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Reviewed by: Becki Truelson, High School Librarian Title: Fontera Author: Julio Anta Publisher: HarperAlley
Year: 2023 Good for Grades: 6-12 Genre/Type of Book: Graphic Novel, Realistic Fiction
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: No Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book: I wanted to learn how this author would portray the migrant experience for a young adult audience. If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be:
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Review:
Mateo is a high school student who is sent by his parents, with a list of steps to take, to successfully leave his home and cross the Mexican border into the United States. His goal is to arrive in Phoenix to live with his grandmother. Mateo skipped one crucial step on his list and found himself wandering in the Sonoran Desert with no water and no one to guide him. An apparition named Guillermo appears to Mateo and guides him through the many dangers of the remaining journey to the border. The relationships between characters in the book are very realistic and believable, even between Mateo and the ghost Guillermo. The first scene in the book illustrates the desperation many migrant families feel as the author portrays loving parents willing to accept that they may not see their son for months, years or maybe never again. Mateo learns a hard lesson and the reader can see his thought process as a teenager sees situations. I loved the relationship between Mateo and Guillermo, but I felt that Guillermo in ghost form felt hokey. The ending of the book had some sensationalized, unbelievable scenes that took away from the authenticity of the earlier story. Overall, the book is valuable as it exposes readers to the plight of migrant families and the struggle to make the journey to the border.
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