Borderlands and the Mexican American Story

Race To The Truth

by David Dorado Romo

Until now, you've only heard one side of the story, about migrants crossing borders, drawn to the promise of a better life. In reality, Mexicans were on this land long before any borders existed. Here's the true story of America, from the Mexican American perspective.

The Mexican American story is usually carefully presented as a story of migrants crossing borders, drawn to the promise of a better life. In reality, Mexicans were on this land long before any borders existed. Their culture and practices shaped the Southwestern part of this country, in spite of relentless attempts by white colonizers and settlers to erase them.

From missions and the Alamo to muralists, revolutionaries, and teen activists, this is the true story of the Mexican American experience.


The Race to the Truth series tells the true history of America from the perspective of different communities. These books correct common falsehoods and celebrate underrepresented heroes and achievements. They encourage readers to ask questions and to approach new information thoughtfully. Check out the other books in the Colonization and the Wampanoag Story, Slavery and the African American Story, and Exclusion and the Chinese American Story.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Middle Grade, Latinx, Immigration, Childrens

352 pages, Paperback

First published August 20, 2024

Reviews

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A comprehensive and revelatory volume. This fills in gaps and turns history on its head. An absolute must for nonfiction collections." [School Library Journal]

[Camille · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t believe how much of this I have never heard before. Ted Cruz would definitely ban this book.

[Jessica Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

More often than not, American history is told through a “white” lens. The problem is, America is not just a white country. It’s a blend of peoples and cultures of diverse skin tones, and by ignoring the past, it’s hard to understand the struggles of today.

Borderlands and the Mexican Story is part of Crown Books for Young Readers’ excellent Race to the Truth series. The series “Tells the true history of America from the perspective of different communities. Each book tells the story of our country from its very beginning to present. These books correct common falsehoods and achievements. They encourage readers to ask questions and approach new information thoughtfully.” Other books in the series include Exclusion and the Chinese American Story; Colonization and the Wampanoag Story; and Slavery and the African American Story.

Author David Dorado Romo grew up and lived on the border between the US and Mexico. This provided him with a first-hand perspective when writing Borderlands and the Mexican Story. The book begins with native migrations before there were borders and moves through Spanish colonization in the Southwest and the Mexican American War. Romo focuses on the Mexican Revolution and the ethnic cleansing of brown America. Following WWII came the rise of the Chicano movement and the Hispanic decade before more recent issues surrounding the border.

Borderlands and the Mexican Story is expertly researched. Romo’s writing is clear and accessible. And black-and white images as well as information boxes help break up the text. This book would make an excellent supplement for public or homeschool classes.

[kim baccellia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What worked: Accurate portrayal of Mexican American history that isn't white-washed. As someone who shares Mexican heritage, it wasn't until my Chicano Studies class at the university that I found a part of my history that wasn't in any of my classroom school books. I remember asking my professor why I never heard of this history. He told me that the victors write the history books.

This non-fiction book is a must-read. The author starts with the first colonizations from Spain and then ends with the last administration's policy of deportations. But it's much more than that.

There are so many parts of history that once were silenced but now are shown. The Mexican Repatriation Act in 1930 where anyone who fit the Mexican profile, regardless if they were US citizens or not, was rounded up and shipped to Mexico. Ethnic Cleansing. Eugenics. In 1850, how the California state legislature voted to deny voting and citizenship rights to Californians of Native ancestry. The 'truth' of the Alamo.

As a former bilingual teacher, this book would have supplemented the materials I had from my Chicano Studies classes. I also strongly feel this book should be included in the history curriculum on Mexican Americans. Knowledge is power. Also knowing our history helps us not to repeat the wrongs of the past.

Powerful, insightful non-fiction book that shares the true story of the Mexican American experience. Highly recommend.

Originally posted at:https://www.yabookscentral.com/border...

[Maileen Hamto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mexican-American history, with its roots predating the United States, often falls victim to misconceptions about immigration. These misunderstandings obscure the true narratives of the community. The rich amalgamation of Spanish, Mexican, and Native cultures was already thriving when Anglo settlers arrived.

"Borderlands and the Mexican-American Story" sheds light on the key events and people that shaped geopolitical transitions. The book’s ‘Let’s think about this.’ prompts at the end of each chapter further illuminate the reader’s understanding of key concepts, enlightening readers about the real stories behind the community.

David Dorado Romo’s approachable writing style makes the complex history of Mexican Americans easily digestible for all readers. More than a conventional history book, Borderlands delves into the rich heritage and the unique blend of Native or Indigenous ways and Spanish influence that form the Mexican-American identity. It narrates a history of resilience against colonialism: a fight for rights that affirmed the culture and drew strength from pride in heritage.

Mexican-American history is marked by determination, hard work, and resistance against oppression. This book is a valuable resource for school libraries, and history teachers in schools with large or growing Mexican American populations can significantly benefit from its insights.

By understanding the historical context, readers can gain a deeper understanding of pressing issues – like immigration – and contribute to more informed and engaged discussions.

[Chelsea Mishler · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Mexican American living in a rural community, so many of the stories and activists shared in this book are ones I never learned about. Growing up, the Mexican history that reached me was usually limited, filtered, or told from a distance. Borderlands and the Mexican American Story opened an entirely different window - one filled with voices, movements, and moments that should have been part of my education from the beginning.

David Dorado Romo brings forward people and events that feel both overlooked and essential. The book doesn’t just recount history; it restores it. It highlights Mexican American resilience, creativity, and resistance in ways that feel personal, especially for those of us who often grew up without access to these narratives.

What struck me most was how much of this history I didn’t even know I was missing. Each chapter felt like a reminder that our communities have always been active contributors to this country’s story, even when that contribution has been erased or minimized. Reading it gave me a deeper sense of belonging, pride, and connection to a heritage that I’ve often had to piece together on my own.

This book is powerful, accessible, and necessary - not just for Mexican American readers, but for anyone who wants a fuller, more honest understanding of American history. It filled gaps I didn’t know were there and left me wishing this had been required reading much earlier in my life.

[Tonya Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was my first experience with the series. I had been reading other books that told the stories of people coming to America from other countries and what their experience was like and was curious about this book. I thought the book would be in more of a story format, but it was more of an easy to read text book style with the way the information was presented. The book was very insightful and presented a lot of information I was not familiar with. At several points in the book, I found myself talking with my husband about what I had read. He is a history buff and had a bit to add about the way America treated and took advantage of Mexico in the past.
This book was eye opening for me and I appreciate the information provided. The walk through historical and present day events left me wondering why more of this story is not in the history books or covered on the news.
The main drawback for me with this book was the time it took me to read it. While the information was presented well and I learned a lot; due to the layout of the book- a lot of text, minimal pictures, and only a few extra stories embedded in the chapters- I found myself only reading a chapter a day.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!

[Marisa Pierucci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely a must have for any middle grade teacher. A must add to your social studies curriculum. As an almost 40 yr old, I learned so much history that I was never taught growing up from this book. Living in Southern California, it was especially impactful as the border is only an hour away. It’s gave deep insight to border issues that we have been battling for centuries. It’s so important to teach our children better than we were taught. Especially in todays political climate, it’s going to take books like this and people willing to read and share them to make the positive change we need.

[Caylie Ratzlaff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 4.5/5 stars.

This is a really phenomenal, easy to understand nonfiction read. The topic is super important, and I picked this one up both because this is an area I like to learn about (especially after Anzaldua's work) but also since it's incredibly relevant to my students. I need to get a copy of this for my classroom library. It's informative, easy to digest, and I even learned a LOT from it.

[Autumn Kearney · Rating 2 out of 5]

This audiobook states at the beginning that archaeologists found the footprints of teenagers. How exactly did they determine the age of the people who left the footprints? Was that part factual? If that part wasn't factual, does that make the whole book fiction? It bothered me and distracted me throughout most of the book I listened to. I know that it shouldn't, but it did. Perhaps I am just nitpicking.

[Arely · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read but a hard read. I never learned much about Mexican American identity before the 1980s, and this books starts at the very beginning. I didn't prepare myself well enough to deal with the injustices suffered throughout the Mexican American story, especially when so much of this history is repeating. (and to be honest did the injustice ever really stop?)

[Steph Beaudoin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Borderlands and the Mexican American Story by David Dorado Romo
This book is PHENOMENAL! Absolutely spectacular. As an adult, the language wasn't too young for me. And it really helped me understand the history without getting my ADHD brain bogged down. I have so many highlights.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with the others in this series, this is too mature for 5/6s (rape, lynching), but super important, and I'm glad I read it (I learned a lot!), and I would recommend it for sure to older MS readers and HS readers.

[Jessica E Patterson-Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be Mandatory reading in ALL American schools!!

[Colin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a lot of reading, but overall, this is an informative read.

[Annette Campos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read. I learned new things about history in the area where I live.

[Judy Ripke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much from this book--things that were not taught to me in my history classes in school.

[Gabriel Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive, comprehensible, compelling.

[Katie]

The "heroes" in this story need to be researched more deeply, this book contains bias. An example is Juan Cortito