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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book gives readers a glance into the current migrant crises and why so many children are making this dangerous journey alone for a better life. Loved the message of not giving up hope and the importance of family.
A touching and eye-opening story about immigration.
Engaging, adventurous story that encourages empathy for children crossing the Mexican border into the United States. Rooted in the facts of the terrors these children are escaping--and the dangers they face--Jaime and Angela's story offers an opportunity to relate to the real kids in the news and our neighborhoods who face an impossible situation with the hope of a better life.
Serious subject matter, but the characters are funny and clever, and their adventure stays PG-13 with a satisfactory ending for young readers.
Serious subject matter, but the characters are funny and clever, and their adventure stays PG-13 with a satisfactory ending for young readers.
This was a great book for middle school students to learn about the struggles of kids their age in Central America who are just trying to survive. Multicultural, adventure, and some suspense make this book an easy one to read.
Read alikes: The Red Umbrella, Refugee
Questions to ask:
How do Jaime and Ángela make the extra money to cross the border? Jaime draws pictures of people and Ángela hems clothes
What was weird about the shoe they kicked while walking? There was still a foot in it?
How did they get their dog Vida? They rescued her from a dog fight (where she was used as bait and Ángela stitched her up with blue thread)
What do we find out about Joaquín? He's really a girl
Read alikes: The Red Umbrella, Refugee
Questions to ask:
How do Jaime and Ángela make the extra money to cross the border? Jaime draws pictures of people and Ángela hems clothes
What was weird about the shoe they kicked while walking? There was still a foot in it?
How did they get their dog Vida? They rescued her from a dog fight (where she was used as bait and Ángela stitched her up with blue thread)
What do we find out about Joaquín? He's really a girl
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Everyone in Jamie’s small town knows someone who has been killed by the gang, The Alpha’s, that rules their town with their violent ways. Anyone who refuses to work with them ends up dead, just like Jamie’s best friend and cousin Miguel. After the death of Miguel the Alpha’s begin to recruit Jamie and his other cousin Ángela. In an effort to give them a better, and safer life, their family gathers together what they can to send Jamie and Ángela on the long journey north to New Mexico to live with Jamie’s brother. It’s a long journey filled with danger along the road and at the border, but for them it’s the only road.
Recommended for anyone who likes adventure or likes to read about other types of lives. A very powerful read.
Recommended for anyone who likes adventure or likes to read about other types of lives. A very powerful read.
emotional
fast-paced
This book tells a very important story, one that needs to be told, and shared, and widely read — which made it all the more disappointing that it honestly wasn't very good. The plot was compelling, but the characters were one-dimensional. There was some lip service paid to Jaime's growth as a character, his learning to take initiative and responsibility, but it was much more told than actually shown. And the writing was just bad: muddled sentences, awkward phrasing, and just a lot of sloppy wordsmithing. I don't care about gorgeous prose — I'm much more concerned with substance over style — but this was bad enough to get in the way of the story in places, and that's a problem. I hope more books like this will be written, because as I said, these are stories that need to be told, but I hope next time a more capable writer (or at least a better editor) is behind the wheel.
This book was great and very timely for current events. The story was moving and (as far as I know) realistic. I would love to use this in a middle school or early high school classroom.