Alfonso Squillante wrote The Bread We Carried to honor the courage, sacrifice, and enduring hope of Italian immigrant families. Inspired by his parents, Salvatore and Emma Squillante, and his in-laws, Luigi and Giuseppa LoPresti, he preserves the emotional journey of those who left familiar homes, traditions, and loved ones behind, facing hardship and uncertainty while seeking safety, opportunity, dignity, and a meaningful future for the generations who followed them.

Through Antonio and Federica’s story, Alfonso explores the price of starting again in an unfamiliar country. His writing celebrates family devotion, faith, hard work, cultural memory, and the quiet strength required to cross an ocean. Every chapter reflects his respect for immigrants whose private sacrifices shaped stronger families and lasting American legacies across generations.

At the heart of Alfonso’s work is the family that inspired it. He dedicates this book to his wife, Rosa, and their children, Massimo, Juliana, and Matteo, whose love and support enriched his journey.