Efren Divided

 by Ernesto Cisneros

Genre:  Realistic Fiction

Efren has the best mother in the world.  Even though their family doesn't have a lot of money, Efren knows that his parents love him and his younger twin siblings, Max and Mia.  His father works long hours and sometimes two jobs to help them keep food on the table while his mother works and keeps things going at home.  But one day, Efren comes home from school and the apartment is strangely empty.  He waits and waits, but his mother doesn't come.  The family learns later that evening that his mother, who was in the country illegally, has been deported.  Suddenly Efren has to step up and take care of all the family responsibilities that his mom used to cover.  It's exhausting and no one seems to know when his mother will be able to come home.