**I'm extremely grateful to SourceBooks Fire and Netgalley for sending me this ARC. This has in no way affected my opinion of this book.**
The Border, by Steve Schafer is such a fierce book. I don't think that's a regular adjective for describing literary works, but The Border is not a regular literary work. Dark, gritty, but humorous at times, the story follows four teens on their journey across the Mexico/U.S. border. Pato, Arbo, Marcos, and Gladys are on the run from the narcos responsible for their families' murders. They have prices on their heads, and the journey will be grueling. They need to cross the border through the Sonoran Desert for a chance at a better life. I was totally engaged for every second I was reading. I was thinking, I was questioning, and I was always on the edge of my seat, waiting to find out what would happen next. The journey was dangerous, with threats from border patrol, dehydration, and desert plants and animals, which built suspense. This story will be great for readers who like action, but also for those who value character and emotional depth. I was surprised by how much I came to care for the four, especially Pato and Arbo. They were cousins, and since Pato was the narrator the reader gets a special view of their bond and their fathers' bond. I'm a huge fan of well-done family dynamics, and this was no exception. The way their fathers' deaths affected their mentalities on this journey felt so real, and the moments of grief were only heightened by the added detail. One thing I do appreciate from Schafer is that he knows when to inject a bit of humor and hope into the story, to keep readers invested in the story and not give up on a desolate narrative. Amongst all the terrors of the trip, there was the banter of friends strengthened by a harrowing experience, and a blossoming romance. The only complaint I have is about the treatment of Gladys, Marcos' younger sister. She is often only seen as fragile, and in need of protection. I think she could have been portrayed as fiercer, maybe in that the events could have caused her to have the same growth into toughness as the others. That being said, I think this whole story is necessary in these times because of narratives that don't always acknowledge that everyone has a story. There is a lot of controversy over immigration, and I liked that The Border didn't brashly assert a position, it just told an underrepresented, emotional, human story. I gave The Border four stars for the obvious care shown in creating the narrative and telling a unidealized story with the realism it deserves.
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The BaronessHey, I'm Shreya! I love to read, write, travel, and drink tea. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of bookshop.org and I will earn a small commission if you click the above link and make a purchase.
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