In English 1A, I asked my students to choose their Most Valuable Part (MVP) of the novel we read in class, The Tortilla Curtain.  Many of us identify with the pursuit of the American Dream.  From the moment that  poor Mexican immigrants Candido and America cross over the border illegally in San Diego their life becomes one desperate struggle after another.  But, they are not turning back.  Por nada.   They have a vision.  They want to start a family.  They want to work hard and live in a small house with chickens in the front yard.  Llovana and Miguel captured a scene midway through the novel where things weren't going very well.  The better life they were searching for became dark and hard.  It was lonely.  It was dangerous.  How could they keep going  like this?  Lovana and Miguel explain they didn't have anywhere else to go…

     To see the Llovana and Miguel's complete essay, please CLICK on the following link: http://www.codborderline.org/2017/12/canoga-park-was-different-it-was-pinched-and-meaner-a-lot-of-secondhand-shops-and-auto-parts-stores-dirty-restauran.html

    Llovana and Miguel took it upon themselves to provide background music for Candido and America's walk through Canoga park.  They chose a song from Demi Lovato.  To listen to their selection, please click on the video below: