The Only Road

Terrorized and threatened by a local drug gang, a 12-year-old boy and his 15-year-old cousin flee their Guatemalan village and seek refuge in the United States.After the Alphas murder his cousin Miguel for refusing to join, Jaime Rivera receives an ultimatum: join the Alphas or else suffer the same fate. Angela, Miguel's older sister, also falls prey to the violent gang's demands. With little recourse, Jaime and Angela must journey north to los Estados Unidos, where Jaime's older brother awaits them. Crossing into Mexico after a nighttime getaway, Jaime and Angela meet fellow runaway teens, each with different reasons for fleeing home. Their passage, nevertheless, proves treacherous for everyone, child or adult. "La migra, trains, bandits, and more gangs. Everything seemed worse than what they had left behind." Though Jaime and Angela's story features dizzying acts of violence and abuse, Diaz explores such complex, grim matters with great care. The author's use of third-person narration situates readers at a distance from the horrors that assail the protagonists while at the same time allowing opportunities to dig into Jaime's grief during crucial moments. It's Jaime's sorrow over Miguel's death that best defines Diaz's novel, reminding readers of the real-life struggles afflicting many Latin American immigrants every day. Still, not many people get the happy ending served here. A deft, harrowing, yet formulaic sketch of a complex subject. (author's note, glossary, further reading, resource list, bibliography) (Fiction. 8-12) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from March 1, 2017

Gr 5-8-After the murder of their cousin/brother Miguel, Jaime and Angela (ages 12 and 15) are given the "option" to join the powerful gang controlling their Guatemalan village. A refusal means certain death, so their families make the difficult decision to send the pair north, secretly gathering resources, paying smugglers, and identifying safe houses-all the while aware that their children might not survive the journey. The cousins depart hidden in the bed of a truck with small bags of food and cash concealed in their waistbands. After crossing the Mexican border, they take a bus further north, barely escaping border guards, and briefly stay at a safe church from which they are transported in a locked, airless freight train car. Throughout, the young people experience mercy and loss and observe violence and its results as they walk or ride atop a train, finally reaching a border town. After working to acquire additional cash necessary for a reputable coyote, they cross the Rio Bravo and border wall and finally arrive at another refuge center. There are references to violence and sexual abuse, but these are handled in an age-appropriate manner while also reflecting the experiences of many immigrants. Jaime's first person perspective enables readers to begin to comprehend the realities of undocumented youth immigration, its underlying causes, and the sacrifices and hardships made to reach safety in the United States. VERDICT An important, must-have addition to the growing body of literature with immigrant themes.-Ruth Quiroa, National Louis University, Lisle, IL

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 15, 2016
Terrorized and threatened by a local drug gang, a 12-year-old boy and his 15-year-old cousin flee their Guatemalan village and seek refuge in the United States.After the Alphas murder his cousin Miguel for refusing to join, Jaime Rivera receives an ultimatum: join the Alphas or else suffer the same fate. ngela, Miguels older sister, also falls prey to the violent gangs demands. With little recourse, Jaime and ngela must journey north to los Estados Unidos, where Jaimes older brother awaits them. Crossing into Mexico after a nighttime getaway, Jaime and ngela meet fellow runaway teens, each with different reasons for fleeing home. Their passage, nevertheless, proves treacherous for everyone, child or adult. La migra, trains, bandits, and more gangs. Everything seemed worse than what they had left behind. Though Jaime and ngelas story features dizzying acts of violence and abuse, Diaz explores such complex, grim matters with great care. The authors use of third-person narration situates readers at a distance from the horrors that assail the protagonists while at the same time allowing opportunities to dig into Jaimes grief during crucial moments. Its Jaimes sorrow over Miguels death that best defines Diazs novel, reminding readers of the real-life struggles afflicting many Latin American immigrants every day. Still, not many people get the happy ending served here. A deft, harrowing, yet formulaic sketch of a complex subject. (authors note, glossary, further reading, resource list, bibliography) (Fiction. 8-12)

COPYRIGHT(2016) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 1, 2017
When his cousin, Miguel, is killed by a drug cartel, twelve-year-old Jaime and Miguel's older sister Angela--fearing the same fate--flee their Guatemalan village. Heading through Mexico to the U.S. for refuge with Jaime's brother, their journey is fraught with danger (and occasional violence). A gripping, timely tale that raises important questions about empathy. Includes an author's note and teachers' resources. Reading list. Bib., glos.

(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from September 1, 2016
Grades 3-6 *Starred Review* When his cousin Miguel is killed for refusing to join the Alphas, Jaime and his cousin Angela are targeted as the next recruits. With no other way out, their family decides to risk sending them to El Norte to live with Jaime's brother, Tomas. The journey from Guatemala is not easy; Jaime and Angela face agonizingly real horrors: the fear of being discovered and deportedor worseby la migra; being locked in the sweltering heat of a rail car; running out of food and water; crossing paths with other even more dangerous gangs; and everything they might face in an unknown country. Readers will find themselves immersed in the fast-paced narrative as the cousins struggle to find a moment of safety on a dangerous route to an uncertain future. Diaz, herself a child of immigrants, laces Jaime and Angela's tale with plenty of Spanish words, and a glossary offers definitions, as well as pronunciation tips, for non-Spanish speakers. Diaz's closing author's note reminds readers that immigrants still endure journeys like Jaime and Angela's every day. Told with heartbreaking honesty, this story will bring readers face to face with the harsh realities immigrants go through in the hope of finding a better, safer life, and it will likely cause them to reflect on what it is to be human. Powerful and timely.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)