summary of the book

 behold the dreamers summary 

ende Jonga is a Cameroonian worker in the US on a brief visa pending his refuge case; Neni Jonga is a junior college understudy on a understudy visa. Clark Edwards is an official at Lehman Brothers, and Cindy Edwards is a nutritionist. 

In 2008, Clark Edwards employs Jende to be a chauffer. The employment bid comes as a much needed development in the Jongas' luck, which has been hard since they emigrated from rustic Limbe, in Cameroon, to a terrible loft in Harlem. As Jende drives the Edwards family about the city, he discovers that cash has not satisfied them. Clark appears to be worried about certain issues with his company’s books and the company’s debts at Lehman Brothers; further, he infrequently takes part in experiences with sex laborers. Cindy suffers from a disorder since she grew up poor and was conceived out of assault. Vince Edwards, a law understudy at Columbia, just takes his family’s money

The lives of these two families start to meet. Clark is extremely stressed because his company has shady book keepings and investments in real estate. Cindy is also stressed because she feels like she is not good enough for her husband. She goes to liquor and Vicodin to relieve her stresses over her marriage and missing husband. Vince, on the cusp of moving on from graduate school, turns down wealth he would receive by choosing to go to a retreat out West and later to India. He finds himself getting into more and more arguments with his parents.

Jende's life is complicated because his immigration case is pending, regulated by a skilled lawer named Bubakar, who always charges them for fees. Jende's request to stay in america was turned down and he knew at some point or another, he would be deported. Neni finds that she is pregnant. But also While at the Hamptons, Neni finds that Cindy is an addict and that she is extremely miserable. 

Matters reach a crucial stage for the two families. Vince upsets his family extremely when he told them he will go to India. Lehman Brothers declare bankruptcy. Jende loses his asylum and prepares to go back to Cameroon. Cindy finds out from a news article that her husband is cheating on her and forces her husband to fire Jende because he was covering up for him.

In the interim, Neni, who was not able work during the end phases of her pregnancy, also she left her job at Jende’s request. she tries to find a way to pay for her schooling so she decides to blackmail cindy for money to keep quiet about her addiction.  Jende is tired of struggling so he decides to go back to Cameroon. He ends up beating his wife because she got mad at his decision.

Cindy dies after a binge of drinking and medications. Clark turns into a lobbyist for the credit union industry. The Jongas, utilizing the blackmail cash as a savings, go back to Cameroon, where Jende plans to be an entrepreneur and live easily in Limbe.