Prologue Questions

“Prologue” — In this section of Enrique’s Journey, the author allows readers an inside view of her creative process. Nazario reviews her background as the child of immigrants, her inspiration for writing this story, and the process — both logistical and compositional — that she begins as she prepares to research and write Enrique’s story. The writer tells how and where she finds Enrique and how he is representative of the children whose story she desires to tell.

1. How did the author get the idea for this work?;; The author had been told many stories of children leaving their towns in other countries to find their long lost mothers in the United States and she wanted to write about their struggles.

2. What shift, that is a change from the 1980s, has taken place in the face of the modern immigrant population?;;The first wave was in the 1960's and 1970's.

3. Why has this change in the profile of the typical immigrant taken place?;; Single mothers had no choice but to leave and try to make money to send to their families.

4. What were some of the preparations the author took before beginning her research for this story? ;; She went and listened to many similar stories like Enrique's and made sure that she knew every detail of their struggles. The most dangerous thing she did, was actually travel with the illegal child immigrants with her husband to completely understand the journey.

5. What “safety nets” did the author wish to have in place for her own personal safety? Why were these “safety nets” necessary?;; Some safety nets were not jumping from train to train to make sure she did not get hurt.

6. How did the maid’s son make the journey to America?;; He traveled illegally on top of the freight trains. He was robbed several times but was lucky, and made it to his mother's doorstep.

7. What does El Tren de la Muerte mean?;; It's spanish for "the train of death."