Book Review: Dream Things True by Marie Marquardt

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Dream Things True
Author: Marie Marquardt
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Released: September 1st 2015
Review Source: St. Martin's Griffin | ReadingTeen

A modern-day Romeo and Juliet story in which a wealthy Southern boy falls in love with an undocumented Mexican girl and together they face perils in their hostile Georgia town.

Evan, a soccer star and the nephew of a conservative Southern Senator, has never wanted for much -- except a functional family. Alma has lived in Georgia since she was two-years-old, excels in school, and has a large, warm Mexican family. Never mind their differences, the two fall in love, and they fall hard. But when ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) begins raids on their town, Alma knows that she needs to tell Evan her secret. There's too much at stake. But how to tell her country-club boyfriend that she’s an undocumented immigrant? That her whole family and most of her friends live in the country without permission. What follows is a beautiful, nuanced, well-paced exploration of the complications of immigration, young love, defying one’s family, and facing a tangled bureaucracy that threatens to completely upend two young lives.

I’m well aware of undocumented immigrants as I was one of them when I first entered this country. Although the story touches this topic, it really doesn’t go too in-depth into the matter. Which was a bit disappointing and the lack of chemistry between the main characters didn’t really help.

With a gorgeous cover and interesting synopsis, I believed I would love this story. Hello, a modern Romeo and Juliet story?! YES, please. Yet, the story felt short to its mark. The romance was less than okay. What bother me the most is that I just couldn’t click with Alma and Evan. At all. I didn’t buy their romance. Their interactions were dull and. it. just. didn’t. work.

However, the only thing I enjoyed about this story is the way I was rooting for the Garcia family. Their struggle are real and you just wanted to lend a hand. The constant fear of being caught and being deported. I wish the story would tell us more about them overall.

Dream Things True is an okay read. Some questions were unanswered due to much drama on Evan’s part. And the no translation on most parts, this will be a difficult read for those who cannot understand Spanish. Not really an ideal read.

Thanks, Andye for the copy!