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The Border

Steve Schafer (Goodreads Author)

4.11 · Rating details · 545 ratings · 216 reviews

One moment changed their lives forever.

A band plays, glasses clink, and four teens sneak into the Mexican desert, the hum of celebration receding behind them.
Crack. Crack. Crack.

Not fireworks--gunshots. The music stops. And Pato, Arbo, Marcos, and Gladys are powerless as the lives they once knew are taken from them.

Then they are seen by the gunmen. They run. Except they h ...more

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Kindle Edition, 364 pages

Published September 5th 2017 by Sourcebooks Fire

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Average rating 4.11 ·

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· 545 ratings · 216 reviews

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Aug 13, 2017 Carrie rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley

As Pato is entering his cousin's birthday celebration with his parents he sees a strange black car sitting outside the house and means to say something about it but with the excitement of entering with his family it slips his mind. Later in the night Pato, Arbo, Marcos, and Gladys sneak away from the party to smoke when all of a sudden gunshots ring out in the night.

When the group return they find everyone from all their families have been executed with the gunmen still there. Marcos thinks qui As Pato is entering his cousin's birthday celebration with his parents he sees a strange black car sitting outside the house and means to say something about it but with the excitement of entering with his family it slips his mind. Later in the night Pato, Arbo, Marcos, and Gladys sneak away from the party to smoke when all of a sudden gunshots ring out in the night.

When the group return they find everyone from all their families have been executed with the gunmen still there. Marcos thinks quick and finds a gun to return fire but the group finds themselves on the run from the drug dealers. With nowhere to go and the narcos doing everything they can to find them the group finds themselves setting out to cross the desert hoping to find freedom in the US.

Steve Schafer has come up with an excellent novel that truly fits today's society and headlines giving a look into the lives of some of the innocent that are forced to flee Mexico and risk their lives crossing the border illegally. With all the talk in the news of building walls on the border this story is very relevant with the four innocent teens having no other option but to run away from their home due to the volatile situation that was not any doing on their part.

The story is fairly fast paced with a decent amount of action building the tension throughout their journey although I did find a few slower moments. There's a bit of a romance that builds between Pato and Gladys which of course didn't sit well with Gladys' older brother Marcos who becomes the self appointed leader and protector of the group to add to the drama of the story during their crossing. Arbo was the sort of class clown type of personality which leads to a few funnier moments to lighten up the read here and there.

Overall, while this young adult read is a story of fiction the reality of the characters situation is a great look into the struggles that some truly do suffer and I'd definitely recommend checking it out.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....

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May 22, 2017 Beth rated it liked it

Shelves: 2017-reads, stand-alone, 3-stars, arcs

I was asked by the author Steve Schafer to give an honest review of the book, this was provided through netgalley, and here are my thoughts below :)

I shall firstly start off by saying I've never read anything like this before, it's in relation to a group of teenagers having to cross the border of Mexico and you see how this develops throughout as to why they need to do this, problems they face throughout etc.

I'm finding this really difficult to give a full review because some aspects of the book ...more

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Aug 04, 2017 Dianne rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc-read, netgalley, drama, own

Steve Schafer is celebrating the release of THE BORDER with a print copy giveaway!

Click on Cover to enter! - U.S. addresses - Ends September 10, 2017

Incredible life drama and the terror of four young teens running for survival after they witness the brutal mass slaying of their families and a contract is put on their lives. They will flee from their homes in Mexico across the scorching desert only to face attempting an unplanned, illegal escape into the United States. They are clueless as to wha ...more

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Apr 27, 2019 Veronica ⭐️ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, 2019, a

*https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogsp...
The Border is the debut novel of author Steve Schafer.

Four Mexican teenagers witness the cold blooded murder of their families, by a band of Narcos, whilst attending a 16th Birthday celebration. They flee into the darkened night with the sounds of death threats ringing in their ears.

Schafer has lived, worked, volunteered and travelled throughout most of latin America, including northern Mexico and it is clear he has extensively researched his topic.

The st ...more

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Oct 11, 2017 Liz Barnsley rated it really liked it

The Border is a fast paced and thought provoking thriller, following 4 youngsters who having witnessed a violent tragedy go on the run through the harsh desert, facing danger at every turn.

The realities of the situation are brought to vivid and horrific life through the absorbing and immersive writing of the author – the kids are not all likable and they are not tough, although often they pretend to be and you are with them all the way in their frantic dash for freedom and their hope for a new l ...more

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Aug 31, 2017 MeggieBree rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya

4 1/2 out of 5 stars.

The Border is a heart-breaking, harrowing tale that definitely puts a human face on illegal immigration. It is timely considering the political climate in the United States right now, with all of this fear-mongering and talk of building a wall.

In the Author's Note, Mr. Schafer states "My hope for anybody who reads this novel is that it inspires you to take a moment and imagine what drives someone to come to this country and what that journey is like, whether legal or illega ...more

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Jun 01, 2017 Maya rated it really liked it

Shelves: recommendations, novels

I was provided with an egallery by Sourcebooks Fire and Steve Schafer in exchange for an honest review.

When I first started reading The Border, I wasn’t sure whether I was going to enjoy it or not. I’ve never read a book that explores real-world issues from a fictional point of view. However, with the current political discourse surrounding legal and illegal immigration, I couldn’t pass on the opportunity to read a book that focused on the individuals at the heart of the matter.

The Border is a ...more

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Sep 23, 2017 Greyson | Use Your Words rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-2017, rep-2-poc, genre-contemporary, genre-suspense-thriller-horror

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Lucky.
It's a strange word to use. I wonder if this is how it happens. If this is how you go on. If you simply decide that, in some small way, you got a break. That in spite of nearly everything that could have gone wrong, that did go wrong, a few of the cosmic dice have rolled in your favor. Enough to get by. Enough to leave you with a splinter of hope. And you build from there.

I had started to lose ...more

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Jul 22, 2017 Tyler Smith rated it it was amazing

Steve Schafer’s The Border is, without a doubt, one of the best books I’ve read all year. I don’t typically delve into YA, because, like many, I felt (wrongly, I see) like the genre didn’t have much to offer an “Old Adult,” but I’m delighted to be wrong. Bristling with suspense, humanity, horror, and humor, The Border is a gripping tale from start to finish.

When a deadly attack at a quinceñera suddenly sends friends Pato (our narrator) and Arbo--along with the cool soccer star Marcos, and Glady Steve Schafer’s The Border is, without a doubt, one of the best books I’ve read all year. I don’t typically delve into YA, because, like many, I felt (wrongly, I see) like the genre didn’t have much to offer an “Old Adult,” but I’m delighted to be wrong. Bristling with suspense, humanity, horror, and humor, The Border is a gripping tale from start to finish.

When a deadly attack at a quinceñera suddenly sends friends Pato (our narrator) and Arbo--along with the cool soccer star Marcos, and Gladys (the object of Pato’s affection)—running from a vengeful, brutal gang of narcotraficantes known only as La Frontera (The Border), the four friends begin a desperate, perhaps misbegotten trek north through the Sonoran Desert to find “freedom” across the border the in the U.S. While their journey to the US is fraught with thrilling tension and moments of exceedingly tense exchanges throughout, Schafer also offers poignant reflections on culture and life north of the border. In one of many elegant and thought-provoking passages, Schafer has his narrator Pato ruminate:

"I wonder what life might be like had I been born over there. If I were the one sitting in the SUV with a frosty drink in hand, on my way to play at a fancy resort. Would I have noticed me watching from the sidewalk? Would I have merrily taken pictures while armored police cars rolled down the streets? Would my life have been better or just different?”

From its opening scene to its satisfying, heart-wrenching conclusion, The Border is a truly brilliant novel that couldn’t be more timely, and necessary. I recommend this book for not just YA audiences, but for anybody looking for an intelligent, beautifully written look at border politics or just a damn good yarn. Like any good mystery, the questions in The Border revolve more around the whydunnit than the whodunnit, with plenty of bracing action and biting political/cultural satire to satisfy readers both young and old. A breathless and provocative tour de force that hits the mark everywhere brilliant fiction should.

A masterful effort! ...more

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Nov 16, 2017 amber (ambr.reads) 🦋💗 rated it liked it

Shelves: ebooks

This book follows 4 friends Pato, Arbo, Marcos, and Gladys. They are at a family members quincera when shots fire and from then their lives have changed.

The beginning of the book was equally sad for me. These 4 kids watched their family members be killed in front of them and they couldn't help without getting killed themselves. So they decide to go on the run. They meet up with a man that Pato knows and he helps them get supplies together to cross the border and go to the States.

I was really p ...more

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Nov 06, 2017 Morris rated it it was amazing

Shelves: all-time-favorites, reluctant-readers, diverse-books, 2017-reviews, 2017-favorites, recommend

Words cannot describe how important I think “The Border” is for everyone from middle grade up to read. The story really put a face on the plights of those crossing the US border from the south. The author did meticulous research and took great care to tell the story in an easy to understand manner. This would be perfect for classroom and child/parent discussions. It’s also a good choice for reluctant readers and those looking for diversity in their books. Highly recommended.

This unbiased review ...more

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Jun 24, 2018 Yvonne (It's All About Books) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, contemporary, mystery, thriller, beatthebacklist2018, 2017-releases, mexico, crime, favorites, all-time-favorites

Finished reading: June 24th 2018

“We are right on the border. The border. Of story, of legend, of dreams. ut we might as well be on the moon. So famous, yet so desolate.”

(view spoiler) ...more

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Sep 27, 2017 Heidi rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-contemporary

I'll admit that this book hit me pretty hard. I knew when I agreed to read it that it was going to be emotionally-charged, but knowing and feeling aren't the same thing. The opening chapters where the families of the four main characters, Pato (the narrator), Arbo, Marcos, and Gladys, are murdered packs a punch. I appreciated the fact that Pato doesn't behave like a brave hero, he behaves like most people would, he freezes up and soils himself. When Arbo is seen by the gunmen, crying over his fa I'll admit that this book hit me pretty hard. I knew when I agreed to read it that it was going to be emotionally-charged, but knowing and feeling aren't the same thing. The opening chapters where the families of the four main characters, Pato (the narrator), Arbo, Marcos, and Gladys, are murdered packs a punch. I appreciated the fact that Pato doesn't behave like a brave hero, he behaves like most people would, he freezes up and soils himself. When Arbo is seen by the gunmen, crying over his father's body, Marcos steps in and shoots Arbo's assailant. The problem is that that assailant's brother sees them do it and swears to get revenge. And while the teens manage to escape, they have very little going for them. They have no supplies and no family they dare approach for help.

Seeking shelter at the house of an elderly acquaintance of Pato and Arbo, they have to decide what they are going to do, especially when they learn there is a price on their heads, a big one. Their options are few and they decide crossing the border into the United States is their only hope of survival. But things continue to go wrong and soon the four teenagers are left wondering if it's even worth the effort.

Goodness it was hard reading about the loss these kids suffer and knowing that it isn't uncommon south of the border. Even harder is reading about their struggle to survive in the desert, a beautiful, but brutal place that they are utterly unprepared to face. When further tragedy strikes, I literally had tears running down my face. And yet I had to admire their persistence in the face of almost impossible odds.

Frankly, a book like this is needed. With all the contention over immigration law and building walls, it's easy to forget that their are real people involved, many who are truly desperate to make a better life for themselves. This book really made me think about those who are caught in the middle coming her illegally. I believe I now have more empathy for them.

One note on content: there is some profanity, mild sexual activity and references, and quite a bit of violence, some of it down right heart-breaking. Please keep these things in mind when sharing this book. Not all teens will be able to read this. ...more

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Jan 31, 2018 Lilla rated it really liked it

"Empathy begins with the recognition that everyone has a story" -Steve Schafer at the end of his author's note for this novel.

This book will wreck you.

In college I remember reading Coyotes by Ted Conover for an anthropology course. The accounts in that book are real stories, but what Schafer does in his fictional account of immigration is no less powerful. The journey of these four young teens is a way our students can become part of this dialogue with which our country wrestles. Schafer's wri ...more

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Feb 03, 2018 Sharon Mariampillai rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-i-have, e-books, netgalley-finished, suspense, ya, 2018-reads, tbr-finished, contemporary, 4-stars, must-read

I received a copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great read. The story broke my heart. A day for celebrating turned into a day of terror. Pato, Arbo, Gladys and Marcos lost their family by the Narcos. I felt really bad for the four main characters as they fight for their own survival. I am glad that I finally got to read this book. It was in my ARC pile for a long time. I thought the story is needed to be heard by everyone. It was really a thought-provoking one. The ...more

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Jul 17, 2017 Gerardo Delgadillo rated it it was amazing

I received an ARC ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

4 1/2 out of 5 stars.

THE BORDER is an action-packed, fast-paced adventure where our heroes go across, well, the border. It's a fast read, too! It flows, and it's very entertaining. Although some of the events seem far-fetched, the sad truth is it happens. And it isn't pretty. I grew in Mexico and, believe me, the story feels authentic--kuddos to Steve Schafer for that.

In summary, THE BORDER is a fast-read thriller that feels ...more

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Aug 31, 2017 Susan Hampson rated it it was amazing

Shelves: author-reads

There was much to celebrate as the different families came together for the birthday party of a fifteen year old girl. While the party was in full swing four of the young adults, Pato, Arbo, Marcos and Gladys sneak off for a smoke away from the eyes of their parents. When they hear sort of cracking noises they recognise it for gun fire and soon discover that all of their families have murdered execution style and the men responsible for the killings are still there. Marcos manages to get a gun f There was much to celebrate as the different families came together for the birthday party of a fifteen year old girl. While the party was in full swing four of the young adults, Pato, Arbo, Marcos and Gladys sneak off for a smoke away from the eyes of their parents. When they hear sort of cracking noises they recognise it for gun fire and soon discover that all of their families have murdered execution style and the men responsible for the killings are still there. Marcos manages to get a gun from the house and a mini shoot out takes places between them and the bad guys. Finally the four manage to escape but not without this gang knowing who they are. They use the media to help to track them down as ‘missing children’. It really is game on as nothing seems like it will stop the narcos from hunting them down and finishing the job they began, to wipe all the families out!
There is only one solution for these traumatized kids and that is to make the perilous journey across the desert border between Mexico into the USA. A journey that takes a huge amount of lives each year from the elements, bandits and gangs roaming on the USA side also ready to take them down. This is a really touching story where a couple of the kids have to face a reality of their families lives that they never knew about.
This story puts four very traumatized kids into the situation of having no choice but to cross the border into the USA to literally try to save their lives as going back is certain death. The story though tells of the dangers that face hundreds of Mexicans each year while trying to enter America illegally.
Steve Schafer gives a very realistic account of the perilous journey made between Mexico and America through these four young and very naive teenagers. From the time their families were wiped out they have quickly transformed from children to adults. They are the ones that have to make all the decisions now. They have all had to face losing their families and it has formed a reluctant bond between them if they are going to survive they need each other.
This is a very fast paced story that gets straight into the action, the chase and then at a slower pace, but one of the most intense times, the journey crossing of the border. A story mixed with fact and fiction brilliantly told that will suit mid teens as a real gripping read and older readers as a fascinating story.
I wish to thank the publisher for an ARC of this book which I have reviewed fairly and honestly. ...more

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May 10, 2017 T.J. Burns rated it really liked it

Shelves: cultural-interest, young-adult-teen, ng, mystery-thrillers-suspense, preferred-publisher, sourcebooks-fire, netgalley-edelweiss-reviewed, 2017-08-august

Pato, Arbo, Gladys, and Marco are such genuine, well-developed characters, I feel I know them -- really know them. I had a stake in their fate – I needed to see them through their trials, to safely overcome incredible obstacles, and to reach their destination unknown. I was so emotionally involved in these four teenagers’ lives that I kept thinking about them long after I finished reading.

The fact that the fate and the journey of these four young people is not just fiction to so many, not just ...more

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Jul 11, 2017 Jana rated it really liked it

Shelves: review-books

I received a free copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This story was so raw, but I think that's what made it as good as it is. I really enjoyed the book and I think it's an important story to tell. It talks about gang wars and while I can't speak for the representation, it felt well researched and was definitely both interesting and heartbreaking at the same time. ...more

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Sep 03, 2017 Rosemary Standeven rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This book starts slowly enough. Kids at a boring family and friends occasion in Mexico, celebrating a girl’s fifteenth birthday. Four of the teenagers – Pato, Arbo, Gladys and Marcos – escape for a quiet cigarette away from the adults and other kids. A few puffs (and coughs), then the book explodes with a bang – and another bang – and screaming. In a few short violent minutes, everything that was dear to the four has been obliterated by a hail of narco bullets.
Violence engendered by the drug lo This book starts slowly enough. Kids at a boring family and friends occasion in Mexico, celebrating a girl’s fifteenth birthday. Four of the teenagers – Pato, Arbo, Gladys and Marcos – escape for a quiet cigarette away from the adults and other kids. A few puffs (and coughs), then the book explodes with a bang – and another bang – and screaming. In a few short violent minutes, everything that was dear to the four has been obliterated by a hail of narco bullets.
Violence engendered by the drug lord narcos is an everyday occurrence in northern Mexico, but it doesn’t usually affect the families of upstanding hard-working people – such as Pato and Arbo’s fathers. So, they are at a loss to understand why they have been targeted. And why today at a young girl’s birthday party? One thing all four are immediately aware of, is that the narcos will not stop until all people who were at the party have been executed. Soon they are running for their lives – no real plan, except to get out of Mexico, where the narco influence is too strong, and hopefully into USA, where the narcos have less power.
The border of the title, is the US/Mexican border, which they need to cross if they will ever be safe. It is also the name of the narco gang that is hunting them.
The story is narrated by Pato, who is sixteen, remarkably level-headed and mature. Arbo is his best friend and cousin, who fears the loss of his good memories of his father, more than he fears his own death. Marcos, at seventeen, is the oldest, and most volatile of the four. Up to now, Marcos has been an alpha male, popular and good at sports. He does not adapt well to his new role, and is always looking for ways to reassert his status. His machismo, and overprotectiveness of his sister, Gladys, cause the group additional problems. Gladys is fifteen, an artist and a dreamer.
Because Pato has narrated the story, you are pretty sure that he will survive. But who else will live is not certain. You quickly become invested in the fate of each of the four, and will them to live. The narcos are seldom far behind, but more treacherous still is the Sonoran desert, that the teenagers have been forced to cross with little preparation. The aridity and heat of the desert almost come palpable as you read the book. You thirst and burn along with the teenagers Along the way, the teenagers are helped by a few good Samaritans who place their own lives in danger by their altruistic aid. Could we do the same – or would the fear be too great?
These teenagers have been driven from their homes and lives by situations well beyond their control. They do not want to become illegal immigrants, but have no choice. Reading this book, you cannot fail to sympathise with the four. It makes you then consider all the other thousands, millions of immigrants around the world. Who should be given a safe haven? Did they have a choice? Is the journey worth the privations that they suffer? Are the people traffickers always evil, or a necessity for the travellers? Will the states of the first world really suffer so much if we let immigrants in?
This is a very well written book, that tells a vivid and tense, fast-paced tale, with strong characterisation, and excellent prose. You can read it as a suspense-filled adventure story – but the moral questions it raises make it an even greater read. I highly recommend it.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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Aug 31, 2017 miss.mesmerized mesmerized rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

It was meant to be the great celebration as it is a tradition in Mexico: Carmen’s 15th birthday, the so called quinceañera to which many friends of the family were invited. But then suddenly shouting and gunshots. Just a couple of minutes later, almost all guests are dead, shot in the head. Only the teenagers Pato and Arbo, best friends since they were born, and the siblings Marcos and Gladys have survived because they had gone outside and could hide in the backyard. Then they are seen and they It was meant to be the great celebration as it is a tradition in Mexico: Carmen’s 15th birthday, the so called quinceañera to which many friends of the family were invited. But then suddenly shouting and gunshots. Just a couple of minutes later, almost all guests are dead, shot in the head. Only the teenagers Pato and Arbo, best friends since they were born, and the siblings Marcos and Gladys have survived because they had gone outside and could hide in the backyard. Then they are seen and they have to run. In Mexico under to law of rivalling gangs no one can escape their verdict. They must go north, to the USA, take the hard route through the desert without money, without knowing how. An old friend of Pato’s father helps them at first, and hides them for a couple of days, but the gangs are after them and soon the four lost souls find themselves out in the blazing sun without water or orientation.

Steve Schafer’s novel narrates a story we mainly know from the news: Mexico, a country in which the governmental institutions are powerless against the well-organised gangs who rule not only the drug market but also the human trafficking business. It is with them you have to come to terms with and either you accept their rules or you find yourself shot dead. The story thus seems to be quite authentic and especially the people’s fear which is omnipresent throughout the plot gives a good impression of what life is like there.

In the centre, we have two main aspects. The first is the illegal transgression of the northern border. It is not only the danger of being caught by the border patrol – neither on the Mexican nor on the US side this is something you can with for. It is also the dangerous and often fatal route through the desert. During daytime, the sun is burning hot and since you cannot carry as much water as you’d normally need, it is a tricky calculation if your supplies will suffice for your route. On the other hand, without a local guide, you are soon lost and erring around the sandy landscape. The four teenagers, too, make these experiences which more than once bring them close to death. Also the other refugees who pop out now and again tell the same story. Additionally, this is a market and again, you cannot just you what you want to without following the rules of the gangs.

The second and even more interesting aspect is the relationship between the four of them. For one thing, they are too young to know why their parents were shot. This question is looming over them, especially when Pato and Arbo come to realise that Marcos, who is a bit older, seems to know something. And when the two boys have to accept that their fathers’ business might not have been what they always thought it was and that they, too, might have made deals with the gangs, they have to adapt everything they ever believed in to this. Further, being threatened by death brings them closer together at times and more apart at others. They are on the edge with their nerves and often close to just giving up.

The author especially succeeds in the psychological portrayal of the characters under those extreme conditions. They are lively and never act like adults might in their place. They have a survival instinct but nevertheless stick to their teenage convictions shaped by the idea of friendship and mutual support. All in all, a young adult novel with the typical topics of the genre presented under the most awful conditions and written at a high pace which makes you read on.
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Jun 05, 2017 Lissette rated it liked it

I was provided with an advanced copy of this book by Sourcebooks Fire and Steve Schafer in exchange for an honest review.
The Border is a book that deals with the topic of illegal immigration given the circumstances of a tragedy that happens to 4 Mexican teenagers during a birthday party. Pato, Arbo, Marcos, and Gladys have to cross the border after losing their families forcing them to deal with violence, death, pain, and trauma as they make their make across the border. Each of the main charact I was provided with an advanced copy of this book by Sourcebooks Fire and Steve Schafer in exchange for an honest review.
The Border is a book that deals with the topic of illegal immigration given the circumstances of a tragedy that happens to 4 Mexican teenagers during a birthday party. Pato, Arbo, Marcos, and Gladys have to cross the border after losing their families forcing them to deal with violence, death, pain, and trauma as they make their make across the border. Each of the main characters have their own strengths which they use in certain points in the book. While, it was hard to picture them since they aren't described vividly enough for me to place them. It is told in first person from Pato's perspective, he was a well rounded character who had to deal with a lot in a short amount of time. His determination and strength is what drives the story. His cousin, Arbo is the comic relief of the group while Marcos and Gladys are siblings. Marcos was a complex character, a lot of times I couldn't tell what he was thinking and Gladys was a character that was strong and independent. Although, I wish that she had been developed more instead of just being the sister and Pato's love interest. She was seen as the caretaker of the group and used to make the guys feel better.
With that being said, She shouldn't have been resorted to being the saving grace of the guys when she's able to hold her own. It just sends a bad message to kill off the only girl in the group because that just means that she was just used as a plot-device to motivate the guys.
Also, there was a scene in the book where the characters do a blood ritual as a way of bonding them together, it was suppose to be a bonding moment but it just rubbed me the wrong way because they put the blood on their faces with two lines across their cheeks. It seemed cultural appropriation of the Native American culture.
While I did not mind Pato as the main character of the book, I think the book would have worked better if Arbo or Gladys would have told the story from their perspective considering it was Arbo's sister party that was attacked. In addition, while the book is about 4 Mexican teenagers it is not an own-voices book while sadly was obvious by the way certain things in the mexican culture were described and the dialogue. For instance, the characters speak Spanish to each other and this is proven when Arbo and Pato are talking about that they don't know English meaning that they have been speaking Spanish throughout the entire book. Overall, I give the book a 3.5 star.While I enjoyed the story and the journey the characters had to go through, I don't agree with how certain things were handled. If you want to read Latinx#OwnVoices books then I suggest
Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Gabi : A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero
Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan
More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera
Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova
Juliet Takes A Breath by Gabby Rivera ...more

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May 31, 2017 Alyson Stone rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, teen-fic

Book: The Border
Author: Steve Schafer
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank Sourcebooks Fire and Steve Schafer for providing me with this egalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not going to lie, whenever I first starting reading The Border, I didn’t think that I was going to like it. I am not a super big fan of immigration books and I have never read one about illegal immigrations. Plus, at first, I wasn’t drawn to the characters nor did I really care about the plot. I kept on goi Book: The Border
Author: Steve Schafer
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank Sourcebooks Fire and Steve Schafer for providing me with this egalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not going to lie, whenever I first starting reading The Border, I didn’t think that I was going to like it. I am not a super big fan of immigration books and I have never read one about illegal immigrations. Plus, at first, I wasn’t drawn to the characters nor did I really care about the plot. I kept on going and I’m glad I did.

I found myself drawn into the characters’ lives and their struggles to get the United States. We hear so much in the media about illegal immigration and many of us don’t understand it. Steve creates a very passionate and thought provoking story. You hear all the time about all the bad people crossing the border, but you never really hear about those who are jus seeking a better life. I think that Steve paints a wonderful picture of this. It’s one thing to read about border crossing in the media and ask why someone would risk death to reach the US. Steve actually gives us a reason and a story behind it.

The book does start out pretty quickly. Right away, we are thrown in the action. What I didn’t like about the beginning was there was no world building. I guess if you are into jumping right into the action, then great. I felt like this early action start made it really difficult to connect with the characters. It was like we really didn’t know them, which made it difficult to connect with them.

I did like the characters and how they were all connected. I thought that knowing each other before crossing the border was a nice touch. It made the story all that much more believable. I found all the characters to be very realistic and complex.

The writing style was pretty simple and easy to read. I found myself to be flying through the book and read it in a few short settings. There are some Spanish word thrown throughout the book; I do speak a little bit of Spanish-not fluently- and was able to understand what was being said. I don’t see the language being too much of a problem.
Again, a pretty fast paced read! I think most people would probably enjoy this book, which comes out on September 5, 2017.
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Sep 04, 2017 Sandy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley, action-adventure, thriller, ya

4.5 stars
If only Pato would have said something about the mystery car that was parked outside on the street, perhaps things might have been different. But Pato dismissed the car once he was inside the party, overwhelmed with the sights and sounds of relatives and family, the birthday party was just beginning. As the boys smoked their cigarettes back behind the house, the real excitement was occurring at the party, excitement that will have lasting effects. It was the gunfire that brought the boy ...more

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Jul 23, 2017 Jennifer Strand rated it it was amazing

Shelves: owned, e-arc, young-adult, reviewed, 2017-read

This was intense and beautiful in the most ugly way. It is unfortunate that those who most need to read this book won't even consider picking it up.

This story humanizes the political hot topic simply referred to as "border control". Those two words are so impersonal and are used to scare Americans into thinking that so many parts of our lives are negatively impacted by those who cross our border illegally. I admit my bias. I have empathy for these people and wish we would welcome them with open ...more

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Jul 18, 2017 Carrie rated it really liked it

Shelves: book-review, ya-new-adult, contemporary, netgalley

I received this as a free e-galley from Netgalley.

First thoughts as I finished: Wow. This was a situation unlike any I had read about or heard about in intimate detail. And as many other reviewers have commented, it's timely considering all the talk in the news about immigration, illegals and the need for a wall between the US and Mexico.

I'm personally Canadian so my exposure/experience to immigration is generally limited to legit immigration and refugees. The experiences these four teenagers de ...more

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Sep 24, 2017 Veronica rated it it was amazing

I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

From the moment they hear gun shots, the lives of Pato his cousin Abro, popular fellow student Marcos and Marcos' sister Gladys, are changed forever. From the minute they discover the blood bath where their parents and families have been killed, which ultimately leads to them crossing the desert from Mexico to the US, unprepared and with no clear idea of where they are headed.

The author does not hold back in showing us the h ...more

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Nov 14, 2017 Kelly added it

Shelves: ya-fiction, read-in-2017

I guess having read The Devil's Highway and a few takes on border crossing, this just didn't do anything new or interesting -- especially with the poorly-written, hard-to-buy romance. I appreciated how hard-faced Pato and Arbo are, especially after losing their entire families, but so much other stuff about emotions and feelings rang false to me. In part because it was either 100% there or 100% not there. I found some of the choices to be bizarre as well. Presumably, the characters all speak Spa ...more

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Sep 03, 2017 Kate rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This was an amazing story about four teens who lost their families to a gang shooting and find their own lives are in danger. They have to leave their country and cross the border into the U.S. But is any place safe for them? I think a lot of readers will enjoy the fast pace of this book. The characters are understandable and complex. It also will bring up discussion about immigration and maybe make the readers think twice and feel some empathy. My thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read ...more

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Feb 04, 2018 Karen Hatch rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: thriller, young-adult, contemporary, shs-summer-reading-2018, hoopla-ebook

What an awesome book! I have always realized that I am extremely lucky to have been born on American soil. I know that people who risk their lives to come to our country do so because they are trying to escape a terrible life somewhere else. I just wish more people had compassion and realized that we are all human and deserve a chance at a better life. There is room enough here for all who want to come!

I am a high school librarian and this will be one of the 4-5 books our students will have to c ...more

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About Steve Schafer

Steve Schafer

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Steve Schafer has a Masters in International Studies from the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Wharton. He grew up in Houston and has since had the privilege to live, work, volunteer, and travel internationally. The bulk of this experience has been in Latin America. His debut novel, The Border, was acquired by Sourcebooks Fire and released in September 2017. Steve ...more

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