I decided to read this one because the Accelerated Reader system my school uses flagged it as Upper Grade, and I wanted to see if it was appropriate for 6th grade. It's themes are not, but it's a riveting story nonetheless about a boy wanting to cross the Rio Grande to the U.S. This book was copyright in 1987, so it's not based on current issues.

I just finished reading THE CROSSING by Gary Paulsen. It was a eye opening book about be young, alone, no parents, a orphan named Manny, has been living in the streets of Mexico. He's still a teenager, his whole life he has been trying to get over the Mexican boarder to the USA,

Reading about Manny and his struggles, I realize how important family is, and it stinks to be alone, he doesn't even have family that will take him to the USA. The point the author is trying to get to the reader is that no matter how annoying family is, it's better to have family then none. Manny realized that no matter what gets in front of you, you can handle it. Anything that gets in your way you can figure it out to get a better life.

A quick and easy read to kill time.

Wow! That ending took me by surprise. This is another great story by Gary Paulsen. It's interesting how many of his books explore the margins of white America and where it intersects with others -- American Indians, Eskimos, and and in this case, a Mexican boy on the border. This book also explores some mature themes: human trafficking, PTSD, alcohol abuse, severe poverty and hunger, death. In all, though, it's extremely well done.