Torn Between Worlds

How do you find your place in a world that tells you that you don't belong?

Twelve-year-old Isabel Martinez-Estrada is caught between two realities. Leaving her mother behind in Mexico, she crosses into the United States illegally with her father, only to find herself drowning in a strange new culture. Stranded in a home where she feels unwelcome, isolated by a language barrier, and aching for the mother she left behind, Isabel is on the brink of losing herself.

Then, a compassionate teacher hands her a blank notebook and a challenge: Write your truth.

Through the pages of her secret journal, Isabel begins to navigate the complex, often cruel realities of growing up undocumented. From witnessing the distant shockwaves of 9/11 to navigating the treacherous waters of teenage relationships, her diary becomes her sanctuary. But as the years unfold, Isabel's journey takes a dangerous turn, pulling her from the United States to a volatile political uprising in Mexico, and ultimately to the unfamiliar streets of Madrid, Spain.

Facing systemic injustice, unexpected trauma, and the agonizing ache of displacement, Isabel must transition from a frightened girl into a fierce young woman.

Raw, heartbreaking, and ultimately triumphant, Torn Between Worlds is an unforgettable story of survival, the unbreakable bond between mothers and daughters, and the power of one girl reclaiming her own destiny.

Perfect for fans of The Poet X and I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter.