The Other Side of the River
Alda P. Dobbs
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The Mexican refugee character that readers met in Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna (2021) is back, but this time she is on the other side—the United States’ side—of the border. In The Other Side of the River, the second middle-age grade historical novel written by Alda Dobbs, the story of Petra Luna continues when Petra, along with her two younger siblings and her abuelita, has border crossed from Mexico into the United States territory to escape the Mexican War. Even as Petra Luna is only a young teen, she assumes the role of matriarch, searching for work to provide shelter and food for her displaced family. On this side of the border, Petra’s trials initially seem as formidable as those she and her family faced as they traveled through Mexico to find refuge in San Antonio. In fact, Petra soon learns that on this side of the border, her once-held assumptions of opportunity and riches quickly diminish. She relates: “I had walked most of the streets in town, and none were paved with gold or sprinkled with diamonds like I’d once imagined. They were dull and muddy and made from packed earth like the ones back home” (p. 14). But as Petra and her family struggle to meet their basic needs, two things are quickly apparent with Petra’s new journey. First, through Petra’s experiences struggling as the resilient matriarch of her family, her journey reveals repeated opportunities she has because she is in this country. A large part of those opportunities stems from Petra’s community network. Repeatedly, as Petra faces numerous challenges from finding employment to accessing education, there are community supporters willing to help her be successful. The message is clear: refugees create a supportive community. |
In addition, Petra’s new journey is a testament to the bountiful cultural diversity in the Southwest. In her journey, Petra crosses paths with multiple immigrants and refugees who have traveled much further than she and her own family did to arrive in San Antonio. Once in San Antonio, Petra meets Don Wong, a Chinese store owner, and Sister Nora, an Irish Catholic nun who immigrated from Ireland to escape the potato famine. But it is not only European and Asian immigrants and refugees Petra crosses paths with, Petra also reconnects with her own Mexican refugee cousin as he travels throughout the Western part of what is now the United States, working in the railroad system. Refugees and how they historically contributed to the Southwest landscape to create its diversity are on display in this historical novel.
These two especially important explorations—of displaced people fleeing from war and other atrocities who find multiple opportunities to exist in this country while sharing their own rich cultural traditions and values—encompass the lesson of this book. By introducing readers to the rich intersections of communities that find refuge in the Southwest, the novel testifies for its middle-aged grade readers an age-appropriate conversation tackling mature topics, including the role refugees have in positively impacting their newfound countries and the ethical responsibilities that we all have to include and provide safety for refugees seeking asylum.
These two especially important explorations—of displaced people fleeing from war and other atrocities who find multiple opportunities to exist in this country while sharing their own rich cultural traditions and values—encompass the lesson of this book. By introducing readers to the rich intersections of communities that find refuge in the Southwest, the novel testifies for its middle-aged grade readers an age-appropriate conversation tackling mature topics, including the role refugees have in positively impacting their newfound countries and the ethical responsibilities that we all have to include and provide safety for refugees seeking asylum.
Alda P. Dobbs is the author of the historical novels Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna and its followup, The Other Side of the River (September 2022). Her debut novel received a Pura Belpre Honor and is a Texas Bluebonnet Master List selection. Alda was born in a small town in northern Mexico but moved to San Antonio, Texas as a child. She studied physics and worked as an engineer before pursuing her love of storytelling. She’s as passionate about connecting children to their past, their communities, different cultures and nature as she is about writing. Alda lives with her husband and two children outside Houston, Texas.
The Other Side of the River is a publication by Sourcebooks Young Readers.
The Other Side of the River is a publication by Sourcebooks Young Readers.
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