$11.93

Your selected delivery location is beyond seller's shipping coverage for this item. Please choose a different delivery location or purchase from another seller.

See similar items shipping to Finland.

Follow the Author

Marie Marquardt

Dream Things True: A Novel Hardcover – September 1, 2015

by Marie Marquardt (Author)

41 ratings

See all formats and editions

Price

New from

Used from

Kindle

"Please retry"

$11.21

—

Audible Audiobook, Unabridged

"Please retry"

$0.00

Free with your Audible trial

Library Binding

"Please retry"

$24.50

$19.13

Hardcover, September 1, 2015

$11.93

$9.00

$3.00

Paperback

"Please retry"

$14.81

$7.39

$2.86

Audio CD

"Please retry"

$44.99

$29.24

—

Enhance your purchase

Evan and Alma have spent fifteen years living in the same town, connected in a dozen different ways but also living worlds apart -- until the day he jumps into her dad's truck and slams on the brakes.
The nephew of a senator, Evan seems to have it all - except a functional family. Alma has lived in Georgia since she was two, surrounded by a large (sometimes smothering) Mexican family. They both want out of this town. His one-way ticket is soccer; hers is academic success.

When they fall in love, they fall hard, trying to ignore their differences. Then Immigration and Customs Enforcement begins raids in their town, and Alma knows that she needs to share her secret. But how will she tell her country-club boyfriend that she and almost everyone she's close to are undocumented immigrants?

What follows is a beautiful, nuanced 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. This page-turning debut asks tough questions, reminding us that love is more powerful than fear.

Print length

352 pages
Language

English
Publisher

St. Martin's Griffin
Publication date

September 1, 2015
Grade level

7 - 9
Reading age

13 - 18 years
Dimensions

5.74 x 1.26 x 8.61 inches
ISBN-10

1250070457
ISBN-13

978-1250070456
UNSPSC-Code
See all details

Marie Marquardt
19
Hardcover
61 offers from $1.74
Marie Marquardt
61
Hardcover
$17.93
$15.99 shipping

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up—This teen romance centering on the drama of immigration focuses on two protagonists, Alma, a beautiful, undocumented young woman, and Evan, a privileged Southern young man, who fall in love despite class, race, and national divides. Alma struggles to manage her grades, friends at a new school, and the fear of deportation as she enters her junior year at Gilberton High School in north Georgia. After Evan helps Alma avoid a traffic accident in her father's truck, the two begin a relationship, which soon turns into an intense romance. Evan's background as the nephew of a senator with bigoted views on immigration and undocumented migrants complicates the plot as his feelings grow stronger for Alma. Ultimately, Alma's life as a undocumented teen encroaches on the teens' relationships and opportunities—forcing the two to struggle with the social and racial tensions that keep them apart. Marquardt provides a critical view of the stigmas and difficulties plaguing undocumented youth in U.S. schools without glossing over the legal realities of deportation and detainment. Readers will find the romantic aspects of Alma and Evan's relationship sweet and exciting, though there are times when Alma's body and beauty are exoticized by the male gaze (particularly the white male gaze) in tandem with stereotypes about Latina femininity. VERDICT A debut romance for libraries looking to diversify their offerings.—Marilisa Jiménez García, Hunter College, New York City

Review

“Marquardt knowledgably takes on the plight of undocumented families . . . readers seeking a star-crossed love story with a twist won't be disappointed” ―Publishers Weekly

“Marquardt has a lot to teach . . . but never does it feel didactic. Instead, Marquardt envelops you into the story of this one family and this one young couple trying to beat the odds.” ―Bustle

“Worthy examination of undocumented immigration in the American South through the lens of young love.” ―Kirkus

“Marquardt provides a critical view of the stigmas and difficulties plaguing undocumented youth in U.S. schools without glossing over the legal realities of deportation and detainment. Readers will find the romantic aspects of Alma and Evan's relationship sweet and exciting.” ―School Library Journal

“Marquardt has written a book with a hopeful, if not happy, ending, filled with stark details about life in the U.S. for undocumented families. Eye-opening and touching.” ―Booklist

"Dream Things True is a satisfying and rich debut novel about love and the importance of following dreams." -Américas Award Committee

“A true Romeo and Juliet romance with a wider moral sweep-tender, heart-wrenching and wise. Every character shines.” ―Huntley Fitzpatrick, author of What I Thought Was True

“DREAM THINGS TRUE by Marie Marquardt is a story that must be told and needs to be read. With sensitivity and care, Marquardt deftly illustrates the struggles and hopes of Alma, an undocumented teenager living in the United States. Alma's story reflects the lives of millions of young people trapped between countries and cultures, longing for a place to belong. An important story that's full of heart, it will forever change the way you view those who live their lives in the shadows.” ―Jennifer Mathieu, author of The Truth About Alice

“A compelling read with complex, true-to-life characters, DREAM THINGS TRUE is a unique novel. Not only will it cause readers to empathize with characters in difficult situations, it will get them to consider the plight of people in the real world. Add in a love story you can root for.” ―Adi Alsaid, author of Let's Get Lost

“Marquardt's Dreams Things True vividly weaves to life the thrill of falling in love in the South while awakening readers to the struggles of US-Mexican immigration policies. In this touching coming-of-age story, full of hope and possibilities, Marquardt captures the bittersweet world of undocumented teens living in the US and the power of true love.” ―Malin Alegria, author of Border Town series

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ St. Martin's Griffin (September 1, 2015)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250070457
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250070456
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 13 - 18 years
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 - 9
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.3 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.74 x 1.26 x 8.61 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,435,921 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #327 in Teen & Young Adult Fiction about Emigration & Immigration
- #4,127 in Teen & Young Adult Science Fiction & Dystopian Romance
- #10,285 in Teen & Young Adult Contemporary Romance

Customer Reviews:
41 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload video

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Marie Marquardt

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Marie Marquardt is an author of young adult novels, a college professor, and an immigration advocate. Her debut novel, Dream Things True (St. Martin’s Press), was a 2015 YA BEA Buzz Panel choice praised in Kirkus as a “worthy examination of undocumented immigration in the American South through the lens of young love.”

Her second novel, THE RADIUS OF US, reflects the experience of Latin American teenagers fleeing gang violence and seeking asylum in the United States. It’s an issue that Marie Marquardt cares about profoundly, and she believes that connecting to it emotionally it can be a powerful antidote to the hate, fear, and misunderstanding that plagues our society.

She is a Scholar-in-Residence at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology and has been an advocate for social justice for Latin American immigrants in the South for two decades. She has published many articles and co-authored two non-fiction books on the issues involved and has been interviewed on National Public Radio, Public Radio International, and BBC America, among many other media outlets. She is also the co-chair of El Refugio, a Georgia non-profit that serves detained immigrants and their families.

Marie Marquardt is a proud member of the We Need Diverse Books team and lives in a busy household in Decatur, Georgia with her spouse, four children, a dog and a bearded dragon.

Customer reviews

5 star		45%
4 star		42%
3 star		10%
2 star		4%
1 star 0% (0%)		0%

How are ratings calculated?

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Melissa Fishbein

The love story between Evan and Alma is sweet and feels ...

Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2015

Verified Purchase

I believe this book should be required reading for students to understand the challenges faced by our friends and neighbors who may or may not have proper documentation to live in the country. The challenges Alma's family faces throughout the story shine a frightening light on the realities faced by undocumented immigrants. The love story between Evan and Alma is sweet and feels very real. The author successfully uses their relationship to tell a very serious story. This is a book that will change the reader.

8 people found this helpful

Helpful

Local Reader!

Good book!

Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2016

Verified Purchase

This is a powerful book that humanizes the situation of being undocumented (without legal authorization) in the USA, growing up, dreaming about a better future, and falling in love. Marquardt knows what she is talking about. If you liked this book, you must also read The Secret Side of Empty by Maria Andreu!

One person found this helpful

Helpful

AC

Amazing

Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2017

Verified Purchase

I loved this book and I couldn't put it down! It was SUCH an enjoyable read. I finished the whole book in one day because I was so enthralled by it. I would definitely recommend this to everyone!

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Holly Kroll

Beautiful Story!

Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2015

Verified Purchase

Beautifully written, engaging characters and an enlightening story within a coming of age teen romance. What more could you ask for?

Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2015

Verified Purchase

Fantastic book. Couldn't put it down. Very cute love story with important underlying themes that really hit home. Marie Marquardt is a fantastic writer!

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Parisgirl

Teen love with depth

Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2015

Verified Purchase

An interesting take on young love with the added complications of cultural differences and immigration issues. I have read other teen romance stories but this one is different, mainly because the author doesn't dumb down the complexities of modern life in a small town. I enjoyed this read.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Reading Writing And Me

Amazing, Empathy Breeding Book

Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2017

Dream Things True by Marie Marwuardt
Overview: This is a story that transcends anything a summary or details about plots or themes could say. There is no way to truly understand the magic of this book without having read it yourself. It achieves the full meaning of what a powerful book is supposed to do by crafting a beautiful story that breads empathy in anyone who reads it. It is the story of Alma, an intelligent, promising young woman who was brought to the United States as a young child from Mexico, and Evan a wealthy country club, preppy southern boy who are thrown together by random circumstances one day. Held together by a love for each other, Evan and Alma work together to fight the horrible immigration issues that comes to threaten Alma's family and friends. As Evan's eyes are opened to the harsh realities that Alma faces, so are the readers. This is a powerful story that humanizes an issue so prevalent in the news today. Overall: 5 (Is there a higher score?)
 Characters: 5 Each character has a purpose and is unique. Alma represents the underprivileged immigrant community on one side of town while Evan represents the other, blissfully wrapped up in their country club life only brought together at the local public school. When their worlds mesh, they both grow to understand each other and the very different backgrounds they come from. In Alma's family, there is her father who brought them to America for a better life and runs a lawn service that works on Evan's lawn and her brother, star soccer player and Evan's teammate who was working toward college before getting caught up in the immigration issues. On Evan's side there's Whit his cousin and son of Georgia's conservative senator who struggles with addiction to cope with his family's strict, closed door policy.

Plot: 5 The path this story takes is quite compelling and entertaining. There were interesting twists that I didn't see coming, and the plot kept its integrity the entire time.

Writing: 5 I was blown away by the writing. The execution of using a duel POV in third person was amazing, a tool that is rarely successful. I was also blown away by how unique each POV was, and how accurate the portrayal of the two separate worlds were. This is definitely a book everyone needs to read as it carries such substance and importance to breeding empathy about an issue that is often desensitized.

This review first appeared on Reading Writing and Me, a blog about YA books. Link in my profile

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Trosado

3.5 Stars

Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2018

This is a ya romance surrounding the real issues of undocumented immigrants and the separation of social classes. Evan, a wealthy upper class young man and Alma, a Mexican undocumented young girl living in the states, fall in love and deal with, societal pressures, US immigrant laws and what it means for both of them.

In all honestly, this book took some time to get into. I was weighed down by the too-quick romance and intimacy. About 1/3 to half-way, I was committed to finding out the conclusion. The main story line between Evan and Alma was good, but I enjoyed the intersecting secondary story lines, just as much if not more. The romance was nice, but not all encompassing, which I liked. At its conclusion, all is wrapped up, but not as neatly as some would want. I prefer this ending as opposed to a perfect happy ending. It was more relatable and true to life, but still happy.

Being married to an Hispanic federal officer for Homeland Security, I have a unique perspective to the many sides of the immigration issue. This author has written a semi-informative story in regards to one aspect of this multi-faceted issue. (I won an advanced copy of Dream Things True from the publisher in a Goodreads giveaway. In the spirit of the giveaway, a review is suggested, but not required.)

Helpful

Follow the Author

Similar authors to follow