Mateo Garcia lives in New York with his parents and his sister Sophie. At the start of the novel, he's seen in line for an off-Broadway audition with his best friend Adam. Later, he's at dinner with his parents where they reassure the kids they'll be fine as long as they are "careful."
But being careful doesn't seem to be enough. One day, while the kids are at school, I.C.E. arrives at the Bodega (his dad's store)...Setting the kids on a new journey of facing America without parental supervision.
His usual worries of prepping for the SATs and becoming an actor become overshadowed by Law & Order. Will the courts let his parents stay in the States or will a rigid outlook on citizenship alter their lives unwillingly?
Aleman paints a human tale about the Garcias. Parents who work hard so their children can strive towards their hopes and dreams-- like many other typical American families. This isn't a story to sway or even to drown the readers in facts and figures. It's just a story about Mateo and his sister, his best friends Adam and Kimmie, his family friends, the Bodega employees, and the neighbors that surround them.
You can find the book here.