Multicultural Book Discussion-Brandon Sieren

[Brandon]

1. In one sentence, state the author's message to the reader. What is your reaction to it?

A. Will Hobbs message in the book Crossing the Wire is that Illegal immigrants are crossing the border simply because they are poor and can’t find jobs in Mexico. My reaction to this book gave me a sort of sympathy to the immigrants but they are still living in a country illegally and are cutting corners in that aspect.

2.Name the main characters and describe how they reflect both the positive and negative aspects of life.

A. there is only one main character in this book and this is 15 year old Victor Florez. He lives in very poor conditions to support his family. This is a negative aspect. He can’t support his family the way he used to so he decided to try and cross the border into Mexico. A few positive aspects are he is trying as hard as he can to support his family. He morally is a good person. The only reason he is crossing the border is survival. Here are a few negative aspects. He carries illegal drugs with him as he is led through the desert by a border coyote. He pushes one of those coyotes into a oncoming train when the coyote tries to rob him of what little money he has.

3. If your book portrays a specific foreign culture, what is your understanding of life there?

A. This book is about the Mexican culture in the present time. In the area where Victor lives it is very poor. He plants and grows corn by hand. Only when he cannot sell his corn for hardly any money does he try and cross. This is a common practice in his culture. Even if it takes the Mexicans 6 attempts to cross it will still be a better life in America.

4. What "universal experience/traits" did you connect with or understand in this novel?

A. When the Mexicans became very poor and in need they looted shops to survive. No matter how developed a culture is this always seem to happen. Also He tried many times to cross the border and failed. The dire consequences led him to try all routes to the United States. This want of a better life is universal to all cultures.

5. Where was the setting for this novel? Explain how the time period and setting contributed to the impact of the plot.

A .The setting and time period of this novel is everything. Victor is a 15 year old Mexican who can’t sell his corn. He decides to cross the border into the United States to further support his family. If the setting was different in this novel then the story would not even make sense. Unless you say he was from Cuba or another Latin American country and he was trying to flee his homeland that way.

I would consider reading another one of Hobbs' books depending on the storyline.

6. How would you describe the writing style of this author? Choose a short passage to add that reflects this. Would you consider reading another work by him/her? Why?

A. In my opinion Will Hobbs writing style is easy to read once you understood the map of the area that Victor traveled on. There was a map that i did not realize was in the book until the end.

"Los Arboles is an out of the way place compared to going to GuanaJuanto or Nogales."

[Kasandra]

why did victor go to El Cristo Rey to pray and think?