Across the Great River

Across the Great River, Irene Beltran Hernandez, Arte Publico Press, 1989

Across the Great River begins with young Kata, her little brother Pablito, and their parents crossing the border from Mexico to America.  Kata's father is shot in the first chapter of the book during the fleeing and does not reappear until the final chapter.  The rest of the story in between focuses on Kata, Pablito, and their mother trying to make it in the U.S.  The meet Anita, a fat old woman who has witch-like healing powers and who becomes like a grandmother to them.  Kata's mother finds a job but is later attacked by the bad men who Kata keeps seeing in her dreams.  In the end, the family moves back to Mexico because America has treated them too harshly.  Papa comes home and just so happens to know where a bunch of gold nuggets are hidden.  The family lives richly and happily ever after.

I'm not really sure what this book is trying to teach the reader.  Kata's father wanted to take his family to America so that they could have a better life and Kata could get an education (which was too expensive in Mexico).  In the end, though, the family goes back to their old life because its easier.  Papa ends up being safe in Mexico the whole time and knows where thousands of dollars worth of gold is embedded in some rocks.  The story moved way too fast at points and way too slow the rest of the time.  There wasn't even any Spanish in the book (other than "hola" and "gracias") to get kids involved.  I really don't think the book has any big ideas or themes that I would be able to teach.

I would never use this book in my classroom.  First of all, it's so simply written that it would probably be insulting to my middle school students.  Also, it's just plain boring.  The middle of the story dragged on and on with Kata moving from place to place.  She kept meeting new people who would take care of her for a while but never further the action of the story.  The book might work in a classroom if it actually incorporated Spanish, but the whole thing is written in really simplistic English.  I would definitely not teach this book in my classroom.