Pulga (15 years old), Chico (13), and Pequeña (17) live in a barrio in Guatemala, a place where children are shot in their driveways, people are forced into gangs, parents are shot if a teen takes a wrong step. Pequeña finds herself pregnant after Rey forces himself into her life. Pulga and Chico are coerced to work for Rey's gang after witnessing a shooting in which Rey is involved. Their dreams are slowly destroyed by the impossibility of their situation.
But Pulga has been planning. He has a notebook tucked under his mattress with directions on how to make the trip to the United States, on La Bestia. It is filled with danger and uncertainty, but what are their options?
The three leave their barrio without a word to anyone. They begin their journey North - and this novel is that story.
If you are looking for a happy book - turn around and walk away. This is a terrible story filled with impossible choices. But it is a story well told and one that needs to be read.
This is a Flume nominee for the 2021/22 school year. You will find it on the shelves at South and at Nashua Public Library. NPL also offers it in an audio format on Hoopla, and both audio and ebook via Libby.
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