Trauma of Migration on Children in Reyna Grande’s The Distance Between Us

Dhivya R.

Ph.D. Research Scholar, Department of English, Government Arts College (A). dhivyakalai07@gmail.com

Abstract

Migration has been a recurring theme in transnational literature. But it has been mostly representing adults’ perspective, rather than that of children. This paper examines the experience of migration through a nine-year-old child in Reyna Grande’s memoir The Distance Between Us (2012). Her childhood is an era of massive emotional breakdowns. Reyna experiences abandonment, insecurity, and longing when her parents leave for the United States to find more economic opportunities. The loss of parental affection leads to some emotional scars in her body and mind. This memoir illustrates how children absorb migration as hope but also as loss. Through the voice of a child, this research helps to understand that migration is not merely a physical journey. Migration affects children in many ways emotionally, socially, physical, and academically. This research explores how Grande’s memoir not only explains the struggles of a marginalized community but also shows emotional violence, trauma and hope of migrants.

Keywords: Migration, Violence, Crossing, Identity, Transnational, Trauma.