Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Crossing the Wire by Will Hobbs

Crossing the Wire by Will Hobbs, HarperTrophy, 2006.
ISBN: 0060741384

Plot Summary

In Crossing the Wire, Hobbs details the journey of Victor Flores as he struggles to illegally cross the border between Mexico and the United States. Once Victor’s father dies in an unfortunate accident it is up to the fifteen-year-old to support his mother, four sisters, and little brother. But with the price of corn steadily declining, Victor does not know how he will grow enough food to support his family. Seeing no other alternative, Victor decides to illegally cross the Mexico-U.S. border in hopes of finding a job that will provide him with enough money to support his family. But crossing the border will not be easy as Victor does not even have so much as a proper birth certificate. Somehow, with the little money he has, Victor must find a way to cross the border without being caught by the U.S. border patrol, rival gangs, or drug-runners. Will he be able to brave the scorching heat and rugged terrain, cross the border and find a job before his family must sell all their positions in order to survive?

Critical Evaluation

Will Hobbs’ Crossing the Wire is an essential book to have in every library, especially those that lie along the U.S./Mexico border. In his book, Hobbs directly challenges hurtful stereotypes that many Americans citizens have of illegal immigrants. Instead, Hobbs shows Victor Flores to be a resourceful, caring teen who willingly sacrifices his ability to see his family in order to provide for them. Over and over Victor braves countless dangers such as gangs, drug runners, poisonous snakes, and unbearable heat in order to cross the border and make enough money so that his family will not go hungry. But before readers can accuse Hobbs of being unjustly sympathetic towards illegal immigrants they should note that he depicts the U.S. border patrol in a similarly sympathetic light. For example, when Rico asks patrolman Torres how he can sleep at night Torres responds, “I do a job that needs to be done…I enforce the law. Yes, we do all we can to slow the flood of illegals, but I also save many lives. And we catch some dangerous criminals” (p. 179). And when patrolmen chase after Victor and his friend Miguel, they do so without using force, instead calling out “Stop, please. Sit down right where you are (p. 109)”! These depictions certainly do not conform to the standard stereotype of vicious border patrol agents that people are apt to see in the media.

Indeed, one of the best parts of Hobbs’ Crossing the Wire is his refusal to take a definite side on the issue of illegal immigration. Throughout the book, the author continually raises points that make the reader question their own assumptions, regardless of what they believe about illegal immigration and border security. For example, when Victor asks SeƱor Rivera how the Americans can sell corn at a cheaper price than Mexicans the older man replies, “They can’t…The only way those big farmers up there can make a profit is because the government gives them a lot of money in addition to what they get when they sell their corn…More and more people from Mexico will try to cross the border now, to find work. This, while the Americans are trying harder than ever to turn us back…” (p. 19). Reading this discussion, readers must question not only America’s immigration laws but it’s farming practices as well. Later, Miguel informs Victor that “one out of every ten citizens of Mexico is living in the States. Think if they ever rounded us all up. Who would do all the work?...How much would their food cost without us to harvest it?...As for our own country, think if we weren’t able [to] send all this money back to our families” (p. 100). Here Miguel demands readers question their opinions on illegal immigration and how it directly affects U.S. citizens. It is easy to believe that illegal immigrants are taking away jobs from American citizens but what would happen if citizens demanded higher pay than illegal immigrants and, as a result, the price of food skyrocketed? Hobbs also includes characters and situations that point out the problem with illegal immigration. For example, with lax border control, the drug trade flourishes, as seen when Victor and Rico travel with drug runners. And, with drugs coming into the United States, crime rises as the two boys later find out when they finally make it into the country. Certainly, through reading Crossing the Wire, readers will question their beliefs on the United States’ policies about border control, the domestic economy and immigration. Hopefully Crossing the Wire will serve as a launching off point for readers interested in learning further about illegal immigration. Indeed, Hobbs’ novel is a well-written, essential piece to have in any library collection.

Reader’s Annotation

With his whole family in abject poverty, Victor Flores decides to cross the border between Mexico and America in search of work. However, Victor’s journey is not an easy one as he faces street gangs, thirst, drug cartels, and the U.S. border patrol.

About the Author

“Will Hobbs is the author of eighteen novels for upper elementary, middle school and young adult readers, as well as two picture book stories. Seven of his novels, Bearstone, Downriver, The Big Wander, Beardance, Far North, The Maze, and Jason's Gold, were named Best Books for Young Adults by the American Library Association… Will's books have won many other awards, including the California Young Reader Medal, the Western Writers of America Spur Award, the Mountains and Plains Booksellers Award, the Colorado Book Award, and nominations to state award lists in over thirty states” (Hobbs, n.d.).

Will Hobbs has always enjoyed reading. His favorite books when he was young include classics such as Call It Courage, Marguerite Henry’s books, Tom Sawyer, and his favorite, Treasure Island. When he is not reading Will enjoys whitewater rafting, fishing, gardening, and backpacking.

Hobbs, W. (n.d.) Favorite questions. Retrieved from http://www.willhobbsauthor.com/questions.html

Hobbs, W. (n.d.) Meet Will Hobbs. Retrieved from http://www.willhobbsauthor.com/meet.html

Genre

Adventure, Bibliotherapy—illegal immigration, Realistic fiction

Tags

Gangs, illegal immigration, Mexico, poverty, farmhands, border patrol, dessert, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona

Curriculum Ties

This would be an excellent addition to a unit on current issues, immigration, or U.S. economics.

Booktalk Ideas

--Ask something like, “What are some of the dangers someone might face if they were to cross the border between Mexico and the U.S. illegally?”

--Tell the story as Victor

Reading Level/Interest Age

Reading level: 4th grade

Interest level: 7th-12th grades (12-18 yrs.)

AR BookFinder. (2010). Crossing the wire. Retrieved from http://www.arbookfind.com/bookdetail.aspx?q=105478&l=EN&slid=190769895

Challenge Issues

N/A

Why Was This Included?

I decided to include Crossing the Wire because I felt it was important to feature a book that addressed the contemporary issue of immigration. I also wanted to include adventure stories and knew Will Hobbs was a well-respected author within this particular genre.

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