Crossing the Wire

Target audience: 10-14

I read this because it is assigned to a 6th grade class I work with. The kids aren't very far into the book, but they are already reading ahead (and we're scolding them) and asking us for more books like this.

I wish there were more books like this! It is both a high-interest adventure and a good non-judgmental look at the problems of illegal immigration. 15-year-old Rico is put in the awkward position of telling his friend's parents that his friend has left to cross the border to the United States. Rico thinks his friend is a crazy risk-taker, until he realizes that his families corn crop will not earn enough money to feed them. He decides he must go as well.

Hobbs has written a well-researched page turner. It show more covers many of the realities around immigration without dumbing it down too much or making it too brutal for his young adult audience. Bravo, and thank you Mr. Hobbs. show less

Illegal immigration is a very real current issue and this middle school story tells many of the risks taken to get across the border. This is a great book that deals with immigration. Strengths: I think young (and old) will find this a very easy read, full of real problems with believable characters. Because of all the action, it will keep you wanting more. Weaknesses: I personally didn't find any, but it might be helpful if there was a "Spanish" dictionary page to refer to the Spanish terms used.

Facing desperate poverty, Victor tries to get to America to find work to make money in order for his family to survive. With no money for a coyote, Victor must find his own way across the wire into America. Obstacles abound as Victor tries to stay optimistic as he faces many obstacles along the course of his journey.
Although it felt a bit preachy at times and Rico was an annoying side-kick, the book was compelling and action-packed.

This book was hard to put down. There was adventure throughout the book. Just when I thought the story would come to an end, the author wrote a new twist into the story.

Strengths:
-great description of events
-different characters

Weaknesses:
-at some points, the events got a little long

This book painted a very realistic picture of what it would be like to try to cross the border into the United States. Victor Flores is a believable character, a somewhat cautious teenager who is compelled to make it to el Norte to work and provide for his family back in Mexico. I feel I have a better understanding of the challenges faced by Mexicans who embark upon this journey, as well as an idea of what a border town must be like. Descriptions of the deserts Victor crosses make me want to visit the southwestern part of the U.S. again; it has been some time since I have traveled there.

Curricular connections: Middle level students could use Crossing the Wire to spark conversation about and research regarding immigration issues and show more troubles in border towns. Living in Montana, we are rather removed from these situations. A study about how many Mexicans enter the U.S. illegally, the causes for them to want to leave Mexico in the first place, and what it takes for them to become legal U.S. citizens would be very educational for students (and for me)! show less

Target audience: 14-20

Victor, a 15-year-old Mexican teenager, decides to "cross the wire" into "El Norte" (the United States) to save his family from starvation in Mexico. Not having any coyote money to pay the smugglers, Victor must jump trains, stow away on trucks, and hike miles through the Arizona desert. Victor's journey is filled with danger, freezing and unbearably hot weather, hunger, and dead ends. On the other hand, Victor makes new friends and realizes the importance of friendship. In addition, Victor discovers that he is resilient and will do everything to earn money to support his family.

Hobbs puts a human face on illegal immigration. Victor's motivation to survive against smugglers, snakebites, and even death. The story is show more fast-paced that keeps me at the edge of my seat. In addition, it connects to our world in which the issue of crossing the wire for the sole purpose of survival is very real. The dangers that Victor face are very belieavable. Teenagers, regardless of their feelingsa about illegal immigants, will enjoy the story of the survival of a teenager in the face of peril. I really enjoy the story because it is so real to the world I am living in. show less

Although the author was European-American and not Mexican, he did some research and as a result, the book was believable. This book made me feel very badly for those who cross the border illegally. They are at risk from everyone, from the Border Patrol to the Mexican authorities to coyotes to vigilantes and drug dealers. The more I learn about this, the more I think the U.S. should repeal NAFTA. NAFTA did a grevious wrong to many Mexican farmers and caused a lot of the problem of illegal border crossing.
I would recommend this book if one wanted to learn more about crossing the border, but feel that maybe one written by an actual border crosser may be more authentic.