Crossing the Wire

CROSSING THE WIRE: Will Hobbs: HarperCollins: Young Adult: 215 pages.

Will Hobbs’ new book Crossing the Wire is the story of a fifteen-year old boy, from a loving and close family, who chooses to illegally cross the border to the United States because of his love for his family. Will Hobbs has been visiting Arizona for some time and became interested in the hardships faced by illegals crossing the border. He apparently researched extensively for this book.

Victor Flores, the novel’s main character, has been struggling to support his mother and younger brother and sisters since the death of his father in the US in a construction accident. He finally makes the desperate choice to cross the border even though he has no money to pay a “coyote” to lead him across. He has almost too many adventures to believe, but in the process we glimpse the many routes and troubles that mark the path across the border.

SH