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School Library Journal
Reviewed on July 1, 2014 | Grades 5-8
Gr 3–5—This unusual and complex work tells the story of a Mexican family as they journey across the border to seek work in the United States. Told from the point of view of a young boy, the sadness of leaving the lush farmlands and tight-knit village he has always known is palpable, as is the uncertainty and terror of being abruptly uprooted and evading police as he and his family climb over the wall separating the two countries. The most striking feature is the genre-defying format: the book is constructed in the style of a codex—one long, vertical panel that reads fr...Log In or Sign Up to Read More
Horn Book Guide
Reviewed on January 1, 2014
A straightforward first-person narration recounts a child's memories of his migration from Mexico to Los Angeles. The dramatic journey incl...Log In or Sign Up to Read More
Junior Library Guild
Reviewed on August 1, 2014
An unusual format, which proves ideal for this story. Folding out vertically in a continuous strip (English on the front, Spanish on the reverse), the codex reveals the family’s changing surroundings over the course of their journey—from scenes of pastoral bliss in their Mexican village, to nighttime train hopping and hiding from police, to the skyscrapers and congested roadways of Los Angeles. The boy’s candid narration complements the stunningly intricate artwork to provide ...Log In or Sign Up to Read More
