Solito

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• How does Zamora’s choice to tell the story from a child’s perspective affect your understanding of the challenges faced by migrants? 
• What do you think Javier’s relationships with his fellow travelers, like Patricia, Carla, and Chino, reveal about the power of found family during difficult times?
• How did the different settings along Javier’s journey—from El Salvador to Guatemala, Mexico, and the United States—contribute to the tension and urgency of the narrative? 

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• How did Javier’s journey make you reflect on the lengths families go to and the sacrifices families make to reunite?
• Have you ever been in a situation where you felt like an outsider or needed to rely on “found family”? What similarities or differences do you see between that experience and Javier’s experience? 
• Javier’s journey brings to light the challenges children face in extreme situations. How did reading about his experiences make you think about childhood resilience and what young people can endure? 
• Throughout the memoir, Javier feels both excitement and fear about finally reuniting with his parents.