Read this one to Justin. He loved it. So good for children and young adults. ( )

Rey, a young Hispanic boy lives just across the US border in Mexico. His family is happy living in Mexico near one set of grandparents until one night an earthquake destroys their house; his family barely escapes with their lives. His mother and father decide to move the family over the border into the US and they settle in Nuevo Penitas, Texas near Rey’s other grandparents. This story follows Rey’s family and school life as he grows into manhood. He comes to value hard work, honesty and family above all else.

I enjoyed reading this coming-of-age story about a young boy named Rey. Half of his family lives in Texas and the other half lives in Mexico. As Rey grows up, he is expected to follow in his father's footsteps, but he is more interested in becoming his own person. Rey learns to appreciate his family and the life they have given him. The message behind this story is that you should always appreciate your culture and heritage because it is a part of who you are. Many middle school students, especially ones who have family in other countries, can relate to this story because it shows that figuring out your identity when you're young is not always easy. Additionally, I liked how this book was split into two different parts and it can be read as a whole or separately.