I have been trying to remember the name of this book since I first signed up for goodreads , over 6 years ago now. I read this the last semester of college, almost 9 years ago now and the characters and the plot stuck with me (but apparently not the title or the author). I'd like to reread it. ( )

Although I find the writer very clear at expressing thoughts, I have two reasons for not rating this novel higher.

First, during the first third of the book, all the character's names or nicknames start with 'A" or "J" and I could not keep them straight, even 50 pages into the book.

Secondly, the story is so grim that the goal, even if reached, does not seem to be worth it, so why read the book?

On the plus side, the ending is very unique and I remember that part very well, and will for a ling time.

The regular version is not fit for children due to the endless cruelty. The Young Adult version I have not read but the internet shows it as the same page length so must still have all that cruelty.

Probably the best use of this book is to get a detailed view of what it is like to live on the other side of the border, to try to cross the border and to try to live in the United States without parental encouragement of financial help either at home or in the states. However for that purpose I recommend the author's nonfiction, her own memoir. That one also has a more pleasant journey towards a dream. Because the memoir is true, the author has not fully reached her goals so the ending in the memoir is not quite as dramatic as in the novel, but more worthwhile given the circumstances encountered by the real person of the memoir and the novel's main character. ( )

Painful subject matter - two young women who search across the Mexico/US border for their fathers and for forgiveness. Juana is only 12 when her father leaves for "el otro lado" (the other side); when he hasn't returned in three years she sets out to find him. Adelina is am American running from a bad situation at home and now working as a prostitute in Tijuana. The girls meet up and try to help one another. Compelling story, but the author needs to work on her craft. ( )

Great book! Hard to put down, I finished it in 5 days, could've been sooner if I didn't have errands to run over the weekend. ( )

Review: Across a Hundred Mountains by Reyna Grande.

This is a well written, descriptive stunning story about migration, loss, and discovery. Many people in our world don’t understand the reasons behind illegal immigration but this book gives great insight into what pushes people to risk their lives and leave their families trying to make it across the border.

Immigration is an extreme issue here in the United States so this book gives us a chance to walk in those people’s shoes striving to restore their former lives and put together a broken family. Some might feel that the book is confusing at the beginning with the switching perspectives of tackling the immigration issues however, the author also establishes a great fiction storyline that keeps the reader interested and at the end it all comes together and makes a lot of sense.

The story is about Juana and her family’s physical and economical challenges they were going through. Juana was introduced as young girl who also had psychological issues starting from the time her sister died and her father leaving the family for the United States. Then it goes on to where she feels her whole world was falling apart because she had been held responsible for what they were going through so she decides to go looking for her father after a vast amount of time had passed with no word from him. It was also Juana’s last glimmer of hope to restore her mother’s love and affection. Juana goes through extreme measures to try and restore her family which makes the story more captivating and emotional.

It’s a good fast pace book which address a worthy subject of the desperation of illegal immigrants and their families they leave behind…..
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