How did your reading go this month? Did you read something that paid tribute to Hispanic American culture? Share in the comments. In September, we consumed media that celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month.

This was the second time that I had read this title and it didn’t disappoint! Infinite Country by Patricia Engel tells the story of how deportation affects a Colombian family. Told from the points of view of both parents, Mauro and Elena, and their three children, Karina, Nando, and Talia, readers learn about how each is living a divided existence and how they are navigating their multiple relationships.

Elena and Mauro were teenagers when they first met while living in Bogota. After their first daughter is born, they decide to travel to the United States, landing in Houston. Sending wages back to Elena’s mother, the two weigh whether or not to risk overstaying their tourist visas or return to Bogota. Over the years, their family grows and they move multiple other times. Eventually their undocumented statuses catch up with them, fracturing the family with Mauro deported back to Colombia and Elena staying in the States, taking care of their three small children. Both are left to make difficult choices with consequences that affect their family as the years pass.

This read was a hard, yet necessary one. I would have liked more information about the children’s points of view, but I understand that they only came in at the end when it made sense story-wise. The author weaves Andean myths and Colombian legends into the story which I enjoyed. Content warnings for rape, alcoholism, abuse, and family separation.

This title is also available in large print.

Next month, we will be reading about Filipino American History Month, celebrating the arrival of the first Filipinos to the continental United States by reading books that explore the culture, history, and art of Filipino Americans.

In addition to following the Online Reading Challenge here on our Info Cafe blog, you can join our Online Reading Challenge group on Goodreads and discuss your reads!