Desperate to cross

La Linea by Ann Jaramillo will give you an idea of how desperate some people are to get into the U.S. Years ago, Miguel and Elena's parents left them in Mexico for California. On Miguel's 15th birthday, he receives a note from his father, with enough money for Miguel to make the illegal crossing across la linea himself. However, his carefully laid plans are shattered when he finds that Elena has followed him. After most of their money is stolen and they're on their own, their only option is to hop the mata gente, a northbound freight train known as the "people killer" because of the extreme danger involved. Although the story line resembles that of Crossing the Wire by Will Hobbs, La Linea is much grittier, telling more about the realities of crossing: the effects of dehydration, the violence of soldiers, the betrayal and corruption. I had a little bit of trouble with the amount of Spanish words in the text, but I was able to figure out enough to understand what was going on. A frightening, real-life adventure.