SOLVED. Little boy lived on farm, Mexicans worked in fields, he witnessed a murder, he rode to town with grandpa [s]

[Victoria]

A little boy lived on farm with Grandma & Grandpa.
Mexicans worked in fields (this was during 1 specific season only).
The little boy witnessed a murder by some waterway; I think there was a bridge involved.
He rode to town with grandpa often in a truck.
The little boy worked in the field also but not effectively and he hated it.
He was terrified about this murder that he'd witnessed.
His ?cousin? was off fighting in a war.
Somewhere between 1999 and 2005 (guess but pretty close) it came out as a TV Movie

[Ann aka Iftcan]

So this was a movie or a book? Or a movie based ON a book, and you are looking for the book?

[Sophie]

This should be in Unsolved.

[Victoria]

Sophie wrote: "This should be in Unsolved."

Oh, will you put it there, please? This is an intimidating board. I didn't even realized anyone had replied until I went looking for the post.

[Victoria]

Ann aka Iftcan wrote: "So this was a movie or a book? Or a movie based ON a book, and you are looking for the book?"

I apologize for the confusion. It was a book first. I remember it being on the Bestseller lists around the years I mentioned. I read it and I loved it.
Then, within that same time span but more toward the end, I saw an advertisement for a made for TV movie.
I would love to know the name of the book so I could buy it for my daughter to read. She is at an age now where she would really appreciate it. I have Googled it every sort of way though.

[Kate (Feathered Turtle Press Reviews)]

Maybe A Painted House by John Grisham? There was a TV movie in 2003.

Most of the details fit. The boy lived with his parents and grandparents on a cotton farm and it was his older brother off at war, I believe. They hire both "hill people" and Mexicans to work on the farm for the season. The oldest girl from the hill family falls in love with one of the Mexican workers. The Mexican worker (view spoiler)[kills her brother, I think it was, (hide spoiler)] and the boy saw.

[Victoria]

Kate,
That's exactly what it was. Thank you very much. I never would have guessed it ias a Grisham. I am going to look but this is my first post on a board (have posted on Good Reads many times, just not a discussion board) and I don't know what to do with this. If I don't get it, please move it though. Thank you so much.

[Kate (Feathered Turtle Press Reviews)]

Glad I could help!