Gr 5 Up–Award-winning author Will Hobbs's novel (HarperCollins, 2006) is set in rural Mexico. Fifteen-year-old Victor Flores is a struggling corn farmer, barely supporting his mother, brother, and two sisters (his father died in a construction accident in South Carolina). His best friend Rico decides to cross the wire to America (el Norte) to find work. Victor pleads for him not to risk his life in the crossing, but Rico's mind is made up and he leaves without telling his parents. Victor, desperate to feed his family, also decides to cross the wire. Victor's story is a gripping tale of struggle, hardship, and triumph to support his family. The plot never lags, and actor Ramon de Ocampo provides a wide range of voices and enthralling narration that effectively complements the story line. As current as today's headlines about immigration and amnesty, Crossing the Wire is a timely, satisfying read for young adults.–Larry Cooperman, Seminole High School, Sanford, FL Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Gr. 5-8. As in Ann Jaramillo's La Linea (2006) , Hobbs' latest puts a human face on the controversial issue of illegal immigration. No longer able to grow corn profitably in his Mexican village, 15-year-old Victor, who has supported his family since his father's death, resolves to go to El Norte: It's time for me to do what men from our village have to do. Lacking the money to secure a guide, he ventures to a border town to wait his chance in the whirlpool of recent deportees, newcomers, and grizzled mojados (wetbacks ). Successive attempts find him trekking through mountains and desert, fleeing la migra, and unwittingly becoming entangled with ruthless drug traffickers. Hobbs' effort to show a broad view of the border-crossing experience, often by incorporating the hard-luck tales of Victor's acquaintances, results in a story arc that occasionally feels artificial. But the questions raised here are provocative and worthwhile (Are Americans willing to pick the fruits and the vegetables to fill their grocery stores? ), and the propulsive adventure-and-survival elements will keep Hobbs' core audience hooked. --Jennifer Mattson Copyright 2006 Booklist From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.