Return to Sender

Julia Alvarez’s Return to Sender is a 2009 realistic middle-grade novel set in Vermont between summer 2005 and summer 2006. Tyler Paquette and Mari Cruz, both 11 at the novel’s outset, narrate the story in alternating perspectives. Tyler is a white American boy who enjoys living on the family farm. After an accident curtails Tyler’s father’s ability for physical work, Tyler’s parents hire three Mexican men as farm workers. Mari, born in Mexico, is the oldest daughter of one of the hired men. As Tyler and Mari become friends, others’ unaccepting attitudes create conflict for Mari’s family—as does the law, which does not permit undocumented immigrants like Mari and her parents to live and work in the United States. The book won both the Pura Belpré Award and the Américas Award. This guide follows the 2009 Random House edition.

Plot Summary

Eleven-year-old Tyler Paquette returns to his family’s farm in Vermont after a summertime stay with his aunt and uncle in Boston. He learns that while he was away, rather than sell the farm, his parents hired three Mexican men to handle the workload. Hired help was necessary because Tyler’s father had an accident on his tractor early in the summer, leaving him incapable of physical work. Tyler visits the trailer on their property where the Mexicans now live. As instructed by his mother, he brings old board games for the three young daughters of one of the Mexican workers. The three girls are María Dolores, María Ofelia, and María Lubyneida. The youngest sister, Luby, reveals that Mari, the oldest, was born in Mexico, and Mari grows upset. Later, Tyler shares this info with his parents, who suspect from Mari’s reaction that the Mexicans they’ve hired must be undocumented immigrants working illegally in the United States.

Tyler’s grandmother, who lives in her own house on the farm, especially enjoys the company of the three young girls; she is lonely since the death of her husband, Tyler’s Gramps. Tyler initially sees the Mexicans as an affront to his patriotism and a threat to his parents, who could be in trouble with the law due to the workers’ lack of documentation; when he notices how kind the girls are to his grandmother, he relents and establishes a growing friendship with Mari. He teaches her the constellations through his telescope, a gift from Gramps.

Letters written by Mari convey her perspective of story events. Mari and her parents crossed the border into the United States when she was four; they then moved to Durham, North Carolina, where Luby and Ofie were born. Mamá returned to Mexico when her mother was dying but disappeared when she attempted to cross back into the US. Mari’s mother has been missing for eight months at the start of the story. Mari is truthful and detailed in her correspondence, though she cannot send any of the letters, as Papá is afraid they will be traced.

Tyler and the Paquettes are supportive when Mari’s Tío Felipe, Papá’s brother, is arrested and jailed near the holidays. They find a pro bono (no fee) lawyer for Felipe. Tyler helps by suggesting his Spanish teacher serve as a translator for Felipe and the lawyer. Thanks to the Paquettes’ help, Felipe is deported without a criminal sentence in the US. In March Tyler attends the annual town meeting for a school assignment. Mr. Rossetti, a local elderly man, raises a motion to allow townspeople to help law enforcement find and remove Mexicans working illegally in the area, which makes Tyler aware of some folks’ strong feelings against undocumented workers. His teacher Mr. Bicknell, however, reminds the town that most local families descended from early immigrants to the area, and the motion does not pass. Tyler is relieved to know that more of his neighbors agree with Mr. Bicknell than with Mr. Rossetti.

The Cruzes and Paquettes learn that Mari’s mother is a hostage to coyotes, men who typically lead Mexicans across the border for cash. Mari’s father raises cash from family members to ransom her. Tyler helps to arrange a ride home for Mari’s mother. Mari’s father sends Mari to collect Mamá. Mamá is thin and emotional after her ordeal; while the family is happy for the reunion, the trauma of Mamá’s experience and absence wears on them.

Just before Memorial Day, authorities from Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrive suddenly and arrest Mari’s parents, whom they connect to the criminal coyotes who kept Mamá hostage. Grandma arranges for Mari and her sisters to stay in hiding at Mr. Rossetti’s. After days of increasing worry, Mari decides to visit the ICE office and “confess” her illegal status while explaining that her parents are not criminals like the coyotes. By midsummer, ICE deports the Cruz family without criminal charges for Mari’s parents. Forced to say goodbye, Tyler gives Mari his telescope for her home in Mexico, where she can view some of the same stars as Tyler can in Vermont.