A review by dungeonmasterteacher
The Other Side: Stories of Central American Teen Refugees Who Dream of Crossing the Border by Rosalind Harvey, Juan Pablo Villalobos

emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.0

 This book was a little upsetting. It was originally written in Spanish, so I'm pretty sure US readers aren't the intended audience. It doesn't focus on US policy or make any direct call to action. The book just tells the border crossing stories of some teenagers. It makes it really clear just how dangerous crossing the border is, and how bad the gang violence is in some parts of Central America, especially in Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. It also shows how inhumane the immigration centers are. What really stands out to me is what people are willing to do for hope of a better life. 

This would be fine for ages 14+. It's not particularly explicit. It says enough to let you know things are bad, but it neither commodifies violence nor lingers on it to prove a point. There is a lot of mention of murder and sexual assault, but the book is not graphic at all. If anything the writing feels quite understated considering the subject matter.