This book is concerned with the reasons that migrants and immigrants are risking their lives to cross the border into the United States and become Americans. It is a plain, simple telling of the Martinez family as they make their way from the countryside of Costa Rica to Detroit, Michigan.

It is built, of course, upon the American dream and the American that exists in the United States of America. More than that, however, it details the very real reasons people have for leaving their country to go to the United States.

Not enough people are aware that these people are leaving life and death situations. They are coming from places that cannot be gone back to without a great deal of work and fixing.

Of course - the work and fixing of correcting all that would be profitable for a great many people - but - right now too many people in the developed world are under the impression that millions of people fleeing their homes are doing it as an adventure and fun thing to do with their time. In fact, if they stay, they would live in misery and many face death for themselves and their loved ones.

What they are doing is heroic. Just as heroic as what our own ancestors have done.

At this point in time people are struggling to reach the United States. They are striving with all their lives and abilities to come to these shores.

They are travelling with their families over dangerous lands. They are dealing with treacherous people.

They are escaping life threatening situations. They are hoping for a better life.

They want to build a better life for themselves and their family. They are coming, some of them with nothing but their abilities and the clothes on their backs.

They are being driven from their homelands and the places of their birth having been left with one blessed hope and future and that is to live in the United States of America. They desire to join their future with the American people and work hard and work together to build a nation this is strong and compassionate.

Many of the hardworking people never make it to our shores or cross our borders. Some give up their lives in the doing of this fabulous journey.

Their efforts end in blameless death that is tragedy itself. They come with no dishonor hoping to have and to give what is the best of all human accomplishments - to be free, equal, to live in peace and to have an opportunity.

Many try to shut them out. Turning away from their own blessed truths and given fortunes provided to us by our union and pledges to liberty.

They cannot be shut out because these strangers among us are us. The question now, of course, is - what do we all do together?.