A review by bibliobrandie
The Only Road by Alexandra Diaz

4.0

Couldn't put this one down and ended up finishing it in one day. One of the 7th grade classes is reading Caminar so I was looking for a book to pair with that lesson. This one is about Jaime (12) and Angela (15) who are cousins and have to leave their small village in Guatemala after the local gang kills their relative (Miguel, who is Angela's brother and Jaime's cousin). This is told in first-person through Jaime and it really allows you a unique perspective into a young person who has to decide to join a gang of leave everything and everyone he knows in search of safety. The two set off and you follow their harrowing journey through Guatemala and Mexico as they head north via coyotes and La Bestia. I've read two other books with this plot line but both were too violent for most middle grade students. I like how Diaz handles this story and eludes to the violence but keeps it from getting too graphic. I think this is an important read for all middle grade students.