A RAFT OF DREAMS

<p><strong>Why <em>A Raft of Dreams</em>?</strong></p><p>The answer is simple: in our country dreams were blurred-if they existed at all. That boat gave us back the ability to dream and now almost 31 years later I see it as a symbol of the hope that was taken from us. But when I was 9 that boat represented a lot of fear and pain as it meant leaving behind everything I knew.</p><p>I wrote this book not only to offer encouragement to the children and families who have gone through this difficult experience but also to reveal the harsh reality of the immigrant. I wanted to tell it from the perspective of a child because I believe we all have that inner child and I wanted to express it through my own life's lens. No matter where you come from this book reflects a piece of all of us because no one chooses to leave their homeland; sometimes we simply have no other choice.</p>