74 pages • 2 hours read
Julia AlvarezReturn to Sender
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2009A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez is a 2009 realistic middle-grade novel set in Vermont that alternates between the perspectives of 11-year-olds Tyler Paquette and Mari Cruz. After Tyler’s father becomes unable to work, his family hires three Mexican men, including Mari’s father, to help on their farm. Tyler and Mari form a friendship despite the challenges posed by anti-immigrant sentiments and legal issues relating to the Cruz family’s undocumented status. The book won both the Pura Belpré Award and the Américas Award. This book deals with the complex realities of undocumented immigration, including family separation, legal jeopardy, and exploitation.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Readers of Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez applaud its engaging storytelling and timely exploration of immigration issues, depicting the intersecting lives of a Vermont farm boy and a Mexican immigrant girl. Critics point out occasional predictability in plot development but appreciate the book's emotive resonance and its ability to spark important conversations.
Who Should Read Return to Sender?
Readers who enjoy Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez are typically interested in contemporary issues such as immigration and family dynamics. Fans of Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan and The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros will find similar themes of cultural identity and resilience.
RecommendedReading Age
10-14yearsLexile Level
890LBook Details
Children's Literature
Latin American Literature
Realistic Fiction
Immigration / Refugee
Arts / Culture
Relationships: Friendship
Relationships: Family
Society: Immigration