Crossing the Line

April 1, 2012
In the first title in the Border Town series, Alegria introduces Fabiola "Fabi" Garza, a Mexican-American teen in the fictitious Texas border town of Dos Rios. Although her best friend, Georgia Rae, moved away over the summer, Fabi is looking forward to a new school year, since she can finally show her younger sister Alexis the ropes at Dos Rios High. Working as a server in her family's Mexican restaurant, Fabi is joined by a colorful cast of friends and familia. Against her sister's advice, Alexis takes up with the popular crowd at school, including football hotshot Dex Andrews. The book quickly takes a darker turn when restaurant employee Chuy is mugged and beaten while covering Fabi's shift. While her parents and others suspect her cousin Santiago, Fabi believes he is innocent, regardless of his past troubles. Meanwhile, Alexis begins lying to her family to spend more time with Dex and resenting Fabi's sisterly advice. Overhearing someone bragging at a party about mugging undocumented immigrants, Fabi believes she knows who robbed Chuy. After Santiago ends up in jail, Fabi realizes she has to reveal what she knows. The author sprinkles Spanish words naturally in the text, tackles timely issues without preaching and provides enough light moments to balance the tone. A welcome entry into the teen market, especially for Bluford Series fans. (glossary) (Fiction. 12-18)

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June 1, 2012

Gr 6 Up-Fabiola Garza has long since accepted the enmity she feels for Dos Rios High School's popular kids and their troublesome ways. On the first day of school, they seem to stoop to a new level and start befriending her younger sister. Soon Alexis is dating bad boy Dex Andrews. When Chuy, an immigrant from Mexico, is mugged and Fabiola's cousin is accused of the crime, the girl can't help but believe that Dex is behind it. When she overhears him bragging about it to his friends, she becomes determined to prove Santiago's innocence and save her sister from Dex. The characters aren't well developed, but they're likable. The plot moves fairly quickly and has some depth to it. The writing style is smooth and easy to follow. The author does a great job of interspersing Spanish words and phrases without them being intrusive. An adequate choice for fans of urban fiction or those who are interested in books about tensions among various groups.-Kira Moody, Whitmore Library, Murray, UT

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2012
Grades 7-12 Packed with action and surprising twists and turns up to the very last page, this start to the new Border Town series is a gripping mystery and also a warm, contemporary Latino drama of extended family and friends. When her younger sister, Alexis, starts high school in their small town in the Rio Grande Valley just 10 miles north of Mexico, Fabiola Fabi Garza tries to warn her about the unwritten rules, especially when mean, gorgeous jock Dex Andrews comes on to Alexis. After school, the sisters help out in the family restaurant, where the work is hard and tempers flare. Newly arrived from Mexico, Chuy works in the restaurant kitchen, and when he is mugged, Fabi overhears Dex bragging to his jock friends that illegal immigrants sending money home are walking ATMs. But how does Fabi's beloved cousin Santiago suddenly have cash? With lots of laughs, especially about small town lack of privacy and about extended family, the drama is both suspenseful and touching. A Tex-Mex glossary with Spanish words is included.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)