Abdel: A Young Migrant’s Journey
Abdel
By Enrique Páez
The Steamboat, Madrid (1994, 2004)
About the Author
Enrique Páez has worked for several years as an educator and has also been associated with publishing. Today, he is devoted exclusively to literature. He won the Premio Lazarillo in 1991 with his first children’s book.
Synopsis
Abdel tells the story of a young Tuareg boy named Abdel, who is currently in a juvenile facility in Spain. The cover features a portrait of Abdel, around 12 years old, and a patera (a small boat), representing his migration journey.
Summary
Abdel’s mother died when he was young, and his father decided to emigrate with him from Africa to Spain. Abdel, though never formally schooled, learned to read Spanish thanks to a desert friend’s book collection. He treasures a notebook and pen given to him by his father, in which he diligently records his experiences.
After facing challenges at the border, Abdel and his father reach the Andalusian coast, swim ashore, and evade the police. They find work building a villa, promised pay, food, shelter, and eventual legal status in Spain. However, Abdel’s role involves menial tasks like fetching beer and carrying packages. Suspicious of his employers’ activities, Abdel observes them exchanging alcohol for keys to a mysterious blue room in a cemetery. He keeps this discovery from his father to avoid worrying him.
One day, Abdel and his father are asked to transport a large package. While doing so, they are pursued by the police. Realizing it’s a trap, Abdel’s father urges him to flee. The package contains drugs. Abdel escapes and hides in the cemetery vault overlooking the blue room, while his father is arrested. Days later, Abdel reads about his father’s arrest and understands the setup.
After five days surviving on scraps in the cemetery, Abdel encounters children attempting to rob the grounds. He throws stones to scare them off, and they return to thank him. Abdel shares his story with Alicia and Michael, who offer him food and help. Seeking revenge for his father’s predicament, Abdel devises a plan with Alicia and Michael to expose the criminals.
They replace the drugs in the blue room with something else. When the criminals return, Abdel signals Alicia and Michael, who alert the police. As the criminals pass by, Abdel trips them with a rope. However, an accomplice subdues Abdel and puts him in a car trunk. Fortunately, police dogs track the car, and Abdel is rescued. Alicia and Michael had provided the police with the car’s location and color.
Now in a juvenile facility, Abdel receives visits from Alicia and Michael. His father asks him to testify against him, explaining that life back in the desert would be harsh. Testifying, though painful, ensures Abdel’s safety and care in Spain.
Setting
The story unfolds across various locations: the African desert, Málaga, a villa, and a cemetery.
Theme
The book explores the challenging lives of immigrants, promoting understanding and discouraging racism.
Characters
- Abdel: A clever, quiet, and peaceful boy. He is sincere and somewhat shy.
- Father: Abdel’s father, who seeks a better life for his son.
- “Bosses”: The criminal employers who exploit Abdel and his father.
- Alicia and Michael: The children who befriend and help Abdel.
- Other Workers: Fellow migrants working at the villa.
Narration
The story is told in the first person.
Personal Opinion
This book is engaging and thought-provoking, offering a realistic portrayal of the migrant experience. It highlights the difficulties faced by immigrants and encourages empathy. While I wish it had a more cheerful tone and more characters, I understand the constraints of the true story it’s based on. The book resonated with me, even though I’m not an avid reader.
Vocabulary
- Chrome: A hard, silver-colored, and highly resistant metal plating.
- Settlers: People who move to a new territory to cultivate it or live there.
- Dune: A mound of sand formed by the wind, typically found in deserts or on beaches.
- Diligence: Speed and care in doing something.
- Repatriation: Returning to one’s country of origin.
- Retro: Backward; something from the past.
- Insolence: Disrespect; impudence.
- Ungainly: Lacking elegance in gait and movement.
- Passers: Those who move from one place to another.
- He leaned: To recline or lie down.