Shadows Over Barrios

In the Guatemalan town of Puerto Barrios, violence and poverty are daily realities for Pulga, Chico, and Pequeña. The children grow up surrounded by the threat of gangs, bloodstains on the streets, and the knowledge that every beautiful thing can disappear overnight. Even as they cling to small joys—family, friendship, music—they are always planning their escape, knowing that hope is a fragile thing in a world that wants to crush them. The darkness of their environment is both literal and metaphorical, seeping into their dreams and shaping their futures.

Family Beyond Blood

Pulga, Chico, and Pequeña are not related by blood, but their bond is stronger than any biological tie. They support each other through hardship, loss, and fear, forming a makeshift family that is their only refuge. When Pequeña becomes pregnant under traumatic circumstances, the group's loyalty is tested, but their commitment to one another never wavers. In a place where blood often means violence, they redefine what it means to be family—standing together against a world that wants to keep them small and powerless.

The Unwanted Child

Pequeña's pregnancy is a secret she tries to ignore, the result of rape by Rey, a local gang leader. She cannot bring herself to love or even acknowledge the child growing inside her, seeing it as a symbol of her own powerlessness. Her family tries to find joy in the impending birth, but Pequeña is haunted by the knowledge that the world is not safe for her or her baby. The birth is both a physical and emotional rupture, marking the beginning of a journey she never wanted to take.

Blood on the Concrete

When Pulga and Chico witness the brutal murder of Don Felicio, a beloved shopkeeper, by Rey and his brother Nestor, they are thrust into a nightmare. The boys know that if they speak out, they will be killed; if they stay silent, they become complicit. The trauma of the event, and the knowledge that the police are powerless or corrupt, leaves them with only one option: run. The murder is a turning point, shattering any illusion of safety and setting the stage for their desperate flight north.

The Wolf's Warning

Rey, the gang leader, is a predator who manipulates and terrorizes the children. He recruits Pulga and Chico into his criminal world, using threats and violence to ensure their silence. Pequeña, trapped by Rey's abuse and the birth of his child, is also ensnared. The children realize that as long as Rey is in control, they have no future in Barrios. The wolf's presence is a constant reminder that escape is both necessary and dangerous.

A Death and a Decision

The murder of Don Felicio and the suffocating grip of Rey force Pulga, Chico, and Pequeña to make an agonizing decision: leave everything behind and flee to the United States. Their departure is marked by grief, guilt, and fear, but also by a sliver of hope. They know the journey will be perilous, but staying means certain death. The children say goodbye to their mothers, their home, and their childhood, stepping into the unknown with only each other for support.

Ghosts in the Night

As the trio crosses into Mexico, they encounter both the generosity of strangers and the ever-present threat of violence. Shelters offer brief respite, but the road is filled with predators—narcos, corrupt officials, and opportunists. The children learn to trust no one but each other, navigating a world where every kindness is tinged with risk. Nighttime brings both literal and figurative ghosts: memories of home, visions of those lost, and the constant fear of being caught.

Crossing Into Mexico

The crossing of the Suchiate River into Mexico is a moment of transformation. The children shed their old identities—Pequeña cuts her hair and becomes "Flor," Pulga tries to harden his heart, and Chico clings to hope. The journey north is a test of endurance, faith, and willpower. Each border they cross is another layer of their former selves stripped away, replaced by the scars of survival.

The Beast Awakens

The infamous freight train, La Bestia, is the only way north for many migrants. Riding atop its cars, the children are exposed to the elements, violence, and the constant threat of death. The train is a living monster—devouring limbs, lives, and dreams. Yet it is also a vehicle of hope, carrying them closer to a future they can barely imagine. The camaraderie of fellow travelers is fleeting, as everyone is fighting for their own survival.

Hunger and Hope

Hunger, thirst, and exhaustion become constant companions. The children rely on the kindness of strangers at shelters, the meager food they can scavenge, and the strength of their bond. Each small victory—catching a train, finding water, avoiding danger—is tempered by the knowledge that the journey is far from over. Hope flickers in moments of laughter, shared memories, and dreams of what might be possible on the other side.

The Price of Survival

The journey exacts a heavy toll. The children witness and experience violence, exploitation, and loss. They are forced to make impossible choices—who to trust, when to run, when to fight. The cost of survival is measured in physical wounds, psychological scars, and the gradual erosion of innocence. Each step forward is a gamble, and not everyone will make it to the end.

The Journey's Toll

As the children press on, the weight of their experiences threatens to break them. Chico suffers a head injury, Pequeña battles despair, and Pulga struggles to keep hope alive. The group is forced to rest, recover, and confront the reality that not all of them may survive. The journey becomes a crucible, forging and fracturing their identities in equal measure.

Loss on the Rails

Tragedy strikes when Chico, weakened by injury and exhaustion, falls from the train and is killed. The loss devastates Pulga and Pequeña, shattering their already fragile sense of safety. Chico's death is both a personal and symbolic loss—the death of innocence, of dreams, of the belief that survival is guaranteed. The children are forced to bury their friend in foreign soil, carrying his memory as both a burden and a source of strength.

The Desert's Judgment

The final leg of the journey is a trek through the desert, where the children face dehydration, hallucinations, and the threat of death from exposure. The desert is indifferent to their suffering, a vast expanse that swallows the weak and tests the strong. Pulga, broken by grief, nearly gives up, but Pequeña's determination keeps them moving. The desert becomes a place of reckoning, where the cost of escape is measured in bodies and broken spirits.

Border of Dreams and Death

Reaching the U.S. border is not the end, but another trial. Pulga collapses and is taken by Border Patrol, while Pequeña, after a harrowing encounter with an agent, runs for her life. The border is both a promise and a lie—a place where dreams and nightmares coexist. The children are separated, their fates uncertain, their journey marked by both triumph and tragedy.

Cages and Cold Light

Pulga finds himself in a U.S. detention center, a place of cold, fluorescent light and metal cages. The facility is designed to break spirits, to erase identities, to turn children into numbers. Pulga meets Nene, a young boy separated from his family, and is haunted by the suffering of those around him. The experience is a final test of endurance, a reminder that survival is not the same as freedom.

The Cost of Escape

Pequeña is rescued by a kind stranger, Marta, and finally contacts her mother. Pulga is released to his aunt, but the scars of the journey remain. The children are forever changed—marked by loss, trauma, and the knowledge that survival is not guaranteed. The cost of escape is measured in bodies left behind, dreams deferred, and the struggle to reclaim a sense of self.

Becoming Flor

Pequeña, now Flor, chooses a new name and a new identity. She refuses to be defined by her trauma, her smallness, or her past. Pulga, too, begins to heal, reconnecting with his mother and finding the strength to hope again. The journey has broken and remade them, teaching them that survival is not just about escaping danger, but about reclaiming the right to dream, to love, and to live.

Characters

Pulga

Pulga is a teenage boy with an "artist's heart," deeply sensitive and observant, but forced by circumstance to harden himself. He is haunted by the violence of his environment and the loss of his father, clinging to dreams of music and escape. Pulga's relationship with Chico is brotherly and protective, while his bond with Pequeña is marked by mutual respect and shared trauma. Throughout the journey, Pulga struggles with guilt, grief, and the burden of leadership, especially after Chico's death. His psychological journey is one of transformation—from hope to despair and, ultimately, to a fragile rebirth.

Pequeña / Flor

Pequeña is Pulga's cousin by choice, a young woman marked by trauma and forced motherhood. Raped by Rey, she becomes pregnant and is unable to love or even acknowledge her child, seeing it as a symbol of her own violation. Pequeña's psychological journey is one of denial, dissociation, and eventual reclamation of self. She adopts the name Flor, shedding her old identity and choosing to define herself on her own terms. Her relationship with Pulga is complex—she is both cared for and a caretaker, especially as Pulga falters. Pequeña's transformation is a testament to the possibility of healing and self-determination.

Chico

Chico is Pulga's best friend and chosen brother, a gentle soul marked by loss and vulnerability. Orphaned by violence, he clings to hope and the belief in a better future. Chico's innocence and loyalty are both his strength and his undoing—he is unable to survive the journey's physical and psychological toll. His death is a pivotal moment, shattering the group and forcing Pulga and Pequeña to confront the true cost of survival. Chico's memory lingers as a symbol of lost innocence and the price of escape.

Rey

Rey is the local gang leader and the primary antagonist, representing the inescapable violence of Barrios. He is both a physical and psychological threat, manipulating, abusing, and terrorizing the children. Rey's relationship with Pequeña is one of domination and violation, while his control over Pulga and Chico is marked by threats and coercion. Rey is a symbol of the forces that drive children to flee, a reminder that sometimes the greatest danger comes from those closest to home.

Nene

Nene is a young boy Pulga meets in the U.S. detention center, separated from his family and traumatized by the journey. His presence is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of children in the migration crisis. Nene's suffering and longing for his mother echo the experiences of countless real-life migrant children, highlighting the human cost of border policies and the enduring impact of separation.

Mamá (Pulga's mother)

Pulga's mother is a source of warmth and stability, but also a symbol of the sacrifices demanded by poverty and violence. Her love for Pulga is fierce, but she is ultimately powerless to protect him from the dangers of Barrios. Her absence haunts Pulga throughout the journey, and their eventual reunion is bittersweet—marked by relief, guilt, and the knowledge that nothing will ever be the same.

Soledad

Soledad is a shelter worker in Mexico who nurses Chico back to health and offers the children a brief respite from their ordeal. Her kindness and strength are a lifeline, reminding the children that compassion can exist even in the harshest circumstances. Soledad's own story of loss and resilience mirrors the children's, and her presence is a testament to the power of chosen family and community.

Marta

Marta is the woman who finds Pequeña near death in the desert and helps her recover. She is Soledad's sister, creating a symbolic link between the helpers the children encounter. Marta's compassion and practical support are crucial in Pequeña's transformation into Flor, offering a model of healing and the possibility of a future beyond trauma.

Alvaro and Nilsa

Alvaro, Nilsa, and their son Nene travel with Pulga and Pequeña through the desert. Their family dynamic offers a contrast to the main trio, highlighting both the universality and uniqueness of each migrant's journey. Alvaro's death in the desert and Nilsa's separation from Nene underscore the randomness and cruelty of fate, while their brief companionship provides moments of solidarity and shared humanity.

Father Jiménez / Carlita / Gancho

These secondary characters represent the spectrum of aid and exploitation encountered on the migrant trail. Father Jiménez and Carlita offer spiritual and practical support, while Gancho, the coyote, is both a guide and a reminder of the transactional nature of survival. Each plays a role in shaping the children's journey, for better or worse.

Plot Devices

Dual Narration and Shifting Perspectives

The novel alternates between Pulga's and Pequeña's perspectives, allowing readers to experience the journey through both a male and female lens. This dual narration provides insight into their inner worlds, traumas, and hopes, while also highlighting the differences in how they process and survive adversity. The shifting perspectives create a sense of immediacy and intimacy, drawing readers into the psychological and emotional core of the story.

Symbolism and Magical Realism

The narrative is rich with symbolism—La Bestia as both monster and savior, the desert as judgment, the ring as destiny, and the recurring presence of ghosts and visions. Pequeña's encounters with La Bruja (the witch/angel) and her transformation into Flor are infused with magical realism, blurring the line between reality and imagination. These devices underscore the psychological impact of trauma and the ways in which hope and survival are often acts of imagination.

Foreshadowing and Circular Structure

The story is laced with foreshadowing—visions, dreams, and warnings that hint at future loss and danger. The prologue's meditation on escape and the recurring motif of planning to leave create a circular structure, with the children's journey both an ending and a beginning. The narrative's return to themes of family, loss, and transformation reinforces the idea that survival is an ongoing process, not a destination.

Realism and Testimony

The novel draws on real-life accounts of migrant journeys, incorporating details of shelters, border crossings, and the dangers of La Bestia. The inclusion of an author's note and references to actual organizations and sources lends the story the weight of testimony, positioning it as both fiction and a call to action. The use of specific, sensory details—hunger, cold, fear—immerses readers in the lived experience of migration.

Psychological Interiorization

Much of the novel's power comes from its focus on the psychological impact of trauma. The characters' internal monologues, dissociation, and moments of breakdown are rendered with raw honesty. The journey is as much about surviving the self as it is about surviving external threats. The narrative structure mirrors this, with moments of hallucination, magical thinking, and emotional numbness reflecting the characters' inner states.

Analysis

We Are Not From Here is a searing exploration of the migrant experience, told through the eyes of children forced to flee violence and seek safety in a world that is often indifferent or hostile. The novel interrogates the meaning of family, the cost of survival, and the right to dream in the face of overwhelming odds. Through its dual narration, symbolic imagery, and unflinching realism, the book exposes the psychological and physical toll of migration, while also celebrating the moments of kindness, solidarity, and transformation that make survival possible. The story is both a testimony and a warning—a reminder that borders are not just lines on a map, but sites of suffering, hope, and the ongoing struggle for dignity. The ultimate lesson is that survival is not just about reaching a destination, but about reclaiming the right to be seen, to be loved, and to become more than the world allows.

Last updated: May 1, 2025