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80th out of 113 books
—
49 voters
La Linea
Miguel's life is just beginning. Or so he thinks. Fifteen-year-old Miguel leaves his rancho deep in Mexico to migrate to California across la linea, the border, in a debut novel of life-changing, cliff-hanging moments.
But Miguel's carefully laid plans change suddenly when his younger sister Elena stows away and follows him. Together, Miguel and Elena endure hardships and
...more
But Miguel's carefully laid plans change suddenly when his younger sister Elena stows away and follows him. Together, Miguel and Elena endure hardships and
Hardcover, 144 pages
Published
April 4th 2006
by Roaring Brook Press
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This is a compelling story of fifteen year old Miguel and twelve year old Elena, two siblings on a gruesome journey from Mexico to California. Risking their lives, encountering thieves, gangs, police, thirst, hunger, physical danger, wild animals, border patrols and desert storms, the children manage to reach their destination. They cross la linea and reunite with their parents. The book is written by Ann Jarmillo who developed a deep appreciation for Mexican culture, language and complex family...more
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Since many of my students are Hispanic and have immigrated to the United States, I am always looking for books that might speak to their experiences and validate their culture. "La Linea" by Ann Jaramillo is one of those books. I started reading the book and immediately became swept up in the harrowing story of Miguel and his sister Elena and their trip across the border. I have heard stories about people trying to cross the border and the difficulties of the trip, but never before had I actuall...more
May 25, 2011
Ulises Medina
is currently reading it
The most favorite character from these book is Miguel, because he is kind of like the main character and because he lives his life without his parents being there for him and he is still happy even though he doesn’t live with them. But I also have a least favorite one, that’s Juan that’s don clementes nephew and he also works for him, He is mean and a showoff just because he is part of don clementes family and because he gets spoiled, and gets whatever he wants. I was kind of able to predict the...more
The emotions that the book made me feel was a boy trying to reach his goal by being with his family. My favorite line from the book was:”instead I played soccer for Cruz Azul or chivas, America or Necaxa. I was famous. I was very, very rich”. It shows what the boy wants to be and he trying to reach. The portion captivated me was when the grandma died because she was the mother for Miguel (boy) since the actual mom left to California the grandma was there for him. It was sad to see someone you lo...more
I piked this book because it is really interesting topping and because the cover is a really good interesting cover and because many of my friends told me it is a really good book.The genre of this book is a Fiction because it is kind of based on a really story but the story is made up with fake characters.When the book starts the setting is in San Jasinto and and when he try to cross the line he will be in California.The description if the main character is that he turned 15 years old and that...more
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Ages: 12 and up
"La Línea," the first book by Ann Jaramillo, tells the story of a 15-year-old boy's journey from Mexico to the United States. The book primarily focuses on the hardships that compel people to migrate and the dangers they face if they do so without papers.
The content of the book is relevant as it provides insight on the immigration debate that continues to rage in the United States. However, the characters are flat and unauthentic, the cultural and linguistic references seem force...more
"La Línea," the first book by Ann Jaramillo, tells the story of a 15-year-old boy's journey from Mexico to the United States. The book primarily focuses on the hardships that compel people to migrate and the dangers they face if they do so without papers.
The content of the book is relevant as it provides insight on the immigration debate that continues to rage in the United States. However, the characters are flat and unauthentic, the cultural and linguistic references seem force...more
My book was La Linea by Ann Jaramilla. During the book Miguel has a hard time because he has to leave his home land on a very dangerous trip over the border. Everyone tells him that the trip will be easy to just hop on the train they say. But they are mistaken, the trip is very harsh. Spending so much time on a train can turn you crazy but he kept his sanity. He is leaving his grandmother and little sister. I would recommend this book to people who like action books. My favorite character is his...more
Nov 02, 2009
Jimmy Castro
added it
The name of my book was La Linea by Ann Jaramillo. This book captivated my attention with its title. My favorite character was Miguel. The reason is that he was cool and smart about things. He was able to get his sister of his back when he needed to and was able to raise himself along with his grandma and sister in a small town. I would recommend this book to kids 12-16. It also has many Spanish words in it meaning that the words may not seem familiar. The reason I kept reading this book was bec...more
Summary: This adventurous story of a brother and sister's amazing journey across the US/Mexico border is a fictional account based on real events. Ann Jaramillo weaves sibling rivalry, sacrifice, humor, irony, and drama into a tale that both informs and enlightens the reader about the dangerous journey that many Mexican Americans have taken to come to the United States. Spanish words are used within the text to tell the story in a way in which the Non-Spanish speaking reader can use word-solving...more
Jun 02, 2011
Corinne
added it
I felt like I was on a train ride reading this book! I was so engrossed, I couldn't imagine getting off the train until I reached my destination -- which was the end of the book. Have you ever anticipated a trip so much, but once you got there, it fell short of your expectations? Well, the story in this book, the language in this book, the details, the voice -- none of that made we want to "jump ship". To the contrary, I was sold! I was committed to the ride (i.e., the read). And the journey was...more
Snapshot: Many dream of making the trip North and crossing the border to find family, friends, and new lives in the USA. For Miguel, a young man from rural Mexico, his time has finally come to cross la línea, the line, and join his parents in California. Even though his father has arranged everything from the United States, Miguel is unprepared for what awaits him on his journey north. And the fact that he has to protect his little sister does not help.
“Hook”: This story is about a young Latino...more
“Hook”: This story is about a young Latino...more
I would recommend this book to anybody who doesn’t live with their parents and who have been throw a lot in the pass. This book is a story about a young teen who’s dad is living in the USA. Miguel the young teen has been dreaming for years to go to the USA and his dad has told him many times that he is going to get him but doesn’t. When Miguel turns 15 years old his grandma gives him a letter from his dad, saying that his is now able to come to the USA . Miguel doesn’t really believe his dad bec...more
Miguel is a 15 year old who lives in the town of San Jacinto, Mexico. When he was small his parents went to live in California, leaving him and his sister, Elena, behind. He had been anxious to go with his parents for many years, now the wait is over.
After Miguel realized he could’ve gone free all this time there was no time for thinking. It is going to be a tough trip, but even more with his tagalong sister with him. Crossing La Linea to the United States may sound fun. WRONG. It is filled wit...more
La Linea, written by Ann Jaramillo, is the story of Miguel and Elena, two teenagers living in Mexico. Six years ago, Miguel’s parents traveled over “la linea,” or “the line,” to the United States. Miguel is thrilled to find out he is being sent for by his parents to join them in the states. His sister, Elena, disguises herself and joins him on his travel to the land of opportunity, against the will of their parents, and they begin a journey that will change their lives forever.
The story is a pow...more
The story is a pow...more
A short young adult novel about a pair of siblings trying to make it from rural Mexico to California and all the brutal things that happen to them and their companions on the way. It has a ripped-from-the-headlines quality, but it's short and not too salacious. I'd recommend it for eighth graders.
Random side note: there were too many random Spanish words in the text. It broke up the flow of the narrative. Maybe it bothered me because, taking place in Mexico, all of the conversations are supposed...more
Random side note: there were too many random Spanish words in the text. It broke up the flow of the narrative. Maybe it bothered me because, taking place in Mexico, all of the conversations are supposed...more
Miguel's parents left Mexico for California when he was six, and he has been dreaming of going to California to be with them ever since. When he turns fifteen, he receives notice from his father that it is time for him to join them.
His sister Elena follows him, which he doesn't realized it until they are in danger of being caught. This journey would be hard for just Miguel, but now with his sister, the journey becomes even more challenging. They meet an older man, Javi, and the three of them be...more
His sister Elena follows him, which he doesn't realized it until they are in danger of being caught. This journey would be hard for just Miguel, but now with his sister, the journey becomes even more challenging. They meet an older man, Javi, and the three of them be...more
La Linea was a story about 15 year old Miguel who lives in Mexico and leaves to come to California to be with his parents. He must cross La Linea, the border, to get to them. He begins his journey only to find that his sister Elena has followed him. The two of them encounter dangers on both sides of the border. Since they are crossing illegally over the border into the United States the obstacles are big and most often deadly. Elena and Miguel lose their friend, fellow immigrant, and protector t...more
La Linea was an intense story of a sister and brother crossing the border into the United States. They live in San Jancito, a small village in Mexico and live off of the few plants that they can get to survive, a goat or two and money sent from their parents, who live in the U.S. When Miguel's father says he can afford to hire a coyote to help him cross the border, Miguel is ready. He has to decide who they can trust, where to get food, and eventually they have to navigate the unforgiving desert...more
Ha ha. The infamous little book with Spanish in it. I'm curious by nature, and I read books word for word, even going back to read passages out loud in my head so it plays out in my mind like a play, or at least an audiobook. So it was a little slow for me to get through, since I got distracted a lot and looked up a lot of the words. I did enjoy learning a little Spanish, and it made me want to learn more. I have always been curious about the experiences of people who risk their lives to cross t...more
I searched for a word to describe how I felt at that moment, but I realized I felt nothing for Papa. Nada, absolutamente nada. Where there should have been feeling, there was just a big black hole of emptiness. (p.72)
La Linea was a great book about struggles with coming to America, but also struggles with family and relationships. Miguel is sent for by his parents and after failing to make it to the states by riding the bus and completing the planned journey set by his father, his journey become...more
La Linea was a great book about struggles with coming to America, but also struggles with family and relationships. Miguel is sent for by his parents and after failing to make it to the states by riding the bus and completing the planned journey set by his father, his journey become...more
Outstanding read! Although the story is fiction (based on actual events) it is an accurate telling of one boy's adventurous struggle to cross la linea into the U.S. Sibling rivalry, sacrifice, humor, irony, and drama combine to inform about the dangerous journey that many Mexicans have taken to come to America. Spanish words are used within the text to tell the story in a way in which the Non-Spanish speaking reader can use word-solving strategies to figure out the meaning.
I had already read Enr...more
I had already read Enr...more
Aug 15, 2009
Barbara
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Young hispanic readers highly motivated to read this type of material.
La Linea is nominated for the Minnesota children's selection award, the Maud Hart Lovelace award. Because of this, I guess I was expecting more. Miguel and Elena have lived for years with their grandmother in San Jacinto, Mexico while their parents have lived in California. They dream of the day they will receive the call from their parents to join them, because they have raised enough money to bring them to California, although through illegal channels. The understanding is that Miquel will go...more
Miguel and Elena’s parents moved to the U.S. and had to leave the children in Mexico to live with their grandmother. Finally, after seven years, Miguel’s father sends for him. Miguel thinks it’s going to be fairly easy to get across the Mexican/U.S. border because he has received the help of Don Clemente. However, at the very start, things do not go according to the plan and Miguel’s sister, Elena, ends up on the journey with him. They meet a fellow traveler, Javier (Javi) whom is also trying to...more
The book I read was la linea and it was written by Ann Jaramilo.It was published by Roaring Brook press in New milford, connecticut. My opinion of this book is good beause it talks about a illegeal fiffeen year old boy Miguel dreams about seeing his parents in calforina in the morning of this fifteen birthday he determined to go across the border to go north leaving his abuelia and his sister name Elena. mean while her sister Elena follow Miguel to go north with him. leaving abuleia alone at her...more
This novel is a good way of getting teens to understand why Hispanics come here illegally. Immigrants are often portrayed by the media as unintelligent "aliens" that are out to steal America's jobs. This book shows that none of that is true. There are real people behind those faces. Many crossed the border to save their lives and their family's life because America is the only possibility of safety and income. This book will make you think twice the next time you hear statistics about illegal im...more
It was a fairly exciting book. I worried about Miguel and if he and his sister were going to get caught before they could cross the border. The plot moves along nicely, and definitely intense, especially in some places. Definitely a good read.
I thought the beginning was drawn out a bit long to explain the situation and what Miguel wanted. However, once it got into him actually leaving and heading toward the border, it picked up. I'd recommend it to those who enjoy the tense, trying-to-get-to-a-p...more
I thought the beginning was drawn out a bit long to explain the situation and what Miguel wanted. However, once it got into him actually leaving and heading toward the border, it picked up. I'd recommend it to those who enjoy the tense, trying-to-get-to-a-p...more
May 01, 2013
Kate
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
middle school readers
Recommended to Kate by:
7th grade English teacher
Shelves:
youth
The novel started a little slow but soon I was engrossed. I read this for volunteering in a seventh grade class: the book's topic and reading level are good for this group but still enjoyable enough for me. The reading was woven into a lesson on immigration and it really gives an incredible perspective. The adolescent thinking in the book is honest but the reader will recognize the fallacies.
Overall, an good read with interesting characters and a fast paced ending. This is one of the few times t...more
Overall, an good read with interesting characters and a fast paced ending. This is one of the few times t...more
This book brings reality and a face for immigrants to the United States. Jaramillo has really illustrated the struggle of not only the attempt to cross the border, but also the unstable livelihood that leads up to that point. This book does a fantastic job of depicting the experience of thousands of unknown children.
She also does a wonderful job of mingling Spanish into her text. While not necessary to understand Spanish to read this book, I found it much more meaningful, as well as a great refr...more
She also does a wonderful job of mingling Spanish into her text. While not necessary to understand Spanish to read this book, I found it much more meaningful, as well as a great refr...more
Being a bit bias in the fact that I lived in Mexico and love the peolpe and culture this book surfaced many of the feelings that made me cherish their culture. I thought the novel at times was very captivating and emotional as the protagonist Miguel made his journey from Mexico across the linea to join his parents in California. This multicultural novel contains spanish frases but is very easy to follow and understand and will keep the reader gripping onto the story until the very end. I highly...more
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Ann Jaramillo teaches English as a Second Language to Mexican-American seventh and eighth graders in Salinas, California, many of whom are migrants. LA LINEA is her first book.
More about Ann Jaramillo...
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