Inseparable teens Pulga, Chico, and Pequena live in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala, where the politicians are as corrupt as the gang leaders. When Pulga and Chico witness the death of Don Feliciano, murdered by the same gang member who raped Pequena and left her pregnant, the trio decides to brave the harrowing journey to the United States on La Bestia, a train on the dangerous real-life network of trains that many migrants chase and board. But that's only the beginning of the brutal trials they encounter. Their profound friendship and hope for a better future keep them moving in this timely thriller. Narrated by Pulga and Pequena, the prose offers insight into the thoughts and feelings of the people who have to make this often-fatal trip. The short chapters, candid writing, and strong character development should appeal to even the most reluctant of readers as suspense about whether the characters will survive the journey builds in one heart-rending scene after another. Shelley M. Diaz September/October 2020 p.105(c) Copyright 2020. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Three Guatemalan teenagers flee their dangerous hometown. In this action-packed and beautifully rendered depiction of the refugee migrant experience, Sanchez tells the story of 15-year-old Pulga; his brother by choice, Chico; and his cousin Pequeña, three teenagers from Puerto Barrios, Guatemala, who must sneak away from their town to survive. Pulga and Chico unfortunately happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time when they witness the murder of Don Felicio, the convenience store owner who gives them Cokes in exchange for help. Pequeña, who is 17 and a new mother, wants to escape Rey, the gang member who raped her and wants to force her into marriage--and who murdered Don Felicio. The chapters switch between the first-person perspectives of Pulga, who has the heart of an artist, and Pequeña, who sees beyond her surroundings and escapes reality during stressful situations. Scared of a future controlled by Rey, the trio embark on the journey that will bring them to the United States. But first they must conquer La Bestia, the name given by migrants to the train that claims the limbs and lives of many who flee violence. Sanchez delivers a brutally honest, not-to-be-missed narrative enriched by linguistic and cultural nuances in which she gracefully describes the harrowing experiences the young people endure after making the choice to survive. A gripping, heart-wrenching, and thrilling tale of survival. (map, author's note, sources) (Fiction. 14-adult) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

This gripping, poignant story, grounded in current events, is told from the alternating points of view of Pulga ("Flea") and his cousin Pequeña ("Little"), who, along with Pulga's brother, Chico, struggle with the daily violence and corruption in Guatemala. The trio often hear tales of escaping to America via La Bestia, an arduous journey that includes stowing away on a horrifying train to cross borders illegally. When the terror at home gets out of hand, Pulga, Pequeña, and Chico decide to flee but soon find that the trail ahead is "some kind of dark maze, some labyrinth or trap, that we might never find our way out of." This soul-shaking narrative feels as real as the list of historical references included in the back matter. Readers will question, like the trio, if there is any good left in the world, but through their hardships, they come to learn that family means more than blood, and that their hearts and aspirations are bigger than their nicknames imply. Melding the adventure with bouts of magical realism recalling the works of Gabriel García Márquez--and writing with respect and sympathy for the plight of these people--Sanchez takes readers on a frightening pursuit of the American dream, and whether or not the trio is successful, we must keep them company every difficult step of the way.

This powerful novel by Sanchez (Because of the Sun) follows three teenagers fleeing the violence, danger, and poverty of Puerto Barrios, the Guatemalan home they simultaneously love and hate. Stirred by renewed fear of local gang leader Rey, the close-knit trio decides to make the perilous, punishing journey through the deserts of Central America to Mexico, where they can jump the freight train known as La Bestia, "an enormous steel centipede groaning and hissing to life, its power vibrating through the ground," which they hope will deliver them to the United States. Seventeen-year-old Pequeña is desperate to escape marriage to Rey, whose son she has just borne; 15-year-old Pugla and his de facto brother, Chico, 13, have witnessed a murder. The journey ends differently for each of the three, realistically representing the variety of outcomes that refugees can experience and building a profound understanding of why so many people are driven to risk their lives in search of an uncertain future. A devastating read that is difficult to put down, this unforgettable book unflinchingly illuminates the experiences of those leaving their homes to seek safety in the United States. Ages 14--up. Agent: Kerry Sparks, Levine Greenberg Rostan Agency. (May)■

Gr 9 Up--Pequeña, Pulga, and Chico know that in Puerto Barrios, their future and the future of those around them is always uncertain. After Pulga and Chico witness the murder of Don Feliciano, they are pulled in to local gang leader Rey's group, their lives and loved ones threatened unless they comply. Pequeña, who has suffered from Rey's threats in silence and has given birth to his child, can see all too clearly the future she will have by his side. In desperation, Pequeña, Pulga, and Chico leave their beloved mothers behind, relying on each other as they make the dangerous journey from Guatemala to the U. S. This fast-paced novel provides a heartbreakingly brutal look at just some of the dangerous realities faced by many. The circumstances that lead them to leave everything they love behind are replaced by different, equally harsh situations once they arrive in a place they thought would provide safety. Sanchez's insightful descriptions of the characters' thoughts and feelings, as well as their desperation and hopelessness, will elicit empathy in young readers. Short chapters filled with suspense and heartache will keep teens turning the pages to find out what happens to the trio. VERDICT A candid, realistic story that will leave readers thinking about the characters--and about our own world--long after the last page. Perfect for young adult collections in school and public libraries.--Selenia Paz, Harris County Public Library, Houston