THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER

Safely across the Río Bravo, Petra’s journey continues in this follow-up to Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna (2021).

It’s 1913, and while the revolution rages on in Mexico, Petra and her family find temporary safety in a refugee camp on the U.S. side of the river. But as rebel soldiers recapture some areas, the camp cannot handle the influx of people escaping the violence. The displaced are given the option of returning to Mexico or staying in the country and finding work. Holding fast to her “baby diamond,” the lump of coal she keeps in her pocket that reminds her of her goals, Petra decides to get a job in the States to keep her family fed until they can find her father. They head north to los corrales, a poor, predominantly Mexican neighborhood in San Antonio. Though she believes at first that being a hard, loyal worker will yield rewards, Petra quickly discovers that the American dream may not be all it is cracked up to be. She must reorient herself to her own values in order to get ahead while maintaining her integrity. The stakes feel lower in this sequel; there are fewer threats of violence, and struggles are resolved relatively easily. The novel highlights the barriers and abuses faced by many new immigrants both historically and today through short chapters that keep the pace moving toward a happy ending.

Readable historical fiction with themes that resonate.