Author Daniel Aleman recently joined English teacher Katherine Lipinski’s AP Literature and Composition class First Generation: Stories of Identity, Culture, and Belonging class over Zoom to discuss his novel Indivisible. During the visit, students asked Aleman about the book’s themes of immigration, identity, family, and belonging, while also learning more about his writing process and personal experiences as an author.
“When choosing texts for the class, I intentionally searched for literature that would represent a wide range of immigrant experiences,” Ms. Lipinski said.
During the discussion, Aleman said one of the main messages he wanted readers to take away from Indivisible is that immigration is a human issue. “When we talk about immigrants, we’re talking about people,” he said. He explained that immigration is often discussed through a political or legal lens, but his novel uses a more personal perspective on the dreams, fear, and relationships of one family.
Aleman also discussed how his own background influenced the novel. As an immigrant from Mexico, he said many of the emotions in the book came from personal experiences, even though the story itself is fictional. He explained that the character Mateo’s dream of becoming an actor was connected to his own experience of wanting to become an author.
My goal was for students to create a deeper connection with reading by having the opportunity to speak directly with the author of their novel,” Ms. Lipinski said.
Junior Lucas Wu said that hearing from Aleman helped him better understand the story’s impact. “After having talked with the author, the book has a stronger impact than it would have without getting to know the person who actually wrote it,” he said. Lucas added that the conversation made the characters feel more human and connected to real experiences.
Lucas said he was also shocked by the relevancy and how recent the book was written. He said, “I was especially shocked when I actually looked up when the book was written, and it was like five years before now. All the events that the book discussed about immigration and ICE and stuff, they’re still very relevant today.”
Junior Violet Au said, “Books like these humanize people that have experienced such horrible situations. In today’s climate, it’s especially important for high school students to know that behind stories on the news are real people who experience these very real issues.”
During the visit, students also presented Aleman with a class gift, which included artwork, letters, and writing inspired by Indivisible. Aleman thanked the class and said he was impressed by the effort students put into the project. “I am so, so grateful to all of you for putting this together,” he said.
Ms. Lipinski said the author’s visit allowed students to engage with the book in creative and meaningful ways. To prepare, students worked in teams to create projects, write letters, develop artwork, teach lessons, and research Aleman’s past interviews to create thoughtful questions. “From the artworks they create to the interview questions they write, the thoughtfulness, creativity, and care our students exhibit make me proud to be their teacher,” they said.
At the end of the visit, Aleman encouraged students interested in writing or other creative fields to continue believing in themselves. He said that while Indivisible was his first published book, it was not the first book he had written.
“If any of you are interested in writing or any artistic practice, or whatever it is you may want to do with your future, just believe in yourself and keep going,” he said.
