In this powerful prequel to The Fitful Sleep of Immigrants, Orlando Ortega-Medina adeptly captures the hardships of the immigrant experience and the strength of the human spirit to survive and even excel despite the odds.
In the turbulent 1990s, Emerald Road follows Isaac Perez’s escape from El Salvador’s Civil War. With his loyal canine companion, Ahbhu, they navigate perilous landscapes from San Salvador to the US border. Amid family conflict, first love, and tragic loss, Isaac’s journey becomes a test of resilience. Facing danger and deprivation, the unbreakable bond between Isaac and Ahbhu emerges as a beacon of hope.
Against the backdrop of war and migration, Emerald Road explores the connection between humans and their pets, the loss of innocence, and the enduring power of hope. Can Isaac carve a new beginning in the land of promise, or will the shadows of El Salvador pursue him? This gripping tale invites readers into a world where love and survival intertwine, challenging the indomitable spirit in the face of betrayal and tragedy.
THE FACTS
📕 coming-of-age
📘 war and repercussions
📙 loss and new beginnings
THE GOOD BITS
I just finished Emerald Road by Orlando Ortega-Medina, and it left a deep impression on me. This book is genre-defying in the best way possible, blending multiple themes and emotions that kept me hooked from start to finish. It’s a story that weaves together unrequited love, sexual awakening, strained family dynamics, loss, and fear. At the heart of it all is Isaac Perez, a young man living in El Salvador on the brink of a 12-year civil war.
As Isaac flees his war-torn country, he embarks on a journey to the United States, where he encounters a range of fascinating and complex characters along the way. One of the most pivotal of these is Geronimo, Isaac’s first love interest, whose presence sparks a complicated sexual awakening. Through their interactions, Ortega-Medina explores themes of unrequited love, sexual identity, and the complexities of desire. Isaac’s struggle with feelings that aren’t returned feels raw and real, giving the book an emotional depth that resonated with me.
But it’s not just people who shape Isaac’s journey. In a twist that adds both magic and warmth to the narrative, Isaac forms a special bond with an Australian shepherd dog named Ahbhu. Their connection is almost psychic, as if they share an unspoken understanding of each other’s pain and hope. This bond provides a unique, almost mystical layer to the story, offering a sense of comfort and companionship amid the harshness of Isaac’s world. To me, the relationship between Isaac and Ahbhu symbolized the way we sometimes try to soften the edges of a traumatic existence—finding solace in unexpected places.
Emerald Road is a book that refuses to be easily classified, with its rich layers of emotional depth, cultural insight, and a hint of magic that ties it all together. I found it moving and thought-provoking, and I highly recommend it.
THE LINKS
🖊 Author
I was provided with an ARC of Emerald Road: A Tale of Love, War, and Betrayal by the author in exchange for an unbiased review.
Kinzie Things 