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Loading... Hunting Season: Immigration and Murder in an All-American Townby Mirta Ojito
   None No current Talk conversations about this book.  csoki637 | Apr 17, 2015 |   Granted, I don't watch the news as much, but certainly someone would have told me about such an event. However, nothing, I don't remember hearing anything of the sort about this event that is chronicled, fairly expertly, in this book. I know that racism is still alive and kicking in our country and I know that many people are against immigrants coming into our country. I also know there is a lot of people against illegal immigrants. But to the extent that is talked about in this book is appalling and it's even more appalling that more incidents go unreported out of fear of the police or knowledge that the police will do nothing to help them. It is an eye-opening read. While many people are aware of the turmoil surrounding the issue or the fact some people have extreme reviews in regard to it, sometimes you don't think about it in terms of violence because you just hear the rhetoric. That and sometimes the news that is reported to different parts of the country doesn't acknowledge these kinds of happenings because it isn't what is bringing in the viewings or ratings. I highly suggest that people read this book. It is well-researched and well-written. It doesn't just focus on the death of Lucero, but how immigrants came to be in that town, the background of others, his story, and how the news impacted the nation and how the nation impacted the event. It makes one think and it makes one want to be part of the solution that puts an end to the senseless violence that people face just based on how they look or are perceived. (*Note: I was given a free copy of the book & cd in exchange for an honest review from the author through Goodreads Giveaways.) (  ) carissaburks | Sep 27, 2014 |  ) lilibrarian | Jan 6, 2014 | no reviews | add a review
Notable Lists
Sociology.
Nonfiction.
HTML: “Ojito has done truth an invaluable service. Extraordinary.”—Junot Díaz, author of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao No library descriptions found. |
Current DiscussionsNonePopular covers  
 Google Books — Loading...GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)364.152Social sciences Social problems & social services Criminology Criminal offenses Offenses against the person HomicideLC ClassificationRatingAverage: (4.07)
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Wikipedia in English
1
Author Mirta Ojito presents a clear, engaging narrative laying the backdrop for this hate crime, and unraveling its consequences, from the political rhetoric amping up white hatred towards Latinos in the area to the individual family histories of each character in the narrative. A long-time journalist, Ojito extracts her facts primarily from personal interviews, and it's clear she's spent months immersed in their stories. Though the book is nonfiction, its narrative is as compelling as fiction — and all the more disturbing because it's not. Tying the tragic murder of Lucero to a wider crisis in immigration policy, and a growing anti-immigrant fervor, Hunting Season speaks with a urgent relevance.
For all its strength, why the missing star? When delving into the stories of Lucero's killer(s), Ojito tries, it seems, to partially absolve them of responsibility, placing the blame instead on the state governor, whose inflammatory xenophobic words and policies heightened tensions in the state. I was troubled by this move, because, as much as the governor deserves to be held accountable for his speech and actions, the boy who drove a knife into Lucero's chest can blame no one but himself. This aspect of the book weakens its anti-racist critique, but even so I hope Hunting Season serves as an important wakeup call to American society.
Note: I received a free copy of the book through the First Reads program. (