Josè Àngel N., author of “Illegal: Reflections of an Undocumented Immigrant”, will be at West on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016 to speak about his experiences immigrating to America. Classes and students with free period during second and third will be able to come listen in the auditorium.

His book tells a story about how his life was when he came to America 17 years ago. Josè talks about how he learned English, finished school, got a secure job, and how he did all of this as an undocumented person. This book is a memoir of Josè’s journey to a better life, and also shows the reality of an undocumented immigrant making a life in America.

There were several reasons for asking him to speak to Niles West.

“Our motivation and rational for inviting him here is multifold: the topics of the challenges of immigration and the path to citizenship, the sacrifices in beginning a new life, and the pursuit of the American Dream are relevant not only within the content of our curriculum, but also in the context of our lives,” Literacy Center director and English teacher Michael Kucera said.

Some teachers are taking their students because it connects to what they are currently studying in class.

“We are learning about immigration which is the focus of our second semester, and some of my kids are reading his book for their independent reading for the semester, so we are going to see what he has to say about this important issue,” English teacher Michele Lewis said.

The book is featured on a list of multiple books to celebrate Coming Together in Skokie’s theme ¡Vivo! for the year of 2016.