Joyce Larrabee

Illegal Joyce Larrabee

It's not going away. We rant about it, blog about it, call in to talk shows, write letters to editors and politicians, whine to neighbors and friends ... or just try to ignore it. The truth is that the problem of immigrants, legal and illegal, in the United States is here to stay. These people, who have come to our country in search of a better life--or perhaps for more nefarious purposes--have become a very colorful thread in the tapestry of our society.

A gang of bullies attacks Diego Lopez at school, revealing his ugly secret. When his ESOL teacher Lynn Bartholomew intervenes, she is thrust into the tense, sometime violent conflict between the immigrant and local populations. The problems at school escalate, spilling over into the homes and families of the community.

Historically, Lynn and her husband Sam have opposed our country's leniency in dealing with illegal immigrants. Coming face to face with real people in desperate circumstances makes them realize that these flesh-and-blood human beings deserve understanding and sympathy. Sam and Lynn, along with leaders from the Hispanic community, work to make the Americans and the foreign nationals see their mutual need for each another.