Borderlines: Drawing Border Lives: Fronteras: Dibujando las vidas fronterizas

by Steven P. Schneider, Norma E. Cantú (Introduction), Reefka Schneider (Illustrator)

Featuring 25 drawings in charcoal, conte crayons, and pastels, this handbook pairs portraits of people who live and work along the U.S.–Mexico border with bilingual poems that have been inspired by each of the drawings. A testimony to the people of the Rio Grande Valley, these drawings and poems capture their spirit, their quest for happiness, and their struggles to overcome economic hardship. This remarkable book highlights characters such as the "young street musician," the "six-year-old street vendor," and the "wise woman with rings." Compassionate and aesthetically compelling, this record raises awareness about social and cultural issues associated with border life, such as education, literacy, and poverty, and fosters cross-cultural understanding.

Genres: Poetry

64 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Steven P. Schneider is an American poet, critic, and professor of English at the University of Texas-Pan American, where he serves as Director of New Programs and Special Projects in the College of Arts and Humanities.

Schneider earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, graduating cum laude at Syracuse University in 1973. He earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing at the University of Iowa four years later. In 1986, he earned a doctorate in English and American Literature at the University of Iowa.

Reviews

[Charlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is good to see the familiar through the eyes of those who have not always lived along the Texas-Mexican border. Schneider and his wife Reefka have paired her drawings of Hispanics of la frontera with his poetry. There is also a Spanish translation of each poem. The words and the drawings cause the reader to look more carefully into the tapestry of the lives of those who live on both sides of the border.

[Gabriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

neat view and writings of the border through art and poetry!

[Esteban Rodríguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Borderlines: Drawing Border Lives is not your typical poetry book, but a true hybrid of art and language that captures the landscape of two worlds, whether a celebration of its people, culture, or the tragic socioeconomic aspects of life along the U.S. / Mexico border. As a lifelong resident of the Rio Grande Valley (located in deep south Texas), I was impressed by how these poems and portraits reflect what has so often been neglected on a larger national scale, and seek to shine a spotlight on an area of the country that offers a lot more than what outsiders might prematurely conceive. Each page is not only filled with a story but a visual window that gives the reader an opportunity to see into the lives of people who live and work along the border.

For example, the poem “Beggar and Daughter” places the reader on a sidewalk next to a mother and daughter who have hit the absolute bottom, the consequences of global economic forces beyond their control. We get a chance to experience their poverty and understand what they must face on a daily basis. This book though, is also a celebration of life, and in poems such as “Alegria” and “La Bachata,” you can feel the rhythm of these musical scenes come alive through the page.

The new paperback edition of Borderlines / Fronteras will make an excellent addition to classrooms and libraries. The bilingual text, high resolution artwork, and outstanding design make this book an absolute must-read.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steven and Reefka Schneider’s Borderlines: Drawing Border Lives is a sort of portraiture in three media: Reefka’s charcoal drawings of character types and individuals; Steven’s clear, accessible, English verse, which echoes the drawings, adding cultural context and political nuance; and the agile Spanish versions crafted by José Antonio Rodríguez. The synergy of these media makes Borderlines a perfect entry-level poetry text for younger students.

[Joni]

beautiful poetry in a bilingual format along with heart wrenching photos of the dospossessed of Mexico, sad but important.