The book collection is named the "Enciclopedia Salvat del Estudiante" or "The Students Salvat Encyclopedia." It is a collection of books in our closet ranging through numbers 1 -16 that my mom could collect before coming to Mexico. The books had a little of everything, as encyclopedias tend to have. It was very entertaining to flip through these books as the books seemed always to contain everything that was needed and much more, keeping anyone entertained for any amount of time. My mother, as described by my family, was a very educated person who loved to read and learn about anything, no matter how niche that thing was. So when she took a gap year and moved to the United States, she brought the books with her to read and relax when she had free time. But over time, as her gap year turned into her staying here in the United States, she moved from house to house in the Los Angeles region, losing some of the books when she moved. But the books that remained she would cherish and began to expand her collection, buying books in English to try to learn the language as a permanent stay seemed more and more likely. But life happens, so after meeting my dad after a couple of years in the US, she gave birth to my sister and me. And over time, as I reached the age to learn how to read, I would read any books at home, as I began to read both in English and Spanish at a very young age.

– Yaryev Alonso

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant