Reviews

"Thematically similar to T.C. Boyle’s enormously popular The Tortilla Curtain (1995), Raul Ramos’s America Libre is a story of what we all struggle with when we decide where we stand on the issue of immigration. This is a fast-paced novel that although written in 2004 suggests some eerie parallels with contemporary US politics and policies. In this apocalyptic vision of a nation driven to civil war by deep fissures in the American ethnic melting pot, Ramos subtly suggests parallels to other moments in American history from the race riots in the urban ghettoes early in the century to the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. Ramos knows US culture and history well and offers readers yet another perspective on what it means to be an American in the ethnically diverse landscape of the 21st Century. This is a novel that is sure to appeal to readers concerned with future-oriented thinking. It is a first novel that promises more."
Edward J. Mullen Ph.D. - Catherine Paine Middlebush Chair
Professor of Spanish, University of Missouri-Columbia

“Any spark can ignite violence when justice is continuously denied. Ramos's scenario of U.S. Hispanics taking up arms to fight for their dignity gives us Manolo Suarez, an honorable man whose radical conversion provides insights into the hopes and disappointments of the U.S. Latino experience. America Libre creatively provides the reader with a window into the despair, brought about by racism, faced by many of our Hispanic neighbors."
Miguel De La Torre, Ph.D. - Director of the Justice and Peace Institute,
Iliff School of Theology

“An engaging, fast-moving story of love, intrigue and personal and ethnic conflict, wrapped in rich, thought-provoking political and cultural commentary."
Richard W. Slatta, Ph.D.– Professor of History, North Carolina State University

“The blend of human struggle with social, historical, and political perspectives is a good mix. The characters are well developed."
John Woods - Adjunct Professor, University of Dayton

“I found the topic timely, and the message timeless. While most people will pick up this book for the action, they will walk away with much more."
Ronda Broughton

“Mano is a very appealing mix of strength, intelligence, and most importantly, a family man of unwavering moral committment."
Toni Laricchiuta

"This is the kind of book that jumps alive in your hands. It whispers to you of love and compassion, and shrieks at you from the depths of hatred and confusion. In dealing with the immigration issue this book is certainly timely, but I believe its greatest value actually lies in the wonderfully uncomfortable way in which it shatters the over simplification which plagues most of the world's problems - that there is simply good and bad, right and wrong, Latino and Gringo. What a great gift this author has given us in these pages, where innocents become enemies, heroes disappoint and hope kindles in dark places. As much homage as this book pays to the Latino cause, it also beckons to the broader human cause: Let us all be aware of the slippery slope that constitutes our perspectives and judgments. Let us all treat with reverence the complexity of our community. And let us all think twice, even thrice, before we decide our choices. Read it, and most importantly, read it well!"
Sarah Templeton

“A well written story which projects one of America's gravest social problems to a realistic & fateful conclusion. A good, thoughtful read!"
James L. Adams

"As a poli-sci major I'm a pretty hard sell on military and political thrillers; but I would stack this up against a Uris or Clancy novel. Considering current immigration laws springing up across the US (Oklahoma and Vermont) and rising public temperatures regarding illegals - all aimed at Latinos; America Libre feels more like historical fact than a possible future. The book feels current and it's carefully crafted step-by-step "how to start a revolution" makes it more than believable; and more than a little scary."
Barbara Estes

“America Libre is a real page-turner and I'm looking forward to the next book. Immigration is a timely topic, and Raul Ramos Sanchez illustrates realistically how ordinary people and whole societies can fall into violence.”
Kate Hagenbuch

“If you like Clancy novels, you will probably like this one too. I think this book may become a best-seller and it would also make a great movie as well (as other reviewers in this space have suggested). This is a thriller with kind of a unique twist in that it is told primarily from the perspective of revolutionaries. It's very believable. I also like the fast paced writing style.”
Elliot B. Kennel

“Raul's book opened my eyes to the real possibiities of an American immigration policy that deals with numbers and not with people. In the country where 9-11 happened, this could be the next crisis if the issue of immigration - legal and illegal - is not addressed. This is a great, if not unsettling, read that rings eerily possible.”
Louise Actkinson

“America Libre has a great story line, with excellent characters. I have already given my copy to a friend and have sent other friends to the website to purchase it. To me this book flowed a bit like a Tom Clancy Novel, (which is a huge complement to Raul - since Tom Clancy is one of my favorite authors). The basic conflict comes from a plausible scenario that could stem from current events. The characters are real people that you grow to love and want to learn more about them. As a result, I spent a few late nights ripping through this book to see how Mano & Jo would gain back their freedoms. The ending surprised me which was very enjoyable and as with any great novel I was left with this feeling of, "’When does the next novel in this series come out?’"
Allan A. Coulson

“Senor Ramos y Sanchez wrote a ‘novel of a national nightmare’ that we all hope will never come to fruition. Immigration rallies are in the news today and our country and current administration continue to ignore the issues. What will happen? America Libre is a fast paced book with characters that are well developed and real. The last third of the book was a real page-turner. It will make a great, action-packed movie.”
A. L.  Barr

“Very intense from the first page to the last. The author makes you feel like you are right there in the middle of it all. I actually flipped forward a few pages occasionally because I couldn't wait to read what was next. Two weeks later, I still think about the story and am planning on reading it again. Highly recommended!”
Diane Dolan

“The current fervor over immigration and the potential for the abuse of power is brought to the forefront in America Libre. The story provides an insight into the disenfranchised of this country, and how one man in his struggle to provide for and protect his family is still willing to confront the tragedy and injustice of bad policy and human cruelty, and inspire a movement of epic proportion. Mano can not turn his head from that which turns his stomach, nor can America. America Libre is a must read to keep fresh in our minds and hearts that love and virtue must outlast selfishness and greed.”
David Stratton

“Just finished your book -- one of the most compelling, most thought-provoking around! Thanks for a suspenseful and meaningful read!!!"
Lori Steinhauer