The Secret Side of Empty- Part A

So far, I would not say this is my favorite book of the course. However, it is a quick and interesting read, and I am looking forward to finishing the story.

Immigration is something I am not overly familiar with. I would have said years ago that since we live in Montana it is not a big issue for us given our region. With more education and understanding of the issue, I know that is not true and immigrants are likely to move to Montana for many reasons.

M.T. has been very easy for me to connect with. I feel her pain as she struggles to know what her life will be like in ten years. I relate this to the previous books and conversations we have read. Why are some people born playing on third base and she has had to work her way out of the locker room. M.T. is facing huge struggles ahead of her. It breaks my heart that she cannot go to college as she values education and so many others her age do not. M.T. also draws a great connection to this unfairness with her reflection of Julissa's baby on page 50. "Who chooses who gets to be a linoleum floor eater and who gets to grow up on marble floors." This conversation rings true for so many of my students who got dealt the lower hand.

M.T.'s challenge to her teacher covers the issue at hand politically in my opinion (page 121). Those who do not approve of immigrants view them as less than, lazy, looking to live off the government. I think this is such a lie to cover one's judgmental hate for other humans. I do not know the answer to the immigration problem; however, I know that there are real people like M.T. who would benefit the world as a whole so much if they were able to learn, achieve, and work. Education is so powerful, and she is being held back from this opportunity due to a number and piece of paper! Maybe after the speaker and talking with the class I will know more of what I believe to be the solution because the solution is most definitely not a wall.

A few quotes I have jotted down so far:
"Just remember that when someones tells you that things aren't going to end well, that's because they want you to be afraid. Things always end well. Because they never end" (page 39)
"Mackenzie, passing math is real life" (page 61). You can bet I'll be using this one!