Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Refugee kids find new life in nuanced, relatable sequel.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
As THE CROSSROADS opens, Guatemalan refugees Jaime and his cousin Ángela are settled in on the ranch in New Mexico where his brother Tomás works, but they still face a lot of uncertainty, from their undocumented status and gang violence against family members back home to regular things like adjusting to new schools. Ángela, whose English is good, is soon fitting right in and has loads of friends. Jaime struggles more, but his talent for art brings him a friend and later comes to save the day when another friend's in trouble. Meanwhile, kids and adults around them have struggles of their own, but also triumphs and moments of kindness and courage.
Is It Any Good?
Author Alexandra Diaz continues to deliver a complex, relatable, heartwarming story of two undocumented cousins fleeing gang violence back home and trying to settle into new lives. Many kind people offer help and support in The Crossroads, but there's lots to worry about, from immigration-status issues to a school bully who tells them that parents who love their kids don't send them away.
The struggle to stay safe, do the right thing, and protect your loved ones is real. Here, Jaime considers going back to Guatemala to deal with the gangsters who have killed his grandmother, and his older brother responds:
"'What do you plan to do, kill them? Do you really want to be responsible for someone's death? You'd be no better than they are.'
"'I—' but Tomás was right. Jaime couldn't become like them. That's what happened to Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the refugees' struggles in The Crossroads. How do you think it would feel to have to leave your home and go somewhere else because you'll be killed if you stay home? What other stories do you know about characters in this situation, and how they cope?
Do you know any American Sign Language? Do you think it might be a handy way to talk with people whether they're deaf or not?
Do you like manga, like Jaime and Sean do here? Which ones are your favorites?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Contemporary Fiction
- Topics : Arts , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , School ( Middle School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
- Publication date : September 4, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 336
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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