Chemistry teacher Jessica Tatum recently read “The Maldonado Miracle” for her children’s literature class.

“I really like that it brings in the experience of the main character and what he’s having to go through to try to come from Mexico to America,” Tatum said. “It really shows the struggles that a lot of immigrants have to go through.”

The book is a sequel in a series about a boy, Jose, who migrates from a small city in Mexico to the United States. Jose starts working for a farmer after migrating to an agricultural area outside of Los Angeles. He works for the farmer as he waits for his father to join him in America.

“I’m a part of a children’s literature class, so I’m reading the book to the class,” Tatum said. “We have been talking about incorporating this into some children’s literature classes later on with elementary school or even middle school students.”

The book was written in 1978 by American author Theodore Taylor. Taylor has written over 50 short stories and novels for young adults since “The Maldonado Miracle” was published. Some of his other works include “The Cay” and “The Weirdo.”

“I think that this would be a very good book for students who haven’t been out of the country, to see what it’s like, and to see some of the struggles that people from other countries face,” Tatum said. 

The book sends a message of always being kind to others because one never knows the struggles that others are going through.