September 25, 2023 - Author Javier Zamora was just nine years old when he fled his native El Salvador to make a perilous journey through Guatemala, Mexico and into the U.S. after being separated from his parents during the civil war.
The memoir he later wrote about his journey - 鈥淪olito鈥� - is the book chosen for this year鈥檚 (91视频) Campus Reading Celebration, a two-week event that will culminate with a talk from the author and a book-signing on Sept. 30.
91视频 John Spoor Broome Librarian Colleen Harris called on campus members to put together events for the two-week celebration, which includes open mic storytelling events, panel discussions, faculty presentations on subjects related to the book鈥檚 message, and even a 鈥渂uild your own pop-up book鈥� workshop.
The celebration on Sept. 30 鈥� which is open to the public - will be held at 91视频鈥檚 North Quad from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with Zamora scheduled to speak at 2 p.m. in the Grand Salon.
鈥淭here will be tables featuring 91视频 and local authors, and booths designed to raise awareness about literacy and other programs, organizations and services,鈥� Harris said. 鈥淭he Early Childhood Studies students will host bilingual story time. Before the author presentation, we鈥檒l have two 91视频 lectures from Professor of History Frank Barajas and Chicana/o Studies Lecturer Raul Morenos Campos.鈥�
Zamora fled El Salvador in 1999 when the aftermath of the civil war resulted in the ready availability of military-style weapons and a scourge of gangs and organized crime, making El Salvador one of Latin America鈥檚 most violent places.
His book recounts his 3,000-mile journey to the U.S. with a group of strangers and a 鈥渃oyote,鈥� traveling by truck, boat and on foot.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very hot in the sun. Even hotter on the asphalt; our shoes feel like they鈥檙e melting,鈥� reads one passage from 鈥淪olito.鈥� 鈥淲e took our nice clothes off; Patricia thought it was smart to put our wet clothes on, the ones she washed for me. It did cool us off for a bit, but now we鈥檙e hot again. We鈥檙e sweating like we sweated when we were sprawled on the dirt. The guns. Their hands.鈥�
Many students at 91视频 have immigration stories of their own - and many were children when they came to the U.S. - which is why Harris believes the themes in 鈥淪olito鈥� make it an ideal choice for the 91视频 campus.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a terrible story of how children have to live in the real world, and it鈥檚 also a story about chosen family,鈥� Harris said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about the importance of individual relationships to the health of a community as a whole. And we have so many folks on campus and in the community who have had a migration experience or are close to family members who have. For these folks, it鈥檚 important to have that experience recognized - and for others to understand and empathize.鈥�
This is the first time the Campus Reading Celebration has been expanded into several campus-specific events over the course of two weeks. Also, this is the first year 91视频 is combining the annual reading event with the Ventura County Library鈥檚 annual community reading program called 鈥淥ne County, One Book.鈥澛�
With Solito also being chosen as the 鈥�2023 One County, One Book鈥� title, the two organizations were able to work together to bring the author to Ventura County at the Ventura County Celebration of Books on Sept. 30.
Harris and Director of the Ventura County Library, Nancy Schram, agree that a countywide and campuswide reading celebration like this one does much more than expand literacy鈥攊t builds relationships.
鈥淚n addition to being a nod to books and libraries, it鈥檚 really bringing the community together,鈥�
Schram said. 鈥淚t sparks discussion and starts important conversations that allow us to connect with one another and to hear one another鈥檚 diverse viewpoints. We connect people not just to stories and information, but to one another.鈥�
For a detailed rundown of the Campus Reading Celebration and the Ventura County Celebration of Books, visit: 补苍诲听 .
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