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Frontera: A Graphic Novel
Mateo makes the dangerous journey back home to the United States through the Sonoran Desert with the help of a new friend, a ghost named Guillermo in a supernatural borderland odyssey by debut graphic novelists Julio Anta and Jacoby Salcedo. As long as he remembers to stay smart and keep his eyes open, Mateo knows that he can survive the trek across the Sonoran Desert that will take him from Mexico to the United States. That is until he’s caught by the Border Patrol only moments after sneaking across the fence in the dead of night. Escaping their clutches comes at a price and, lost in the desert without a guide or water, Mateo is ill-prepared for the unforgiving heat that is sure to arrive come sunrise. With the odds stacked against him, his one chance at survival may be putting his trust in something, or rather someone, that he isn’t even sure exists. If you’d asked him if ghosts were real before he found himself face-to-face with one, Mateo wouldn’t have even considered it. But now, confronted with the nearly undeniable presence of Guillermo, he’s having second thoughts. Having spent his afterlife guiding migrants to safety, Guillermo knows things about the Sonoran Desert far beyond what could be explained by a mere hallucination. But even as Mateo forms an uneasy partnership with Guillermo, survival is still uncertain. The Sonoran Desert, with its hostile temperatures and inhabitants, is teeming with danger as the Border Patrol and rogue militias prowl its deadly terrain. As his journey stretches on, Mateo will have to decide exactly what and who he’s willing to sacrifice to find home.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published July 18, 2023
38 people are currently reading
4006 people want to read
About the author
Julio Anta
15 books75 followersJulio Anta is the writer of many graphic novels including the Eisner Award-nominated Frontera, This Land Is Our Land: A Blue Beetle Story, Home and Sí, Se Puede: The Latino Heroes Who Changed the United States.
Julio was born and raised in Miami, Florida and currently resides in New York City.
Forthcoming work includes a slate of graphic novels for HarperAlley, Random House Graphic and First Second.
Julio was born and raised in Miami, Florida and currently resides in New York City.
Forthcoming work includes a slate of graphic novels for HarperAlley, Random House Graphic and First Second.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
February 15, 2024
I think I have to review this book from two perspectives - that of a youth, for whom the book is primarily intended, and for me, as a terribly old person.
This isn't 'just' the story of a boy trying to enter the US from Mexico, there's a supernatural element; the main character meets the ghost of a traveler who died during a similar attempt. The ghost is used to tell his own story, and also be a kind of 'sprechhund' for the main character, sometimes even a bit too much, where the page would feel overly heavy with dialogue and/or monologue.
And I found myself, as a horrifically old person, slightly disappointed with the ghost. I thought the actual story of a young person having to go through the hellish process of crossing the border would be harrowing and interesting enough of itself.
The ghost is used a bit clunkily, both in his own story and as a kind of deus ex machina for the main character's story.
That said, I think this probably works a lot better for a young audience.
(Thanks to HarperAlley for providing me with a review copy through Edelweiss)
This isn't 'just' the story of a boy trying to enter the US from Mexico, there's a supernatural element; the main character meets the ghost of a traveler who died during a similar attempt. The ghost is used to tell his own story, and also be a kind of 'sprechhund' for the main character, sometimes even a bit too much, where the page would feel overly heavy with dialogue and/or monologue.
And I found myself, as a horrifically old person, slightly disappointed with the ghost. I thought the actual story of a young person having to go through the hellish process of crossing the border would be harrowing and interesting enough of itself.
The ghost is used a bit clunkily, both in his own story and as a kind of deus ex machina for the main character's story.
That said, I think this probably works a lot better for a young audience.
(Thanks to HarperAlley for providing me with a review copy through Edelweiss)
May 5, 2024
An important story that deserves the spotlight and a place on every bookshelf. This was a one-sitting read that gripped me from start to end, and even left me feeling emotional. I don't usually like magical realism/supernatural elements in contemporary fiction but it was really well-done in this instance.
RTC
RTC
January 30, 2024
Really good story, well-paced and emotionally resonant.
No human is illegal.
No human is illegal.
July 29, 2023
Mateo is desperate to return to his life in Arizona after he and his family are deported back to Mexico, but that desperation makes him reckless. Lost in the desert, he must rely on someone he’s not even sure exists if he’s going to make it to safety.
This is a graphic novel about Mateo, a teenage boy who is trying to cross the border into the States. Despite having lived in Arizona since he was a toddler, he and his family were deported to Mexico recently, and he is desperate to make back in time for the start of his senior year of high school. Though I have read plenty about what’s happening at the US-Mexico border in the news, I picked up this book as I hadn’t really learned about it interpreted through fiction before.
I really loved the art in this book – the artist does an excellent job of showing the beauty and the danger of the desert which Mateo and Guillermo cross. I enjoyed how he drew the characters, as it really helps enhance the humor and emotion of different moments. I also was interested in learning about the many ways characters in America helped or hindered those making the difficult crossing, and what made them make those choices.
However, I did feel the narrative was a little disjointed in places, as different incidents (the border patrol, the leopard) which worked on their own didn’t feel like they lined up thematically within such a quick read. I also found myself often annoyed with Mateo. It’s made clear to us why he’s being so impatient, but the excuse still feels like a flimsy one to hold up against the foolish decisions he makes to disobey both his original guide and Guillermo at different points in the story.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
This is a graphic novel about Mateo, a teenage boy who is trying to cross the border into the States. Despite having lived in Arizona since he was a toddler, he and his family were deported to Mexico recently, and he is desperate to make back in time for the start of his senior year of high school. Though I have read plenty about what’s happening at the US-Mexico border in the news, I picked up this book as I hadn’t really learned about it interpreted through fiction before.
I really loved the art in this book – the artist does an excellent job of showing the beauty and the danger of the desert which Mateo and Guillermo cross. I enjoyed how he drew the characters, as it really helps enhance the humor and emotion of different moments. I also was interested in learning about the many ways characters in America helped or hindered those making the difficult crossing, and what made them make those choices.
However, I did feel the narrative was a little disjointed in places, as different incidents (the border patrol, the leopard) which worked on their own didn’t feel like they lined up thematically within such a quick read. I also found myself often annoyed with Mateo. It’s made clear to us why he’s being so impatient, but the excuse still feels like a flimsy one to hold up against the foolish decisions he makes to disobey both his original guide and Guillermo at different points in the story.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
July 14, 2023
The story of an American Mexican teen making the dangerous crossing back home to America after his family are deported with the help of locals and a friendly ghost, this story was harrowing, but could be a little simplistic at times.
Mateo was a frustrating character, he was given the most basic instructions to help him not get caught, not get re-deported, or shot, and due to his own hotheadedness and immaturity, decided to just run out across the desert anyway, abandoning the help he was offered.
He had to be helped by everyone around him, including the ghost, and while I felt for him and his frustration and sadness, I just wanted him to follow the bloody instructions so he could actually achieve his goal.
I loved Guillermo though, and his own story of losing his life crossing back to be with the man he loved, I would have loved to see their story fully completed. The ending was really good, I definitely breathed a sigh of relief during the final pages.
Mateo was a frustrating character, he was given the most basic instructions to help him not get caught, not get re-deported, or shot, and due to his own hotheadedness and immaturity, decided to just run out across the desert anyway, abandoning the help he was offered.
He had to be helped by everyone around him, including the ghost, and while I felt for him and his frustration and sadness, I just wanted him to follow the bloody instructions so he could actually achieve his goal.
I loved Guillermo though, and his own story of losing his life crossing back to be with the man he loved, I would have loved to see their story fully completed. The ending was really good, I definitely breathed a sigh of relief during the final pages.
March 10, 2023
Meteo is what is known as a Dreamer, someone who was brought to America from Mexico, when he was 3, and never knew he was undocumented. He only learns this shortly before he is deported to a country he doesn’t remember. He is just about to start his senior year, and can’t and won’t stay in Mexico.
So, he prepares to cross the border to get “home” to Phoenix, where his grandmother lives. Only problem, he is headstrong, and doesn’t wait for his coyote to get him across, and decides to do so on his own. That is when he meets the 70-year-old ghost, Guillermo, who died trying to get back into the US, and has since helped others not to make the same mistakes he made.
But the desert is not empty. There are military crazies out there as well as the regular border patrol, and one lone jaguar. He needs the help of the ghost, as though the ghost doesn’t know it, he needs Mateo’s help as well.
Bittersweet story of the horror that migrants face trying to get into the US. Beautifully illustrated, especially some of the panoramic desert scenes. I had a feeling there was more to the ghost’s story than was being let on. And I like how Mateo grew from this experience.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. It comes out from Harper Collins July 18, 2023.
So, he prepares to cross the border to get “home” to Phoenix, where his grandmother lives. Only problem, he is headstrong, and doesn’t wait for his coyote to get him across, and decides to do so on his own. That is when he meets the 70-year-old ghost, Guillermo, who died trying to get back into the US, and has since helped others not to make the same mistakes he made.
But the desert is not empty. There are military crazies out there as well as the regular border patrol, and one lone jaguar. He needs the help of the ghost, as though the ghost doesn’t know it, he needs Mateo’s help as well.
Bittersweet story of the horror that migrants face trying to get into the US. Beautifully illustrated, especially some of the panoramic desert scenes. I had a feeling there was more to the ghost’s story than was being let on. And I like how Mateo grew from this experience.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. It comes out from Harper Collins July 18, 2023.
December 17, 2023
I picked this graphic novel up at the recommendation of a staff member at a local indie bookstore. I rarely read graphic novels, but I'm very happy I picked this one up! A story of Mateo and his journey to the US through the deserts of Mexico. I loved the characters in this novel, and I appreciated how incredibly beautiful the artwork is in this novel. A heart-wrenching story and a must-read.
July 6, 2025
Definitely geared towards a younger audience and very educational in its storytelling, but overall I enjoyed this a lot. it was very sweet and emotional.
June 6, 2023
3.5
I really like the ideas and the intention behind this graphic novel. We follow Mateo, who sets out to cross the desert border between Mexico and the USA. For several reasons, he finds himself alone and venerable, at which point a friendly ghost called Guillermo pops up, offering help and companionship.
I enjoyed the book, it was a very quick read, with a lot of important information about immigration. I did think it wasn't as impactful as it could have been though. Just small things, like I don't think we got enough time with Mateo's family to feel that connection, and some of the conversations between him and Guillermo felt more like going through the motions of a PSA, rather than a genuine, emotional talk.
Sometimes it is hard to get invested in the characters in comics and graphic novels, because by design they're so much shorter than novels, I think this one unfortunately fell into that category. That being said, I do still think it's worth a read
Review copy.
I really like the ideas and the intention behind this graphic novel. We follow Mateo, who sets out to cross the desert border between Mexico and the USA. For several reasons, he finds himself alone and venerable, at which point a friendly ghost called Guillermo pops up, offering help and companionship.
I enjoyed the book, it was a very quick read, with a lot of important information about immigration. I did think it wasn't as impactful as it could have been though. Just small things, like I don't think we got enough time with Mateo's family to feel that connection, and some of the conversations between him and Guillermo felt more like going through the motions of a PSA, rather than a genuine, emotional talk.
Sometimes it is hard to get invested in the characters in comics and graphic novels, because by design they're so much shorter than novels, I think this one unfortunately fell into that category. That being said, I do still think it's worth a read
Review copy.
Want to read
September 5, 2020From PW: "In a supernatural borderland story that combines social commentary with a touch of magical realism, the debut YA graphic novel follows Mateo as he makes the dangerous journey back home to Arizona through the Sonoran Desert with the help of a new friend, a ghost named Guillermo."
August 6, 2023
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central
Mateo lives with his parents in Guadalajara, Mexico, but his family has decided that he will travel over the border to live with his grandmother in Phoenix in order to attend high school there. His parents caution him to be careful, provide him with a well stocked back pack and instructions, and arrange for him to travel with a man named Juan Xavier over the dessert. Juan is overly cautious about when they can leave, since he feels the border patrol has been too active, but Mateo is anxious to get to the US, so heads out without the group. Sure enough, the border patrol chases him, and he loses his backpack that had a map in it. When a ghost, named Guillermo, appears to him, he thinks he is hallucinating. He's in a bad way, but the ghost wants to help. Seventy years ago, Guillermo also tried to get across the border, but died. Ever since, he's stayed in the desert, trying to help other immigrants get to safety. Mateo doesn't trust his help, either, and when he arrives at a water aid station only to find it vandalized, he passes out. Luckily, he is found by Darcie, a nurse who lives on the Tohono O'odham land and helps people in trouble in the desert. Mateo recuperates and sets out again with a backpack Darcie provides. This time, he listens to Guillermo. Guillermo had been a bracero, who came to the US with his father to pick crops when men were off serving in WWII and farmers needed help. He met and fell in love with Felipe, but was deported back to Mexico when the war was over. He died trying to get back to Felipe. There are plenty of challenges in the desert, including a jaguar who seems to have a strange connection to Mateo and doesn't kill him. We learn more about Mateo's circumstances as well. Mateo tries to give Guillermo the last rites at the site of his death, thinking this might help his spirit move on, but it doesn't. This is a good thing, because Mateo is found by the border guards, who are also menacing a family. Will Mateo be able to help them, put Guillermo's spirit to rest, and get to Phoenix in time for school?
This was an interesting look at the problems that immigrants from Mexico have long had in getting to the US. I did not know about braceros, so Guillermo's story was fascinating. I love the contrast between Guillermo, with his collared shirt tucked into belted pants, and his hat, and Mateo with his hoodie! There is a lot of good information about the kind of horrible treatment that the border control and self styled vigilantes mete out to immigrants who are trying to get to the US to improve their lives.
The artwork is engaging, and the panels are very atmospheric, making the desert seem very vivid. Guillermo's portrayal as a vague outline is well done, and I enjoyed Mateo's initial confusion. Not to spoil too much, but there is a happy ending for the helpful ghost!
There is a lot of danger and death; this is listed as a Young Adult title. I think it would be fine for older middle school students who have some background knowledge about the problems with immigrating from Mexico, but elementary students would need some support when reading this.
This is aptly blurbed by David Bowles, who wrote They Call Me Güero and They Call Her Fregona, and offers another look at immigration similar to Cisneros' Efrén Divided, Salazar's Land of the Cranes, Giff's Until I Find Julian and Diaz's Santiago's Road Home. For more information about the jaguar mentioned in the book, pick up Collard's 2023 Border Crossings.
Mateo lives with his parents in Guadalajara, Mexico, but his family has decided that he will travel over the border to live with his grandmother in Phoenix in order to attend high school there. His parents caution him to be careful, provide him with a well stocked back pack and instructions, and arrange for him to travel with a man named Juan Xavier over the dessert. Juan is overly cautious about when they can leave, since he feels the border patrol has been too active, but Mateo is anxious to get to the US, so heads out without the group. Sure enough, the border patrol chases him, and he loses his backpack that had a map in it. When a ghost, named Guillermo, appears to him, he thinks he is hallucinating. He's in a bad way, but the ghost wants to help. Seventy years ago, Guillermo also tried to get across the border, but died. Ever since, he's stayed in the desert, trying to help other immigrants get to safety. Mateo doesn't trust his help, either, and when he arrives at a water aid station only to find it vandalized, he passes out. Luckily, he is found by Darcie, a nurse who lives on the Tohono O'odham land and helps people in trouble in the desert. Mateo recuperates and sets out again with a backpack Darcie provides. This time, he listens to Guillermo. Guillermo had been a bracero, who came to the US with his father to pick crops when men were off serving in WWII and farmers needed help. He met and fell in love with Felipe, but was deported back to Mexico when the war was over. He died trying to get back to Felipe. There are plenty of challenges in the desert, including a jaguar who seems to have a strange connection to Mateo and doesn't kill him. We learn more about Mateo's circumstances as well. Mateo tries to give Guillermo the last rites at the site of his death, thinking this might help his spirit move on, but it doesn't. This is a good thing, because Mateo is found by the border guards, who are also menacing a family. Will Mateo be able to help them, put Guillermo's spirit to rest, and get to Phoenix in time for school?
This was an interesting look at the problems that immigrants from Mexico have long had in getting to the US. I did not know about braceros, so Guillermo's story was fascinating. I love the contrast between Guillermo, with his collared shirt tucked into belted pants, and his hat, and Mateo with his hoodie! There is a lot of good information about the kind of horrible treatment that the border control and self styled vigilantes mete out to immigrants who are trying to get to the US to improve their lives.
The artwork is engaging, and the panels are very atmospheric, making the desert seem very vivid. Guillermo's portrayal as a vague outline is well done, and I enjoyed Mateo's initial confusion. Not to spoil too much, but there is a happy ending for the helpful ghost!
There is a lot of danger and death; this is listed as a Young Adult title. I think it would be fine for older middle school students who have some background knowledge about the problems with immigrating from Mexico, but elementary students would need some support when reading this.
This is aptly blurbed by David Bowles, who wrote They Call Me Güero and They Call Her Fregona, and offers another look at immigration similar to Cisneros' Efrén Divided, Salazar's Land of the Cranes, Giff's Until I Find Julian and Diaz's Santiago's Road Home. For more information about the jaguar mentioned in the book, pick up Collard's 2023 Border Crossings.
August 14, 2023
FRONTERA 4.5 ⭐️s
Thank you, Re-imagen Migration for providing a copy of this beautiful graphic novel. I’m looking forward to collaborating as the study guide comes together.
I enjoyed & LOVED reading FRONTERA
I have a high respect for authors who tell about the immigrant experience with authenticity & respect— Frontera is so authentic!!!!!!
Mateo, main character who finds himself in a possession he didn’t ask for. At the age of 17, he finds out he and his parents are living in the US undocumented and in process of deportation to their homeland, Mexico.
Mateo may come across as a strong willed kid or perhaps a stubborn teen filled with anger. However, we must understand that he’s dreams to finish HS and go to college are shattered as he confronts an unfair system that doesn’t care about all the goodness the family & Mateo have to contribute to the US.
His parents then make the choice for Mateo to return to the US as an undocumented & unaccompanied minor. He travels hours by bus and decides to cross the Sonora Desert all by himself.
While Mateo is in the desert— being chased by immigration of course, he meets the ghost, GUILLERMO!
I LOVE Guillermo. Such a compassionate & loving character. We learn so much about the US Bracero Program, an initiative that allowed Mexicans to work in the US farms during WWII.
Guillermo’s story broke me 😭
Love the symbolism represented all throughout Mateo’s journey with Guillermo in the desert.
The jaguar
The Nations Reservations
The water aid station
The vultures
The militiamen
The connections
The bonding
The border
I highly recommend you getting this graphic novel for your middle & HS students.
It’s BEAUTIFUL!!!!
Thank you, Re-imagen Migration for providing a copy of this beautiful graphic novel. I’m looking forward to collaborating as the study guide comes together.
I enjoyed & LOVED reading FRONTERA
I have a high respect for authors who tell about the immigrant experience with authenticity & respect— Frontera is so authentic!!!!!!
Mateo, main character who finds himself in a possession he didn’t ask for. At the age of 17, he finds out he and his parents are living in the US undocumented and in process of deportation to their homeland, Mexico.
Mateo may come across as a strong willed kid or perhaps a stubborn teen filled with anger. However, we must understand that he’s dreams to finish HS and go to college are shattered as he confronts an unfair system that doesn’t care about all the goodness the family & Mateo have to contribute to the US.
His parents then make the choice for Mateo to return to the US as an undocumented & unaccompanied minor. He travels hours by bus and decides to cross the Sonora Desert all by himself.
While Mateo is in the desert— being chased by immigration of course, he meets the ghost, GUILLERMO!
I LOVE Guillermo. Such a compassionate & loving character. We learn so much about the US Bracero Program, an initiative that allowed Mexicans to work in the US farms during WWII.
Guillermo’s story broke me 😭
Love the symbolism represented all throughout Mateo’s journey with Guillermo in the desert.
The jaguar
The Nations Reservations
The water aid station
The vultures
The militiamen
The connections
The bonding
The border
I highly recommend you getting this graphic novel for your middle & HS students.
It’s BEAUTIFUL!!!!
September 24, 2024
This was an engaging story with nice art. It brings up a lot of issues and danger that people encounter crossing the border and shows a few different reasons why people might have to. This brings up the legacy of xenophobic violence committed by the US towards Mexican in particular (and how this has impacts outside of that group). The story was interesting and puts a lot into perspective, but I do feel that some of the connections between characters was a bit rushed. Some of this could have been fleshed out if there were more time in the book. All things considered, it's still a pretty great book.
September 12, 2023
Mateo has to make a dangerous journey across the desert to get back home to the United States along the way he makes a new friend who happens to be a ghost and with his help maybe he will survive crossing the border.
This story was so good, and the illustrations are beautifully done. The messages and life lessons in the story are just written so well, and I even teared up a few times for a graphic novel that's an achievement ! Would definitely recommend.
Thank you to Harper360YA and Julio Anta and Jacoby Salcedo for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This story was so good, and the illustrations are beautifully done. The messages and life lessons in the story are just written so well, and I even teared up a few times for a graphic novel that's an achievement ! Would definitely recommend.
Thank you to Harper360YA and Julio Anta and Jacoby Salcedo for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 30, 2025
This was SUCH a nice story. The more you know about the border crisis, the more hidden messages and signs you see within the novel. So much heart and thought went into this piece, and I just happened to find it in a second hand bookstore!
September 9, 2023
In my top 5 for teen graphic this year.
December 23, 2024
This was so so good. I read this on kindle but I need a physical copy now.
September 30, 2023
I found this graphic novel on a list of best graphic novels by Latin authors. I really loved the story which was complex and engaging. The main character was strong and smart but also a realistic teenager struggling through a complex situation. I didn’t really love the whole “ghost” set up but I really liked what they were trying to show with it. I thought that this book very successfully showed why many people cross the border illegally and how dangerous that journey can be.
March 11, 2023
(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARD for review through Netgalley. Content warning for racist violence.)
-- 4.5 stars --
Mateo Renteria is a Dreamer: born in Guadalajara, Mexico, his parents brought him to America when he was three years old in search of a better life. Mateo remained unaware of his undocumented status until the family was discovered by the authorities and deported twelve years later.
As FRONTERA opens, the Renterias are putting their only child on a bus bound for Sásabe, Sonora - and, from there, he's to cross the border with the help of a guide. His final destination: his grandmother's home in Phoenix, Arizona - the only home he's ever known - and his senior year of high school.
Though the crossing is all planned out and paid for, an unexpected delay sends an impatient Mateo storming off on his own - where he's almost immediately caught by border patrol. Luckily, help materializes in the form of a ghost named Guillermo, who died in the Sonoran Desert some seventy years ago, during an ill-fated crossing. Guillermo will help Mateo overcome dehydration, heat stroke, desert wildlife, drones, racist militias, and racist BP agents to make it back home. And maybe, in turn, Mateo can help Guillermo pass into the afterlife - and be reunited with the man he loves.
FRONTERA is such a lovely and magical tale - equal turns harrowing and enchanting. Mateo's back story and journey is both educational and moving, detailing the many obstacles (both natural and, cruelly, man-made) immigrants must endure to make the journey to the United States. And Guillermo's tale tugged especially hard at ye ole heart strings. But the thing that really, truly did me in was El Jefe, and the surprising bond he forges with Mateo and Guillermo. The lonely jaguar's appearance hints at the environmental devastation our inhumane and reactionary immigration policies have wrought; something that's usually mentioned as an afterthought, if at all. (And this isn't at all to suggest that the human casualties are any less tragic or worthy of compassion.)
The artwork is stunning, and manages to encapsulate both the beauty and danger of the southwest.
-- 4.5 stars --
Mateo Renteria is a Dreamer: born in Guadalajara, Mexico, his parents brought him to America when he was three years old in search of a better life. Mateo remained unaware of his undocumented status until the family was discovered by the authorities and deported twelve years later.
As FRONTERA opens, the Renterias are putting their only child on a bus bound for Sásabe, Sonora - and, from there, he's to cross the border with the help of a guide. His final destination: his grandmother's home in Phoenix, Arizona - the only home he's ever known - and his senior year of high school.
Though the crossing is all planned out and paid for, an unexpected delay sends an impatient Mateo storming off on his own - where he's almost immediately caught by border patrol. Luckily, help materializes in the form of a ghost named Guillermo, who died in the Sonoran Desert some seventy years ago, during an ill-fated crossing. Guillermo will help Mateo overcome dehydration, heat stroke, desert wildlife, drones, racist militias, and racist BP agents to make it back home. And maybe, in turn, Mateo can help Guillermo pass into the afterlife - and be reunited with the man he loves.
FRONTERA is such a lovely and magical tale - equal turns harrowing and enchanting. Mateo's back story and journey is both educational and moving, detailing the many obstacles (both natural and, cruelly, man-made) immigrants must endure to make the journey to the United States. And Guillermo's tale tugged especially hard at ye ole heart strings. But the thing that really, truly did me in was El Jefe, and the surprising bond he forges with Mateo and Guillermo. The lonely jaguar's appearance hints at the environmental devastation our inhumane and reactionary immigration policies have wrought; something that's usually mentioned as an afterthought, if at all. (And this isn't at all to suggest that the human casualties are any less tragic or worthy of compassion.)
The artwork is stunning, and manages to encapsulate both the beauty and danger of the southwest.
March 13, 2023
4.5 stars rounded up.
I'm so glad I was approved for this arc! This is a much needed story from the viewpoints of those crossing the Mexico-US border, which is something you don't really see much of in the media unless you're specifically looking for it.
This is a great book for pre-teens and teens to understand the basic gist of what's happening on the border. The art is eye-catching and colorful. Mateo, the MC, is a great audience surrogate who helps the reader understand the current (and a bit of the past) situation on the border.
I really like the use of magical realism mixed in with the harsh reality of border crossings. There's a good amount of both to make this a feel good story without being too over the top and glossing too much over the ugly details.
Mateo's guide, Guillermo the ghost, teaches a bit about the history of the border, with his previous job as a migrant worker working on a US farm during WWII. El Jefe the jaguar is another great example of magical realism blended with reality. Mateo finds a connection and kindred spirit with the jaguar. He learns that El Jefe was separated from his family because of the wall. This can be a good introduction for kids to learn how animal habitats have also been affected by border wall construction.
Overall, I think this is a solid graphic novel for the younger set. And for adults, you might even learn a few things. (I knew nothing about the Bracero Program during WWII. Or how Native American reservations deal with border crossings. Also El Jefe is real??). Anyway, I'd love to read more from Julio Anta.
Thank you to HarperAlley and NetGalley for this arc.
I'm so glad I was approved for this arc! This is a much needed story from the viewpoints of those crossing the Mexico-US border, which is something you don't really see much of in the media unless you're specifically looking for it.
This is a great book for pre-teens and teens to understand the basic gist of what's happening on the border. The art is eye-catching and colorful. Mateo, the MC, is a great audience surrogate who helps the reader understand the current (and a bit of the past) situation on the border.
I really like the use of magical realism mixed in with the harsh reality of border crossings. There's a good amount of both to make this a feel good story without being too over the top and glossing too much over the ugly details.
Mateo's guide, Guillermo the ghost, teaches a bit about the history of the border, with his previous job as a migrant worker working on a US farm during WWII. El Jefe the jaguar is another great example of magical realism blended with reality. Mateo finds a connection and kindred spirit with the jaguar. He learns that El Jefe was separated from his family because of the wall. This can be a good introduction for kids to learn how animal habitats have also been affected by border wall construction.
Overall, I think this is a solid graphic novel for the younger set. And for adults, you might even learn a few things. (I knew nothing about the Bracero Program during WWII. Or how Native American reservations deal with border crossings. Also El Jefe is real??). Anyway, I'd love to read more from Julio Anta.
Thank you to HarperAlley and NetGalley for this arc.
March 28, 2023
Frontera tells a story that isn't often portrayed in media, outside of conservative screeds: what its like for migrants cross the border. We meet a coyote (an experienced person who escorts groups of people), Border Patrol agents and drones, armed far-right militias, the physical challenge of cross the Sonoran Desert, other migrants, and helpful people at the border. We learn some history, such as a the WWII Bracero Program. There is also a queer character.
Mateo is a total brat, which is somewhat understandable for his age and his backstory, but annoying to read as this ends with him alone in a desert without resources. Only the intervention of a ghost, a jaguar, and a local woman enable him to survive. He also has other advantages, like family living in the US and
The ghost element didn't add much for me. Guillermo guides Mateo, but also gives us some history and is the (dead) gay character, but neither period-typical nor modern homophobia are discussed . I would have been more interested to see Mateo cross with a group, perhaps gets separated by Border Patrol, and use his own smarts to make it to Phoenix. It would have been nice to see what happens when he reaches his destination. How did he get back into school? Did he apply for DACA?
The art was nice. Some of the facial expressions felt off.
I also would have liked this better in Spanish and English. It's not clear when which language is being spoken.
Mateo is a total brat, which is somewhat understandable for his age and his backstory, but annoying to read as this ends with him alone in a desert without resources. Only the intervention of a ghost, a jaguar, and a local woman enable him to survive. He also has other advantages, like family living in the US and
The ghost element didn't add much for me. Guillermo guides Mateo, but also gives us some history and is the (dead) gay character, but neither period-typical nor modern homophobia are discussed . I would have been more interested to see Mateo cross with a group, perhaps gets separated by Border Patrol, and use his own smarts to make it to Phoenix. It would have been nice to see what happens when he reaches his destination. How did he get back into school? Did he apply for DACA?
The art was nice. Some of the facial expressions felt off.
I also would have liked this better in Spanish and English. It's not clear when which language is being spoken.
January 8, 2024
I wanted to like this!!! But the story was clunky and the character development was pretty weak. Almost like the author was trying to squeeze too much into too short a book. Or like something went wrong in the editing process. Too bad - such a great concept
December 19, 2023
Great book!! So emotional and sweet, as well as the art was beautiful!
August 10, 2023
With the support of his loving parents, 16 year old Mateo prepares to make the dangerous journey across the Sonoran Desert from Mexico to Arizona to join his grandmother. But he becomes impatient and takes off on his own, without guidance from the man his parents hired. He is almost immediately apprehended by Border Patrol, and the outcome looks dire, but then…Guillermo appears. Guillermo is the ghost of a young man who died while trying to cross the border on his own seventy years before. Despite Mateo freaking out and disbelieving his eyes, Guillermo convinces Mateo that he wants to help him make it across. Mateo’s journey of survival, and his coming to terms with the decisions his parents made, make this a compelling and suspenseful story.
This is also an important accounting of the drama unfolding daily at our borders, with the added features of a sympathetic ghost guide and a mystical heterochromatic jaguar. Readers learn that Mateo, like many real life migrants, has a complicated back story. His family was deported from the U.S. where he had lived for most of his life. He wants to finish high school and take his college entrance exams. It really does seem that without the spectral help he received, he would not have made it across the desert. The depiction of the Border Patrol agents and independent militia introduce even more danger than dehydration – there seems to be genuine evil at play. It does make literary sense, then, that Mateo needs a ghost and a mystical jaguar to even the odds in this story. I also liked the presence of another guiding character, the corporeal human nurse that takes care of Mateo on the Tohono O’Odam reservation, which is located in the Sonoran Desert. The family drama is believable, and I like how fast paced the story is. Guillermo’s back story – trying to reach his love, Felipe, is a touching detail. The assured graphic art easily incorporates the fantastical elements with the survival story, using erratic panel shapes to amp up the suspense.
This is also an important accounting of the drama unfolding daily at our borders, with the added features of a sympathetic ghost guide and a mystical heterochromatic jaguar. Readers learn that Mateo, like many real life migrants, has a complicated back story. His family was deported from the U.S. where he had lived for most of his life. He wants to finish high school and take his college entrance exams. It really does seem that without the spectral help he received, he would not have made it across the desert. The depiction of the Border Patrol agents and independent militia introduce even more danger than dehydration – there seems to be genuine evil at play. It does make literary sense, then, that Mateo needs a ghost and a mystical jaguar to even the odds in this story. I also liked the presence of another guiding character, the corporeal human nurse that takes care of Mateo on the Tohono O’Odam reservation, which is located in the Sonoran Desert. The family drama is believable, and I like how fast paced the story is. Guillermo’s back story – trying to reach his love, Felipe, is a touching detail. The assured graphic art easily incorporates the fantastical elements with the survival story, using erratic panel shapes to amp up the suspense.
April 18, 2025
4.5. This graphic novel taught me a lot about the experience of undocumented immigration across the Mexico/U.S. border. I previously had a rough understanding of this, but it was brought to life here in the journey of MC Mateo, who is desperate to attend his senior year of high school in the U.S. I had no idea there were human rights organisations working in the desert along the U.S. border to provide life-saving aid to those crossing. I also didn’t realise the role local Native Americans play in supporting migrants. Both of these things now seem very obvious, but it took this book to open my eyes. Another concept the novel introduced me to was that there are militias patrolling the desert, which by my understanding are essentially white supremacist, xenophobic, vigilante civilians who aid border control officers in arresting undocumented immigrants. I shouldn’t be shocked by what practices are still permissible in today’s white supremacist society, but I was.
Mateo’s journey is largely a physical one as he crosses from Mexico to the U.S. and encounters numerous dangers along the way, but it is also an emotional one. He meets and is helped by a ghost, Guillermo, who died during his border crossing decades ago. (In this way, Mateo and Guillermo’s combined stories illustrated the reality of both present-day and historical crossings.) Their conversations provided both characters opportunity to open up, express themselves, and process their experiences. I really loved the connection the two shared.
The art style was fantastic. It leant itself to the desert setting well. The colour palette was clearly meticulously thought out.
I had a feeling that Julio Anta might be a hit with me as an author, and I am pleased to say I’m right so far. I’m really keen to read more from him in the future!
Rep: Mexican-American MCs and SCs, Achillean Mexican SC, Mexican SCs, Tohono O’odham SC
Mateo’s journey is largely a physical one as he crosses from Mexico to the U.S. and encounters numerous dangers along the way, but it is also an emotional one. He meets and is helped by a ghost, Guillermo, who died during his border crossing decades ago. (In this way, Mateo and Guillermo’s combined stories illustrated the reality of both present-day and historical crossings.) Their conversations provided both characters opportunity to open up, express themselves, and process their experiences. I really loved the connection the two shared.
The art style was fantastic. It leant itself to the desert setting well. The colour palette was clearly meticulously thought out.
I had a feeling that Julio Anta might be a hit with me as an author, and I am pleased to say I’m right so far. I’m really keen to read more from him in the future!
Rep: Mexican-American MCs and SCs, Achillean Mexican SC, Mexican SCs, Tohono O’odham SC
June 18, 2023
Thank you to Harper360YA for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Mateo is on a harrowing journey, to travel from Mexico back into the United States after his family and himself were deported. After a series of very teen-like responses, he ditches his guide and makes the journey by himself and is now lost in the Sonoran Desert. Without food and water, his one success to make it through seems almost non-existent util a ghost by the name of Guillermo appears and guides Mateo on the way.
This was a very modern story based on the author and artists family experiences with immigration and the invention of borders. I found Mateo to be a teenager who is so frustrated with the world, that his chances of university and a good career are taken away from him and his anger misplaced at his parents until they send him to make the trip in the hope he can still have that life, even if it means they cannot be a part of it.
The desert itself is terrifying with the unfeeling, cruel border patrol and American citizens who hate the idea of immigrants and people encroaching onto 'their land'. Mateo meets Guillermo, a ghost who takes pity on Mateo and shows him the way, for water, food and safety. Mateo is sure that he is hallucinating and closer to death and I believe that the supernatural element is to show how these experiences feel unreal and like anything can happen, especially tied inexplicably with how many people die in this place and their minds can trick them.
It is a very hopeful story though, Mateo learns to not be as brash, to be braver than he thought of and to help Guillermo, who seems to have unfinished business and not sure how to pass on after 70 years in this desert having to watch people die over and over again. With the two, they share a bond that will stay with Mateo in his lifetime.
Mateo is on a harrowing journey, to travel from Mexico back into the United States after his family and himself were deported. After a series of very teen-like responses, he ditches his guide and makes the journey by himself and is now lost in the Sonoran Desert. Without food and water, his one success to make it through seems almost non-existent util a ghost by the name of Guillermo appears and guides Mateo on the way.
This was a very modern story based on the author and artists family experiences with immigration and the invention of borders. I found Mateo to be a teenager who is so frustrated with the world, that his chances of university and a good career are taken away from him and his anger misplaced at his parents until they send him to make the trip in the hope he can still have that life, even if it means they cannot be a part of it.
The desert itself is terrifying with the unfeeling, cruel border patrol and American citizens who hate the idea of immigrants and people encroaching onto 'their land'. Mateo meets Guillermo, a ghost who takes pity on Mateo and shows him the way, for water, food and safety. Mateo is sure that he is hallucinating and closer to death and I believe that the supernatural element is to show how these experiences feel unreal and like anything can happen, especially tied inexplicably with how many people die in this place and their minds can trick them.
It is a very hopeful story though, Mateo learns to not be as brash, to be braver than he thought of and to help Guillermo, who seems to have unfinished business and not sure how to pass on after 70 years in this desert having to watch people die over and over again. With the two, they share a bond that will stay with Mateo in his lifetime.
October 22, 2023
Mateo Renteria, a Mexican national, with a bright future ahead as he’s about to graduate and go on to college. But sadly he is undocumented and has been recently deported. With his parents blessings, Mateo sets out on a harrowing journey across the Sonoran Desert to return to the United States for his senior year of high school.
Mateo is shocked to learn,in his teen years, that his parents, in order to provide a better life for him, brought him to the U.S. when he was just three years old. So he is NOT a Mexican American citizen as he thought. After a judge sends the Renterias back to Guadalajara, Mateo’s parents prepare to reunite him with his grandmother in Phoenix. Mateo is young and too impatient to follow the advice of the coyote his parents hired to help him cross into the US. Foolishly, Mateo runs headfirst toward the border, and into trouble. Struggling to survive the hash environment of the desert, he encounters Guillermo, the ghost of a queer young man who died nearly 70 years ago. The supernatural Guillermo’s presence is a moving backstory and provide relevant historical context for the plight of those crossing the border. Will Mateo make it to grandmother in Phoenix? Will he obtain his dream?
The art is warm and vibrant while depicting the brutal, inescapable heat and the intensity of being on the move in a geographically and politically hostile environment. Yet there are scenes of breathtaking natural beauty in the desert.
This heartbreaking reality at the border is all too common and this is a reminder for those of us living in peace and comfort.
Ages 14-18 as there are some disturbing scenes of reality.
Mateo is shocked to learn,in his teen years, that his parents, in order to provide a better life for him, brought him to the U.S. when he was just three years old. So he is NOT a Mexican American citizen as he thought. After a judge sends the Renterias back to Guadalajara, Mateo’s parents prepare to reunite him with his grandmother in Phoenix. Mateo is young and too impatient to follow the advice of the coyote his parents hired to help him cross into the US. Foolishly, Mateo runs headfirst toward the border, and into trouble. Struggling to survive the hash environment of the desert, he encounters Guillermo, the ghost of a queer young man who died nearly 70 years ago. The supernatural Guillermo’s presence is a moving backstory and provide relevant historical context for the plight of those crossing the border. Will Mateo make it to grandmother in Phoenix? Will he obtain his dream?
The art is warm and vibrant while depicting the brutal, inescapable heat and the intensity of being on the move in a geographically and politically hostile environment. Yet there are scenes of breathtaking natural beauty in the desert.
This heartbreaking reality at the border is all too common and this is a reminder for those of us living in peace and comfort.
Ages 14-18 as there are some disturbing scenes of reality.
July 16, 2024
2024 Eisner Award finalist - Best Publication for Teens
This is a powerful and eye opening look at the U.S. immigration situation. Mateo is a high school sophomore in Phoenix when he learns that his parents brought him from Mexico to the U.S. illegally when he was three years old, making him one of the so-called Dreamers, technically illegally in the U.S., but never knowing his home country. Mateo and his parents are deported by a hard-nosed judge, despite their clean records and Mateo's straight-A school average. In order for Mateo to go to college, he must get back into the U.S. where he can be reunited with his grandmother and complete high school. The book chronicles Mateo's journey across the border, encountering dangers at every turn. Mateo is smart, but he is also stubborn and impatient, so he abandons the guide his parents hired and strikes out on his own--not a good idea, it turns out. Luckily for him, however, he encounters Guillermo, the ghost of a teenager about Mateo's age who died in the desert some 70 years earlier. Guillermo helps Mateo several times while serving as an entry point for the reader to see how border conditions have changed over the decades. This book really shows how much of the anti-immigration fervor is fueled by racism. If this wasn't enough for the book banners of the world, Guillermo is also shown to be gay. I hope the book's intended audience finds and reads it, because this is as good an overview of the immigration situation that I've seen. Jacoby Salcedo's artwork is appropriate for the material, realistic without being overwhelming.
This is a powerful and eye opening look at the U.S. immigration situation. Mateo is a high school sophomore in Phoenix when he learns that his parents brought him from Mexico to the U.S. illegally when he was three years old, making him one of the so-called Dreamers, technically illegally in the U.S., but never knowing his home country. Mateo and his parents are deported by a hard-nosed judge, despite their clean records and Mateo's straight-A school average. In order for Mateo to go to college, he must get back into the U.S. where he can be reunited with his grandmother and complete high school. The book chronicles Mateo's journey across the border, encountering dangers at every turn. Mateo is smart, but he is also stubborn and impatient, so he abandons the guide his parents hired and strikes out on his own--not a good idea, it turns out. Luckily for him, however, he encounters Guillermo, the ghost of a teenager about Mateo's age who died in the desert some 70 years earlier. Guillermo helps Mateo several times while serving as an entry point for the reader to see how border conditions have changed over the decades. This book really shows how much of the anti-immigration fervor is fueled by racism. If this wasn't enough for the book banners of the world, Guillermo is also shown to be gay. I hope the book's intended audience finds and reads it, because this is as good an overview of the immigration situation that I've seen. Jacoby Salcedo's artwork is appropriate for the material, realistic without being overwhelming.
February 1, 2024
I picked up this book at Comic Con and Jacoby Salcedo’s It’s Only Teenage Wasteland. I finally sat down and read this one and I wish that I’d read it sooner.
I love Mateo and Guillermo so much. The entire story I found myself hoping that they would get their happy endings. Mateo was so hard headed to the point of frustration but that was the point because he was an impulsive young kid. Guillermo’s patience and kind nature worked so well with his character.
The book really managed to capture the tension of Mateo’s journey well. He was terrified the entire time and you could feel his fear every step of the way.
There were a couple of parts that stuck out as odd to me but I think that’s probably because I don’t have the cultural context such as Darcie’s character’s appearance and then disappearance. I mean, sometimes people just help you along the way and that’s all but I wish we’d seen more of her. She felt a little too much like a plot device to get Mateo out of a jam. But her backstory and personality more than made up for it.
Ultimately I found myself really happy with this comic and smiling when Mateo finally made it to Tucson. It felt like a weight lifted off the shoulders to know that he was safe. I like to think that Felipe was waiting for Guillermo on the other side and they’re happy together now. I like to think that Mateo goes to school and then college and his parents get to come back to America with him. I’ll never know but that’s okay. The story ends exactly where it needs to and everyone is happy.
I love Mateo and Guillermo so much. The entire story I found myself hoping that they would get their happy endings. Mateo was so hard headed to the point of frustration but that was the point because he was an impulsive young kid. Guillermo’s patience and kind nature worked so well with his character.
The book really managed to capture the tension of Mateo’s journey well. He was terrified the entire time and you could feel his fear every step of the way.
There were a couple of parts that stuck out as odd to me but I think that’s probably because I don’t have the cultural context such as Darcie’s character’s appearance and then disappearance. I mean, sometimes people just help you along the way and that’s all but I wish we’d seen more of her. She felt a little too much like a plot device to get Mateo out of a jam. But her backstory and personality more than made up for it.
Ultimately I found myself really happy with this comic and smiling when Mateo finally made it to Tucson. It felt like a weight lifted off the shoulders to know that he was safe. I like to think that Felipe was waiting for Guillermo on the other side and they’re happy together now. I like to think that Mateo goes to school and then college and his parents get to come back to America with him. I’ll never know but that’s okay. The story ends exactly where it needs to and everyone is happy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2023
Mateo must remain vigilant and smart while crossing the Sonoran Desert alone, especially if he hopes to arrive safely in Phoenix, Arizona. However, due to his impatience, he flings himself into making the trek alone and before he knows it he stumbles upon a ghost named Guillermo who spends his afterlife guiding migrants to safety. Mateo experiences dehydration, border patrol, and many helpful people as he journeys back to the U.S.
I found myself in tears by the end of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the art style this graphic novel has because of the detail and how wonderful it is. Mateo was a very stubborn, frustrating character to read about but he's a high schooler! He literally did not ask to be placed in this situation like many others. It took him a while but he eventually understood the importance of appreciating all the people who helped him and sacrificed for him. I really enjoyed this book. It went back and forth between breaking my heart and warming it up! Guillermo's story was so heartbreaking but it added so much to the narrative. I am so happy I was able to read this because it is so insightful and emotional. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants just a glimpse of what some families have to experience for just a taste of a better life.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for giving me the chance to read this and provide my honest thoughts.
I found myself in tears by the end of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the art style this graphic novel has because of the detail and how wonderful it is. Mateo was a very stubborn, frustrating character to read about but he's a high schooler! He literally did not ask to be placed in this situation like many others. It took him a while but he eventually understood the importance of appreciating all the people who helped him and sacrificed for him. I really enjoyed this book. It went back and forth between breaking my heart and warming it up! Guillermo's story was so heartbreaking but it added so much to the narrative. I am so happy I was able to read this because it is so insightful and emotional. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants just a glimpse of what some families have to experience for just a taste of a better life.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for giving me the chance to read this and provide my honest thoughts.
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