when Guerrilla Soldiers Strike Santiago’s Village, They Destroy Everything In Their Path — Including His Home And Family. Santiago And His Four-year-old Sister Escape, Running For Their Lives. But The Only Way They Can Be Truly Safe Is To Leave Guatemala Behind Forever. So Santiago And Angelina Set Sail In A Sea Kayak Their Uncle Ramos Built While Dreaming Of His Own Escape. Sailing Through Narrow Channels Guarded By Soldiers, Shark-infested Waters, And Days Of Painful Heat And Raging Storms, Santiago And Angelina Face An Almost Impossible Voyage Hundreds Of Miles Across The Open Ocean, Heading For The Hope Of A New Life In The United States.

alan Review

when Guatemalan Soldiers Attack And Burn His Village, Santiago And His Four-year-old Sister, Angelina, Are The Only Survivors. This Violent Scene May Startle Some Readers, But It Also Introduces Them To The Tragedy Of Guatemala During The 1980s. Santiago’s Only Hope Is To Escape Guatemala, And His Only Means Of Doing So Is His Uncle Ramos’ cayuco, A Small Sailboat. From Here, The Novel Recounts Santiago And Angelina’s Arduous Trip From Guatemala To The Us. These Two Children Battle Hunger, Storms, And Sickness As They Sail Across The Gulf Of Mexico To Reach The Florida Coast. Initially Met With Anti-immigrant Hostility, A Poor Reflection On The Us Policy At The Time, They Are Eventually Granted Asylum And Allowed To Report Their Family’s Massacre. This Story Is Often Gripping, Told In The Present-tense Voice Of Santiago As He Confronts Each Trial. Readers Will Appreciate His Determination And Resourcefulness In The Face Of Great Danger, Although They May Find The Occasional Heavy-handed Political Commentary Intrusive. 2002, Harper Collins, 212pp., Fairbanks

Publish Date : 2003