Crossing the Wire

No matter what one's political sensibilities, Ramon de Ocampo's performance as Victor Flores, an impoverished Mexican attempting to enter the U.S., brings a human face to the issue of illegal immigration. De Ocampo's narration vividly portrays the desperation of a young boy struggling to evade the border control as he contends with the corruption of the coyotes who promise to smuggle him into El Norte. The listener endures gnawing hunger, shivers in bone-chilling weather, and experiences the terror of the hunted in this convincing performance. Though the story may be commonplace and all too familiar, de Ocampo's sympathetic rendering of Victor's trials paints a compelling portrait of the less fortunate striving to survive in a hostile world. M.H.N. (c) AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine

December 1, 2006
Gr 5 Up-Award-winning author Will Hobbss novel (HarperCollins, 2006) is set in rural Mexico. Fifteen-year-old Victor Flores is a struggling corn farmer, barely supporting his mother, brother, and two sisters (his father died in a construction accident in South Carolina). His best friend Rico decides to cross the wire to America (el Norte) to find work. Victor pleads for him not to risk his life in the crossing, but Ricos mind is made up and he leaves without telling his parents. Victor, desperate to feed his family, also decides to cross the wire. Victors story is a gripping tale of struggle, hardship, and triumph to support his family. The plot never lags, and actor Ramon de Ocampo provides a wide range of voices and enthralling narration that effectively complements the story line. As current as todays headlines about immigration and amnesty, "Crossing the Wire" is a timely, satisfying read for young adults."Larry Cooperman, Seminole High School, Sanford, FL"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.