The Undocumented Americans

The Undocumented Americans contains numerous biographical anecdotes from interviewees in the places where Villavicencio conducted her research. Though names might have been changed and some details partially fictionalized, which anecdotes stand out in your memory as particularly exemplary, revealing, or powerful? Pick two individuals to write about and be sure to analyze as well as summarize their experiences. Why do their stories stand out, and why are they important?

Villavicencio describes her work in this book as “creative nonfiction” (xvi). What does that term mean? In your opinion, how does the “creative” part impact the “nonfiction” part? (Does it compromise it? Aid it? Clarify it?) Where do you suspect the author took the most creative liberty in the book, and why do you suppose she did so?

The author intentionally sought out underrepresented stories. Which chapter do you think would be the most surprising to an American audience consisting largely of readers who have not shared the experiences of the immigrants discussed in the book? In other words, in which geographical location discussed in the book do you think immigrant stories have remained the most invisible in the mainstream?