Reviewed by Deborah Lloyd for Readers' Favorite

Journeys From There to Here: Stories of Immigrant Trials, Triumphs, and Contributions, penned by Susan J. Cohen, is full of heartbreaking and heartwarming real-life scenarios. As a lawyer in Boston, she has worked tirelessly for decades to assist immigrants to this country. She demonstrates how vastly different immigrants are – from a Chinese peasant farmer, to a Honduran educator, to a severely abused East African woman. One of the most harrowing elements of the immigrant stories is the overwhelming obstacles they encountered in America. These include unreasonable immigration agents, unscrupulous attorneys, and oppressive judges. Yet, Susan Cohen and her colleagues have had many successes in winning cases.

One of the most unjustifiable aspects of the US immigration system is the constant delays in processing an immigrant’s application. The emotional toll for immigrants is indescribable. For many, being returned to their native countries would entail much suffering, and in some cases execution. This author has aptly captured the anxieties often experienced by immigrants, waiting years for approval to remain in this country. She selected cases with diverse circumstances, yet the experiences have similar themes. Her style of writing makes this book an easy read; the stories, however, are filled with angst. Author/lawyer Susan J. Cohen has shared her journey of working with newcomers to the US in Journeys From There to Here: Stories of Immigrant Trials, Triumphs, and Contributions. The book ends with a call to action where she gives many ideas of ways to support immigrants – a wonderful ending to a great book.