Under the Same Sky

Cynthia DeFelice’s Under the Same Sky is about fourteen-year-old Joe Pedersen, a spoiled rich kid who begrudgingly joins the migrant workers on his father's upstate New York farm to earn the $1000 he needs to buy a Thunderbird motorbike. Determined to show his father he can keep pace with Manuel, the 16-year-old Mexican crew boss, Joe painfully acclimates to the grueling farm routine. Joe soon learns to respect the “illegal aliens” and to understand their hardships and courage.

This story highlights the plight of the immigrant Mexican farm laborers. Many migrant workers live, work and raise their children here in the Tampa Bay area. Look through the Times for articles about migrant families and the challenges immigrants (both legal and illegal) face. Imagine yourself in Joe Pedersen's situation -- only you are picking strawberries in Plant City instead of working New York state. Using details from articles you found in the Times about migrant and immigrant families, compare and contrast your life today with how it would be if you were a migrant worker.

Comments

[M.B., Ms.Spiegle,6th grade,Southside Fundamental Middle School,]

Sad book.Interesting story though.Once again kept me on the edge of my seat...........I fell bad for the Mexicans though..........I wonder what I would of done if I had had that same situation.Would I tell, or would I do what Joe wanted? I may never feel the same about people from different countries/cultures.

[gabriel]

it be hard live and im so usd to my life now!!!!!

[musaab]

This book was very interesting. If I was a worker ir would be very hard. I used to work in Pakistan but it wasn't really that bad.

[Kristen B.]

I think it would be hard if I was in this boys situation. He has to work with the people his friends tease and that makes his friends tease him too. But, I think this story is good if you dont know what migrant workers have to do.

[Rebecca S. MBMS-Millichamp library]

If I were a migrant worker in plant city I would be killing myself daily and wondering when this would end. I would think it's not fair people are rioting about me working my butt off out here and there telling me Im taking American jobs! No one American would do this JOB! I am glad I don't have that job, but I feel bad that some people do.

[Danielle MBMS -Millichamp library]

If I were a migrant worker such as Luisa or Miguel in Plant City, I would probably be able to tell that this is hard, laborious work! Bending and crouching to pick strawberries ALL DAY-in 90 degree heat! I'd have to fight to keep from passing out. I have to remind myself that this is not MY life-but it is someone else's. I find it kind of unfair that while I am sitting in an air-conditioned house, lounging in front of the TV, someone else is out there working their butt off. With that said, I most definitely enjoyed the book and the tremendous amount of research and details and long hours of typing it took to make it such a great one.

[Sorella, BPMS]

This book really made you think about what the migrant workers go through! I actually felt ANGRY at Randy and his friends! It was entertaining and informational! 4/5 stars!

[Arjun]

This book was one of the best I have ever read. It made me think about all of the people in poverty, who have to do hard strenuous labor for a low wage. I learned to appreciate what i have.

[C. H. -Mr. Muggleworth - CSRMS]

This book is a little sad, yet very satisfying. Once I started reading it I wouldn't put it down! I just had to find out what happens next! Definitely a must read!

[La Alejo Mrs.hill Charle S Rushe Middle School]

The Book Under Same Sky is mainly about a boy named Joe who wants a motorbike for his fourteenth birthday but his parents can't actually afford to buy a motorbike for eight hundred ninety nine dollars. Joe's dad tells him that with the salary that he wins a day is not enough to buy a motorbike his dad told him that it would take years to buy the motorbike that Joe wants.This book was really amazing to read.

[B. Weber, CSRMS]

Under the same sky gives you a new view of illegal immigrants. They have nowhere to go. They are working in hot fields while we are sitting on the couch playing our playstations and wiis. To me that doesn't seem fair.