbert, describes his book as "the ultimate guide for any person who is curious about what it's like to be an immigrant who dares take on the daunting task of leaving it all behind and moving to a country they picked." Written as a choose-your-own-adventure gamebook, it introduces characters ranging from a tortured French heiress of a jam fortune, to an immigrant who discovers they've been an "elite-level athlete" their whole life and never known it, to a student who, when faced with the cost of American tuition, decides to fund their education less than legally, to a semi-autobiographical character who is an improv student with comedy dreams. Using the combination of choices these characters make and the resources available to them, Torres Medina introduces readers to a variety of immigration visas they can apply for, not only articulating their costs, but also the obstacles associated with each type. Although the author lightens the content with well-placed jokes that include footnotes written by an anxious and awkward lawyer named Kevin, his empathy for those attempting to navigate America's daunting bureaucracy remains the emotional heart of these stories. Torres Medina writes, "That's the gist of immigrants, by and large. They chose this place. And I believe there is no bigger act of love than willingly choosing something." This hilarious and heartfelt book is a compassionate ode to those who risk it all to live in America. A funny, empathetic, and formally inventive guide to the U.S. immigration system.
COPYRIGHT(2025) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
March 1, 2025
Legal immigration to the United States involves a litany of paperwork and the navigating of labyrinthine government bureaucracy. In America, Let Me In, Torres Medina provides different options for those seeking to resettle in the U.S. If you want to take advantage of a transfer your company offers, you'll need an L-1 visa. Meanwhile, the EB-1 visa requires the applicant to showcase extraordinary ability, whereas the H-1B work visa is determined by a random lottery, sure to be unnerving for the hopeful candidate. Torres Medina adopts a humorous tone in pondering the ins and outs of U.S. immigration and offers up slyly funny ideas for avoiding it altogether in his "choose your immigration story" format. A prospective migrant could, for instance, choose to stay in her country and marry Babar the cartoon elephant, or refuse the entreaties of the real-estate/entertainment mogul who wants to date her and remain a standout model in Slovenia. Torres Medina's timely guide succeeds in giving readers the right amount of useful, pertinent information along with a lightening helping of satire.
COPYRIGHT(2025) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.