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cdjdhj's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book as a requirement for a college class I am taking on "Boys and Literacy." It is a pretty good Young Adult book by one of my favorite YA authors, Will Hobbs. It deals with a young Mexican man crossing the US border illegally to make money to send back to his family in Mexico so they won't starve. While it is fiction, it seemed to be quite well researched and it did provide an entirely different perspective on illegal immigration than we usually get here in Arizona. The author wrote this bookin 2004 and I think things are probably much worse now for those coming across the border. This was a quick interesting read, and I feel like I learned something by reading it.
ebroadbent22's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
abigailbat's review against another edition
4.0
**** The action's pretty much nonstop and the plot twists and turns as Victor Flores attempts to cross the border into the US in order to earn money to support his family. Well-developed characters and organically-presented information about illegal immigration and some of its causes make this book stand out. Recommended for fans of adventure stories.
Full review on my blog:
http://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/2009/03/book-review-crossing-wire.html
Full review on my blog:
http://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/2009/03/book-review-crossing-wire.html
kportalareads's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
bethanymiller415's review against another edition
4.0
In Crossing the Wire, Hobbs looks at the issue of illegal immigration from the perspective of a teen who must cross the border in order to be able to provide for his family. This book is thought provoking and is also an action-packed adventure that will keep your attention to the very end.
trishabee2000's review against another edition
4.0
I would not have picked this on my own to read but since it was for the SHS book club I read it and I'm glad I did. It gives some insight into why people struggle so hard to come to work crappy jobs in this country and also made me glad that I am lucky enough not to be one of them.
martysuter's review against another edition
5.0
Timely and insightful story
Read this book because it was assigned to my son for his summer reading program. What a great story! It should generate lively discussion in his freshman class about immigration. The story of Victor and his friend, Rico, trying to make their way across the boarder is compelling especially given their ages. Hobbs paints a descriptive picture of the Mexican border and their many trials and tribulations....fascinating stuff and definitely recommended.
Read this book because it was assigned to my son for his summer reading program. What a great story! It should generate lively discussion in his freshman class about immigration. The story of Victor and his friend, Rico, trying to make their way across the boarder is compelling especially given their ages. Hobbs paints a descriptive picture of the Mexican border and their many trials and tribulations....fascinating stuff and definitely recommended.
sarbrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Extremely compelling and non-stop adrenaline. I couldn't put it down! I think this is a great choice for this years Rebecca Caudill and hope that it can lead to a lot of good discussions with students about immigration.
sarahfretz's review against another edition
4.0
Name: Sarah Fretz
Citation: Hobbs, W. (2006). Crossing the wire. New York: HarperCollins.
Genre: Adventure
Award:
Format: Hardcover
Selection: School Library Journal, 2006
Review:
Living in a poor, rural area of Mexico, Victor and his best friend Rico work hard bring money and food to their struggling families. Rico confides in Victor that he has been sent money to hire a “coyote” to take him to the United States. Scared for his friend, Victor stays silent but soon realizes that with no hope in Mexican agriculture and in order to better provide for his family, he may have to follow in Rico’s steps. However, with coyote prices so high, Victor is unsure how to make the trip.
Knowing his family comes first, he makes the grueling decision to attempt to cross the border, alone. The book takes you on Victor’s adventurous journey through the desert, through tunnels, on trains and in cars and in the woods. The reader travels in a fast-pace as Victor faces danger (and the authorities), meets others in the same situation, and tries desperately to get to a place that he truly believes can save his family. As he eventually reunites with Rico, the young men face these dangers together and make startling decisions in the end.
The descriptions of the area, the ever-present danger, and the anticipation put the reader right in Victor’s shoes as he makes the dangerous decision to cross the border. The page-turning, exciting story is reminiscent of the many daily journeys we hear about so often as people attempt to come to the United States.
Highly recommended.
Citation: Hobbs, W. (2006). Crossing the wire. New York: HarperCollins.
Genre: Adventure
Award:
Format: Hardcover
Selection: School Library Journal, 2006
Review:
Living in a poor, rural area of Mexico, Victor and his best friend Rico work hard bring money and food to their struggling families. Rico confides in Victor that he has been sent money to hire a “coyote” to take him to the United States. Scared for his friend, Victor stays silent but soon realizes that with no hope in Mexican agriculture and in order to better provide for his family, he may have to follow in Rico’s steps. However, with coyote prices so high, Victor is unsure how to make the trip.
Knowing his family comes first, he makes the grueling decision to attempt to cross the border, alone. The book takes you on Victor’s adventurous journey through the desert, through tunnels, on trains and in cars and in the woods. The reader travels in a fast-pace as Victor faces danger (and the authorities), meets others in the same situation, and tries desperately to get to a place that he truly believes can save his family. As he eventually reunites with Rico, the young men face these dangers together and make startling decisions in the end.
The descriptions of the area, the ever-present danger, and the anticipation put the reader right in Victor’s shoes as he makes the dangerous decision to cross the border. The page-turning, exciting story is reminiscent of the many daily journeys we hear about so often as people attempt to come to the United States.
Highly recommended.
andeez's review against another edition
4.0
I'm wrecked and convicted.
Victor Flores left home for El Norte to earn money to send his family. The fatherless teen would have loved to stay in his village and grow corn, but the Americans selling cheaper corn to Mexico put corn farmers out of business.
Victor crosses to America, gets deported, and makes the journey again. Other reviews mention all of the tragedy happening to Victor and claim "unbelievable." I grew up near the hills of San Diego. I saw how people lived and how people hid. These tragedies could very well happen to one person.
I wish I had read this book when I was in middle school 35 years ago. Maybe it would have given me compassion to those I saw waiting outside Home Depot for the chance to earn money for their families. Maybe I would have been more involved. For sure, it would have let me see the other side of the story - not just the one I knew of a white, privileged, Southern Californian.
Victor Flores left home for El Norte to earn money to send his family. The fatherless teen would have loved to stay in his village and grow corn, but the Americans selling cheaper corn to Mexico put corn farmers out of business.
Victor crosses to America, gets deported, and makes the journey again. Other reviews mention all of the tragedy happening to Victor and claim "unbelievable." I grew up near the hills of San Diego. I saw how people lived and how people hid. These tragedies could very well happen to one person.
I wish I had read this book when I was in middle school 35 years ago. Maybe it would have given me compassion to those I saw waiting outside Home Depot for the chance to earn money for their families. Maybe I would have been more involved. For sure, it would have let me see the other side of the story - not just the one I knew of a white, privileged, Southern Californian.