We Were Here by Matt De La Peña

Summary

We Were Here is the story of Miguel, who was caught of a crime that he committed.  He was sentenced to a year in a group home with the additional requirement of keeping a journal.  The book begins with his personal entries.  Before going to the group home, Miguel is placed in a juvenile detention center for holding. While there he gets into a fight with boy named Rondell, and then later when does arrive at the group home he gets into another fight with another boy named Mong.  After a month has passed; Rondell gets transferred into the group home; where all three boys set aside their differences and become friends. They end up devising a plan to escape, with Miguel stealing around $750 and the personal files of all three of them from the counselor’s office.  The rest of the book chronicles their journey which documents their struggle to find freedom; but tragically results in the death of one of the three.  Eventually, the two remaining young boys seek assistance from family; where they are able to raise enough money to pay back what they stole and thus return to the group home and finish their sentence.  

      Commentary on the Strengths

Matt De La Pena does an amazing job of bringing the story to life.  Being Hispanic, I was able to relate when the main characters were seeking refuge across the border.  De La Pena writing helps the reader experience a different culture which some might not have experienced before.  The genre of the book is Realistic Contemporary Fiction.  The book has been recognized as an ALA-YALSA Best Book for Young Adults, an ALA-SALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers and a Junior Library Guild Selection.  It was listed in the 2010 New York City Public Library Stuff for the Teenage list.  

Readers also enjoyed Muchacho by LouAnne Johnson; The Brothers Torres by Coert Voorhees; Funny How Things Change by Melissa Wyatt; When We Wuz Famous by Greg Takoudes; and The Orange Houses by Paul Griffen

Additional books written by Matt De La Pena include Last Stop on Mango Street; Mexican White Boy; I Will Save You; Ball Don't Lie; and  The Living

      Teachers can find ideas to incorporate this book into their lesson plans by going to the following website: https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=19632

       Peña, M. D. (2011). We were here. New York: Ember.

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