Boyle, T.C.: *1948

The Tortilla Curtain, 1995 - Thematic Parallels: Immigration

Boyle, T.C.: The Tortilla Curtain, 1995
The novel explores the deep divide between privilege and poverty, the fear and prejudice surrounding immigration, and the broader implications of the American Dream.
The following books are thematically similar. They lend themselves well to being read in groups, compared with one another, or used to teach a similar topic over an extended period with a class:
- Cleave, Chris: The Other Hand (Little Bee), 2008, ~370pp
  The novel explores forced migration, the refugee experience, and cross-cultural collision between a Nigerian refugee and a British family.
  Both novels critically explore immigration, privilege, and the tension between different cultures. Both use parallel storytelling to deepen our understanding of systemic injustice and challenge the reader to rethink notions of responsibility, safety, and humanity.
- Guterson, David: Snow Falling on Cedars, 1994, ~400pp
  This work deals with Japanese-American immigrants, racism, and justice after World War II.
  Both novels expose how fear, ignorance, and societal structures reinforce racial and cultural prejudice, leading to marginalization and violence. The natural world mirrors the emotional and social climates of the characters, heightening the novels’ atmospheric and thematic depth. Both novels explore how characters navigate identity and belonging in societies that reject or limit their full participation.
- Henríquez, Cristina: The Book of Unknown Americans, 2014, ~280pp
  This novel addresses Latin American immigrant experiences in the U.S., issues of discrimination, adjustment, and the question of identity and belonging — paralleling "The Tortilla Curtain’s" exploration of undocumented immigrants.
  Both novels explore the immigrant experience in the United States, particularly focusing on Latino immigrants and the socio-political challenges they face. They illustrate how fear and ignorance fuel systemic inequality.
- Lahiri, Jhumpa: The Namesake, 2003, ~290pp
  This novel follows an Indian family’s immigration to the U.S., exploring cultural conflict, assimilation, and generational differences.
  Both novels portray how immigrants struggle to establish identity in an unfamiliar cultural landscape. They also critique the myth of the American Dream by showing how it can be idealized yet deeply flawed and discriminatory, depending on one's race, status, or origin.
List of general discussion questions on Immigration (pdf)
List of essay prompts on Immigration (pdf)