"The Making of a Dream” is a sweeping chronicle of the immigrant rights movement....Wides-Muñoz reminds us that thanks to the ability of young people to dream, what seems impossible today may yet prove achievable tomorrow." (Helen Thorpe, The New York Times Book Review)
“Poignant… An eye-opening exploration of the DREAM Act and those who have tried to find safe harbor in the United States under its aegis. A well-crafted, timely contribution to the immigration debate.” (Kirkus Reviews)
"In the Making of a Dreamjournalist Laura Wides-Muñoz spends a decade following this generation of young activists as they attempt to sway Washington and public opinion.....probes deep into the dreamers’ relationships with their parents....[and] the notion that the dreamers have claimed, if not a legislative victory, at least a cultural one: that they are reshaping how Americans regard immigrants and redefining what it means to be American." (The Washington Post)
"Journalist Wides-Muñoz movingly traces the 12 years of attempted legislation and political activism that culminated in the DREAM Act, focusing on the remarkable, and remarkably common, stories of several youths affected....this is a timely look at a contentious issue." (Publishers Weekly)
"....An inspiring bio-history of these Dreamers, their journeys.... Wides-Muñoz also unpacks an objective overview of the politics driving immigration debates in cities, suburbs, and rural towns—as well as in statehouses and key players in Washington on both sides of the aisle. (New York Journal of Books)
" Wides-Muñoz follows the personal accounts of a handful of undocumented young people, tracing their arrival in the United States, their school years, and how and why they turned to activism for immigration rights. A longtime AP reporter, she offers a deep but engaging history of recent immigration issues and policy—both within the immigration rights movement and the halls of power in Washington....VERDICT A compelling, eye-opening work; recommended for all collections.– " (School Library Journal)
“Essential… A valuable and detailed look at lawmaking and policy that affect people and communities across the nation, as well as portraits of heroic youth willing to put their own status in jeopardy to advocate for fair treatment, not only for themselves and their families but for all immigrants.” (Booklist)
“The Making of a Dream is an indispensable book to understand how the Dreamers became the leaders of a new civil rights movement in this country. Here’s the incredible story of how a group of young immigrants conquered their fears, put two Presidents on their side and, in the process, changed this nation forever. This is a must read to understand the new America.” (Jorge Ramos, Emmy Award-winning Univision News anchor, Fusion TV host, author)
“Deeply reported, empathetic, and beautiful, The Making of a Dream is the definitive account of the moral drama that created a new group of Americans and empowered them to call on their country to live up to its ideals.” (Alexis Madrigal, staff writer at the Atlantic)
“An intimate look at the complicated lives and remarkable aspirations--thwarted and fulfilled--of people searching for a way out of a peculiar historical trap. The Making of a Dream is, in turns, inspiring, heartbreaking, hopeful, and maddening…just as it must be.” (Ray Suarez, author of Latino Americans: The 500-Year Legacy That Shaped a Nation, guest host All Things Considered)
“Powerful. Evocative and illuminating. A deeply empathetic look at those caught between two worlds and who risk losing everything in a time of deceitful political rhetoric. Read it.” (Alfredo Corchado, author of Midnight in Mexico: A Reporter’s Journey Through a Country’s Descent into Darkness)
“A necessary and exciting book about five young people whose dreams and struggles are interwoven with this country’s best hopes for itself. This is also the story of the legislators, activists, and ordinary citizens who stand behind them, and of the very slow grinding of the wheels of justice.” (Alma Guillermoprieto, author of Dancing with Cuba: a Memoir of the Revolution)