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Across a Hundred Mountains: A Novel
"Across a Hundred Mountains" is a stunning and poignant story of migration, loss, and discovery as two women -- one born in Mexico, one in the United States -- find their lives joined in the most unlikely way.After a tragedy separates her from her mother, Juana Garcia leaves her small town in Mexico to find her father, who left his home and family two years before to find work in America, "el otro lado," and rise above the oppressive poverty so many of his countrymen endure.Out of money and in need of someone to help her across the border, Juana meets Adelina Vasquez, a young woman who left her family in California to follow her lover to Mexico. Finding each other -- in a Tijuana jail -- in desperate circumstances, they offer each other much needed material and spiritual support and ultimately become linked forever in the most unexpected way.The phenomenon of Mexican immigration to the United States is one of the most controversial issues of our time. While it is often discussed in terms of the political and economic implications, Grande, with this brilliant debut novel and her own profound insider's perspective, puts a human face on the subject. Who are the men, women, and children whose lives are affected by the forces that propel so many to risk life and limb, crossing the border in pursuit of a better life?Take the journey "Across a Hundred Mountains" and see.
272 pages, Paperback
First published June 20, 2006
205 people are currently reading
4356 people want to read
About the author
Reyna Grande
19 books1,056 followersReyna Grande is the author of three novels, Across a Hundred Mountains, which received a 2007 American Book Award; Dancing with Butterflies, which received a 2010 International Latino Book Award, and A Ballad of Love and Glory, which was a Los Angeles Times Book Club selection in 2022. In her memoir, The Distance Between Us (Atria, 2012) Reyna recounts her experiences as a child left behind in Mexico when her parents emigrated to the U.S. in search of work, and her own journey to the U.S. as an undocumented immigrant at the age of nine. Its sequel, A Dream Called Home, was published in 2018. Her latest book is Somewhere We Are Human: Authentic Voices on Migration, Survival, and New Beginnings, an anthology by and about undocumented Americans.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 340 reviews
February 10, 2020
I selected this book for my book club, after hearing the author interviewed recently on NPR. Grande, a latina and immigrant herself, was being interviewed about the recent scandal surrounding the book “American Dirt.” “American Dirt” is a very popular, very new book about undocumented immigration from Mexico, written by a non-Mexican author who had not lived the experience.
I haven’t read “Dirt,” and I probably won’t. I immediately bought this book after hearing that interview, because Grande’s point about the invisibility of Latino authors really resonated for me. Why not focus on the gorgeously written literature produced by people who have lived this harrowing experience?
This book was truly incredible. If you get caught in the powerful marketing surrounding the hot new immigrant book, be sure to read something like this, too.
Also—“Across a Hundred Mountains” is a fine piece of storytelling, all on its own. It’s not just homework for white people; it truly is a wonderful work of literature.
I haven’t read “Dirt,” and I probably won’t. I immediately bought this book after hearing that interview, because Grande’s point about the invisibility of Latino authors really resonated for me. Why not focus on the gorgeously written literature produced by people who have lived this harrowing experience?
This book was truly incredible. If you get caught in the powerful marketing surrounding the hot new immigrant book, be sure to read something like this, too.
Also—“Across a Hundred Mountains” is a fine piece of storytelling, all on its own. It’s not just homework for white people; it truly is a wonderful work of literature.
May 9, 2010
Eleven year old Juana lives with her Amá and Apá in their little shack at the outskirts of their village in Mexico. On the night of a flood which enters their shack, her mother leaves Juana on top of the table holding the baby, Anita, to go look for her husband. Juana falls asleep and loses hold of the baby, which drowns. Now in debt again to the wealthiest man in the village, Don Elías, who paid for the funeral, Apá decides to risk everything and go to America to earn the money to pay off Don Elías.
When no word comes from Apá - Miguel Garcia - the other villagers taunt Juana and her mother, Lupe, with the hideous word: abandoned. But there's still Don Elías to pay off, and there's only one thing he's asking for and one thing Lupe can give: her body.
As her mother declines further into guilt, depression, craziness and alcohol, Juana never gives up hope that her father is just across the mountains, that he hasn't forgotten or abandoned them. Her determination to find him sees her travel to Mexico City, where she meets Adelina, who helps her find the coyote who helped her father cross the border.
Simply told, Across a Hundred Mountains is a deceptively light, quick read. At its heart, it's beautiful. It has an interesting structure: instead of chapters, the story is told in short scenes from Juana and Adelina's two stories - Juana moving forward from the night of the flood, always in the right order, and Adelina moving back and forth in time, but mostly forward also, yet told from a dozen years in the future. Their stories don't converge until near the end, by which time you've figured out the twist already. I wish I could just spell it out so I could speak more freely about this novel, but I always try to avoid spoilers where I can. (The last thing I'd want to do is spoil the reading magic for anyone else!)
Juana is such a wonderful protagonist, kind and compassionate, determined, vulnerable, strong, resilient. She's a real hero. I loved her to bits. Grande writes sparingly, with minimal adjectives and fairly sparse descriptions, but still the story, the setting, and the characters become vivid in your mind. Juana's voice grows and matures from a little girl trying to be strong to an adult woman trying to make up for the past. I tend to like more description, plumping out the setting and the characters, but interestingly enough the lack of denser prose worked very well here. Stripped down to the bare story, told with compassion and sympathy and yet also respectful distance, it becomes an unsentimental story, one stark and honest that lets you think for yourself and come closer to understanding the human side of the story of illegal immigrants.
In this way, though it's clearly sympathetic to them, it manages to avoid a political agenda. Telling instead the story of these people, what they endure, what they live every day, and their motivations for going to a country that doesn't want them and treats them like cattle - it's sad and fascinating at the same time. (I couldn't help but think that if the Mexicans weren't exploited with poor wages at home, they wouldn't need to cross the border to earn money - of course, it's not that simple, and yet it is.)
This is a delightful story, woven like a tapestry with a deft hand, wonderfully human and not at all self-indulgent.
When no word comes from Apá - Miguel Garcia - the other villagers taunt Juana and her mother, Lupe, with the hideous word: abandoned. But there's still Don Elías to pay off, and there's only one thing he's asking for and one thing Lupe can give: her body.
As her mother declines further into guilt, depression, craziness and alcohol, Juana never gives up hope that her father is just across the mountains, that he hasn't forgotten or abandoned them. Her determination to find him sees her travel to Mexico City, where she meets Adelina, who helps her find the coyote who helped her father cross the border.
Simply told, Across a Hundred Mountains is a deceptively light, quick read. At its heart, it's beautiful. It has an interesting structure: instead of chapters, the story is told in short scenes from Juana and Adelina's two stories - Juana moving forward from the night of the flood, always in the right order, and Adelina moving back and forth in time, but mostly forward also, yet told from a dozen years in the future. Their stories don't converge until near the end, by which time you've figured out the twist already. I wish I could just spell it out so I could speak more freely about this novel, but I always try to avoid spoilers where I can. (The last thing I'd want to do is spoil the reading magic for anyone else!)
Juana is such a wonderful protagonist, kind and compassionate, determined, vulnerable, strong, resilient. She's a real hero. I loved her to bits. Grande writes sparingly, with minimal adjectives and fairly sparse descriptions, but still the story, the setting, and the characters become vivid in your mind. Juana's voice grows and matures from a little girl trying to be strong to an adult woman trying to make up for the past. I tend to like more description, plumping out the setting and the characters, but interestingly enough the lack of denser prose worked very well here. Stripped down to the bare story, told with compassion and sympathy and yet also respectful distance, it becomes an unsentimental story, one stark and honest that lets you think for yourself and come closer to understanding the human side of the story of illegal immigrants.
In this way, though it's clearly sympathetic to them, it manages to avoid a political agenda. Telling instead the story of these people, what they endure, what they live every day, and their motivations for going to a country that doesn't want them and treats them like cattle - it's sad and fascinating at the same time. (I couldn't help but think that if the Mexicans weren't exploited with poor wages at home, they wouldn't need to cross the border to earn money - of course, it's not that simple, and yet it is.)
This is a delightful story, woven like a tapestry with a deft hand, wonderfully human and not at all self-indulgent.
Read
August 7, 2007I read this book in 3 sittings because I could NOT put it down! This book jumps back and forth between chapters on "Juana" and "Adelina" and keeps you wondering what is happening to each character. It is a book that talks about poverty, relationships, and finding peace after a long rough journey. Quite a tear-jerker!
September 29, 2021
After 13 year old Juana's father left Mexico for "el otro lado" and never returned, she set out on a perilous journey to find him. Will she find not only her father but also an honest coyote to help her travel safely to the US?
Written by an author born in Mexico who entered the US illegally in 1985, this seemed like the perfect read for Hispanic Heritage Month. The story was raw and heartbreaking, yet also hopeful, and I teared up a bit at the end. If you're looking for an authentic voice about what illegal immigration really looks like, then I would highly recommend this book.
Location: Mexico and Los Angeles
Own on Kindle
Written by an author born in Mexico who entered the US illegally in 1985, this seemed like the perfect read for Hispanic Heritage Month. The story was raw and heartbreaking, yet also hopeful, and I teared up a bit at the end. If you're looking for an authentic voice about what illegal immigration really looks like, then I would highly recommend this book.
Location: Mexico and Los Angeles
Own on Kindle
January 14, 2018
More like 3.5 stars.... I enjoyed the topic and really felt like the author did an exceptional job with the emotional aspect to this story. I think the concept of switching between the characters and then one character becomes the other was very interesting, but I found it to be confusing. Especially since it was not in chronological order.
November 11, 2009
CAPTIVATING, CLEVER and INTENSE.
Reyna Grande’s novel, ‘Across a Hundred Mountains,’ is a heart-wrenching portrait of unimaginable hardship, tragedy and despair, cleverly and gracefully told through the stories of two young women—just girls, really—of Mexican heritage: Juana and Adelina. Not many novels can keep my eyeballs glued to the page so tightly that I read them in less than three days, but this one did.
Recommendation: Should be read by all of us so blessed as to have been born to such incredible opportunity, without having to cross a hundred mountains.
Reyna Grande’s novel, ‘Across a Hundred Mountains,’ is a heart-wrenching portrait of unimaginable hardship, tragedy and despair, cleverly and gracefully told through the stories of two young women—just girls, really—of Mexican heritage: Juana and Adelina. Not many novels can keep my eyeballs glued to the page so tightly that I read them in less than three days, but this one did.
Recommendation: Should be read by all of us so blessed as to have been born to such incredible opportunity, without having to cross a hundred mountains.
December 31, 2023
Hjärtskärande sorglig berättelse om fattigdom, migration, familj och identitet. Amás desperation gick rakt in i hjärtat. Hur många historier som denna har utspelat sig i verkligheten?
Spännande och lättläst utan att kännas för enkel. Läsvärd!
Spännande och lättläst utan att kännas för enkel. Läsvärd!
September 17, 2024
This riveting short novel by Reyna Grande is a poignant look at the perils, frustrations, and suffering of poverty-stricken Mexicans and the lengths they will go to improve their lives by crossing illegally into El Otro Lado.
It's also a page-turner with an incredible plot twist that took my breath away.
This is the story of two women:
• Juana García, a 10-year-old when we meet her, is a beloved daughter. She lives with her parents in a stick and cardboard shack along a flood-prone river in a small village in Guerrero, Mexico. One day, while her father is away working, the rain won't stop and floods their small, vulnerable home. Juana is instructed to sit atop a table and hold tight to her infant sister while her mother goes in search of her father. Tragedy strikes. To pay the outsized bills they face, her father leaves for the United States to find better-paying work. But Juana's mother falls apart when it appears he has abandoned them. What her mother does next in order to survive is understandable, but it breaks her spirit. Juana does the only thing she can do: She makes the treacherous journey north, across a hundred mountains to find her father.
• Adelina Vasquez is a 31-year-old woman when we meet her, working as a social worker in a women's shelter in Los Angeles. She is an American, born in the United States. (Her story bounces around in time a bit, and even though can be confusing, stick with it.) When she was much younger, she fled to Tijuana, against her parents' wishes, to be with a forbidden boyfriend who abuses her. It's an unhappy life as he forces her into prostitution. But she loves him and refuses to leave him.
Juana and Adelina's stories are told separately in short, alternating chapters, and eventually the two plotlines become one when they meet in a Tijuana jail cell where they are briefly detained. What happens next is what makes this book so compelling, complete with a brilliant plot twist.
Just be aware: This novel is brutally honest in its depictions of life's cruel hardships and the agonies of death, making it a challenging and unsettling book at times. It is a difficult, emotional novel, but the story it has to tell is vital for all of us to hear.
As much as this is a story of immigration, it is also a story of friendship, family love, redemption, and hopes and dreams that burn brightly even in the direst of circumstances.
It's also a page-turner with an incredible plot twist that took my breath away.
This is the story of two women:
• Juana García, a 10-year-old when we meet her, is a beloved daughter. She lives with her parents in a stick and cardboard shack along a flood-prone river in a small village in Guerrero, Mexico. One day, while her father is away working, the rain won't stop and floods their small, vulnerable home. Juana is instructed to sit atop a table and hold tight to her infant sister while her mother goes in search of her father. Tragedy strikes. To pay the outsized bills they face, her father leaves for the United States to find better-paying work. But Juana's mother falls apart when it appears he has abandoned them. What her mother does next in order to survive is understandable, but it breaks her spirit. Juana does the only thing she can do: She makes the treacherous journey north, across a hundred mountains to find her father.
• Adelina Vasquez is a 31-year-old woman when we meet her, working as a social worker in a women's shelter in Los Angeles. She is an American, born in the United States. (Her story bounces around in time a bit, and even though can be confusing, stick with it.) When she was much younger, she fled to Tijuana, against her parents' wishes, to be with a forbidden boyfriend who abuses her. It's an unhappy life as he forces her into prostitution. But she loves him and refuses to leave him.
Juana and Adelina's stories are told separately in short, alternating chapters, and eventually the two plotlines become one when they meet in a Tijuana jail cell where they are briefly detained. What happens next is what makes this book so compelling, complete with a brilliant plot twist.
Just be aware: This novel is brutally honest in its depictions of life's cruel hardships and the agonies of death, making it a challenging and unsettling book at times. It is a difficult, emotional novel, but the story it has to tell is vital for all of us to hear.
As much as this is a story of immigration, it is also a story of friendship, family love, redemption, and hopes and dreams that burn brightly even in the direst of circumstances.
May 2, 2021
3.5 stars
Purposefully confusing (especially in the first half) for effect but unnecessarily so. The story itself could have held it's own. Still really enjoyed!
Purposefully confusing (especially in the first half) for effect but unnecessarily so. The story itself could have held it's own. Still really enjoyed!
Read
February 12, 2020This was recommended to me as a more authentic Mexican immigrant story as an alternative to the much-hyped & now-reviled American Dirt. I cannot speak to its authenticity, but there’s a very interesting thing going on with how the author brings two separate narratives/identities into alignment until the two characters are revealed to be the same person. Hard to describe without giving the whole plot away.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2021
3.5 🌟
Definitely a compelling story even if the simplistic writing style left something to be desired.
Definitely a compelling story even if the simplistic writing style left something to be desired.
December 31, 2023
Ratings:
Writing 2
Story line 3
Characters 2
Impact 3
Overall rating 2.5
Writing 2
Story line 3
Characters 2
Impact 3
Overall rating 2.5
May 11, 2009
This is the story of migration, love and loss as two women (Adelina and Juana) find the path of their lives crossing. Juana’s family suffers a tragedy which greatly affects Juana’s relationship with her mother. Juana’s father, Miguel leaves to go to the United States to find work and money for the family. Juana and her mother struggle greatly in the absence of Miguel. After two years, Juana leaves Mexico to search for her father.
Juana is befriended by a young woman, Adelina in a Tijuana jail. Adelina was born in the United States and came to Mexico with her boyfriend. The two make plans to leave their life in Mexico behind them and go to the United States. Juana is desperate to find her father and find out why he did not return to Mexico as he had promised.
The story is told in alternating chapters by Juana the young girl living in Mexico in poverty with her mother and Adelina a 30 year old social worker in Los Angeles.
This is a debut novel by Reyna Grande. I love discovering new authors! I can only imagine the Reyna Grande enhanced the story by using some of her personal life to shape this story. When Reyna was 5 years old her parents immigrated to the United States and left her and her siblings in the care of their grandmother. At the age of nine, Reyna immigrated to the United States to be with her parents. She currently resides in Los Angeles. Author’s Website is http://www.reynagrande.com/
My Review: This book was recommended to by my friend, Syd. I thought the writing was good. The book was engaging and had a good flow to the story. The descriptions of life in Mexico were interesting and heartbreaking. I felt a bit confused in the middle of the story by the alternating chapters by the two women, Juana and Adelina. The author quickly brings it all together and it all makes perfect sense. Once everything started to come together, I had a hard time putting the book down. Once again I stayed up too late reading!
4/5 – Recommended/ A Good Read.
Juana is befriended by a young woman, Adelina in a Tijuana jail. Adelina was born in the United States and came to Mexico with her boyfriend. The two make plans to leave their life in Mexico behind them and go to the United States. Juana is desperate to find her father and find out why he did not return to Mexico as he had promised.
The story is told in alternating chapters by Juana the young girl living in Mexico in poverty with her mother and Adelina a 30 year old social worker in Los Angeles.
This is a debut novel by Reyna Grande. I love discovering new authors! I can only imagine the Reyna Grande enhanced the story by using some of her personal life to shape this story. When Reyna was 5 years old her parents immigrated to the United States and left her and her siblings in the care of their grandmother. At the age of nine, Reyna immigrated to the United States to be with her parents. She currently resides in Los Angeles. Author’s Website is http://www.reynagrande.com/
My Review: This book was recommended to by my friend, Syd. I thought the writing was good. The book was engaging and had a good flow to the story. The descriptions of life in Mexico were interesting and heartbreaking. I felt a bit confused in the middle of the story by the alternating chapters by the two women, Juana and Adelina. The author quickly brings it all together and it all makes perfect sense. Once everything started to come together, I had a hard time putting the book down. Once again I stayed up too late reading!
4/5 – Recommended/ A Good Read.
February 9, 2021
I poured myself another glass of wine as I quelled my tears and steeled myself to write this review.
Last year, the book I learned the most from was American Dirt. I was completely ignorant of the controversy surrounding it till I went to write my 5 star review and came across others comments and critiques. It was a hard, hard check on my own biases and ignorance. The critiques gave a particular insight to the publishing industry and the glaring issues there, and just how foolishly we gobble it up and let our perspectives be framed by those least qualified to offer insight.
This was one of the books recommended for a more accurate portrayal of immigrants and what they’re up against. It’s been sitting on my shelf since last year because, I’m the first to admit it, I’m particularly keen on bestseller lists, and wary of books that didn’t come with a lot of hyped up recommendations. So I put it off, over and over again.
It’s small, and short, but oh so powerful, and now, having finished this, I legitimately cannot understand why THIS book was not touted, advertised, and pushed by the publishers with the same enthusiasm and gusto that American Dirt was. This is a bestseller. This should be a bestseller.
I’m getting the rest of her books.
Across a Hundred Mountains packed such a punch in this little package. It’s beautiful in a sad, haunting, ugly way. The writing is so poignant, and the story is heartbreaking. This book should have topped the charts. And I’m not saying that as penance for my ignorance in buying and enjoying American Dirt as I did. I’m saying it as an avid reader, a bibliophile, a lover of books and well written prose. This should be a bestseller.
Last year, the book I learned the most from was American Dirt. I was completely ignorant of the controversy surrounding it till I went to write my 5 star review and came across others comments and critiques. It was a hard, hard check on my own biases and ignorance. The critiques gave a particular insight to the publishing industry and the glaring issues there, and just how foolishly we gobble it up and let our perspectives be framed by those least qualified to offer insight.
This was one of the books recommended for a more accurate portrayal of immigrants and what they’re up against. It’s been sitting on my shelf since last year because, I’m the first to admit it, I’m particularly keen on bestseller lists, and wary of books that didn’t come with a lot of hyped up recommendations. So I put it off, over and over again.
It’s small, and short, but oh so powerful, and now, having finished this, I legitimately cannot understand why THIS book was not touted, advertised, and pushed by the publishers with the same enthusiasm and gusto that American Dirt was. This is a bestseller. This should be a bestseller.
I’m getting the rest of her books.
Across a Hundred Mountains packed such a punch in this little package. It’s beautiful in a sad, haunting, ugly way. The writing is so poignant, and the story is heartbreaking. This book should have topped the charts. And I’m not saying that as penance for my ignorance in buying and enjoying American Dirt as I did. I’m saying it as an avid reader, a bibliophile, a lover of books and well written prose. This should be a bestseller.
Want to read
July 23, 2010"The phenomenon of Mexican immigration to the United States is one of the most controversial issues of our time. While it is often discussed in terms of the political and economic implications, Grande, with this brilliant debut novel and her own profound insider's perspective, puts a human face on the subject. Who are the men, women, and children whose lives are affected by the forces that propel so many to risk life and limb, crossing the border in pursuit of a better life?
"Take the journey Across a Hundred Mountains and see."
"Take the journey Across a Hundred Mountains and see."
September 16, 2016
While I enjoyed the story of these two women and found the interweaving of the tale entertaining, i did get somewhat confused during the tale. Certainly the struggle and the cruelty that we know occurs for the down-trodden trying to make a better life for themselves and their families, did ring true. The book was easy to read and kept my attention right to the end. Perhaps a little simplistic in the style itself. Is it a translation? That might be the reason. If you are interested in experiencing the difficulties of an immigrants challenges, a good read.
April 10, 2009
As another reviewer said, "I really wanted to like this book more than I did.."
So far, storyline is a bit confusing with 2 similar (? the same ?)characters; writing style is a bit flat.
OK, done now. The topic of immigrants from MX being separated from their families back home and their culture is a very timely one and something that very much interests me. I have read other books, though, where I felt this was dealt with more compellingly. (E.g., High Wire Moon)
So far, storyline is a bit confusing with 2 similar (? the same ?)characters; writing style is a bit flat.
OK, done now. The topic of immigrants from MX being separated from their families back home and their culture is a very timely one and something that very much interests me. I have read other books, though, where I felt this was dealt with more compellingly. (E.g., High Wire Moon)
June 10, 2016
Painful subject matter - two young women who search across the Mexico/US border for their fathers and for forgiveness. Juana is only 12 when her father leaves for "el otro lado" (the other side); when he hasn't returned in three years she sets out to find him. Adelina is am American running from a bad situation at home and now working as a prostitute in Tijuana. The girls meet up and try to help one another. Compelling story, but the author needs to work on her craft.
January 15, 2018
Two and a half stars. The writing wasn't bad and it was a very quick read. I wasn't sure if the ending was supposed to be surprising or not. It seemed very obvious to me, but then took forever to get there. It was just a little too slow for me and the slowness was filled with a ton of depressing stuff. I would have liked to read more about the border crossing and how they adapted after crossing.
Read
December 1, 2017A breathtakingly, yet heartrendingly realistic story has made me go through many different emotions. A story of migration, love, and loss all bundled together with two ladies who have very different backgrounds, yet have many goals that cross one another. Juana, a very brave young lady who has seen the depths of despair. She and her family experiences a horrible tragedy that changed Juana's relationship of her mother. With the absence of her father, matters did not get any better. After being fed up with fact, she decides it was time to find her father. In the United States. Which is a totally different country and cultural background from Mexico. Juana later befriends Adeline, who came from the United States to Mexico for her boyfriend. The two decided, it was probably best for them to leave Mexico and restart in the U.S.
The writing style was superb, and amazing. As expected of Reyna Grande. All though the story is told in two perspectives, the author quickly brings it all together in the end. The story is told in a way where I can sympathize greatly with the characters.
The story mentions issues such as the obvious gap between the rich and poor. Whether it be the social aspect or economic income, it was all talked about in this story. Although the characters were fictional, the experiences were very real and realistic.
If you like stories that give the truth in having a troubling Hispanic background and are very realistic fiction based, this is the book for you.
The writing style was superb, and amazing. As expected of Reyna Grande. All though the story is told in two perspectives, the author quickly brings it all together in the end. The story is told in a way where I can sympathize greatly with the characters.
The story mentions issues such as the obvious gap between the rich and poor. Whether it be the social aspect or economic income, it was all talked about in this story. Although the characters were fictional, the experiences were very real and realistic.
If you like stories that give the truth in having a troubling Hispanic background and are very realistic fiction based, this is the book for you.
Read
December 6, 2017I thought it was great. I have my own history about Mexico, being a first generation Mexican-American, man of my mother and father's family now in the states came illegally and others came with papers thanks to either my mother of father after they obtained their citizenship. Thank you for this story, it confused me a little at the twist part but it was a wonderful turn.
September 17, 2024
Across A hundred mountains is a amazing and sad story about girl who is looking for her father after he migrated to US. Although across a hundred mountain is fictional, there are a lot of real life aspects about the journey of immigrants in the united states. I completely recommend it, mostly if you have leave your family or country this book is a jewel.
January 30, 2025
Good story. Very clever how the characters of Juana and Abelina cross paths and came together. But honestly, it was very confusing in the couple chapters right before we find out how and why they cross paths. I think those couple chapters could’ve been written in a less confusing and annoying way.
January 25, 2020
Such an interesting read. I was captivated in trying to figure out how Juana and Adaline's lives would converge and didn't anticipate how they did. Anxious for my book club discussion this week as these two women's lives were so impacted in looking for their father.
May 25, 2024
This is a book that will forever stay in my mind. I felt my heart being ripped and stepped on so many times. To all my migrants crossing, I pray for your safety. I’m so so glad our book club picked this for May’s reading.
Read
January 12, 2024This book was wild. Always kept me guessing. I read this for class but still enjoyable
January 26, 2025
Very poignant story. Well narrated. A tad hard to follow as it follows two girl’s journeys and jumps back and forth in time. But a very well written story.
March 2, 2025
Not a bad book. Interesting subject.
December 12, 2025
Heartbreaking, but just as good as I remember it.
September 10, 2020
3.7 stars rounded up to 4. A hard to-put-down story about two young women -- Juana, born in extreme poverty in Mexico who dreams of traveling to California to find her father, and Adelina, a young American runaway living in Tijuana. The writing is lovely and vivid, especially when the young Juana is narrating. There's a fair amount of Spanish during conversations between characters which I did not understand. I had a good sense of where this was going and was not surprised at the unexpected twist at the ending. Appreciate adding a new author to my list to follow.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 340 reviews