Editor's Note: This review was originally published in Los Angeles Book Review.
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| Julio Anta |
Mateo embarks on a long, arduous journey away from his parents in Mexico to cross the Sonoran Desert. His goal is to make it to Phoenix, Arizona before the start of his senior year of high school. But before he makes it to his grandmother’s home in the U.S., he must make the dangerous border crossing, policed by anti-immigrant vigilantes and federal security. The journey is physically and mentally taxing, causing Mateo to make rash decisions. In his hour of need, Mateo gains an unlikely ally. The lessons of the desert will never be forgotten.
Julio Anta tells the harsh realities of crossing the Mexico-U.S. border through Frontera|, an emotionally engaging story, rich with heart and action. Flawless illustrations by Jacoby Salcedo depict the excruciating and punishing atmosphere of the desert. Frontera does not sugarcoat the hazards faced by those who take great risks, from working with coyotes to avoiding detection by border patrol.
The graphic novel tells the unvarnished truth about the agony of family separation and state-sanctioned violence against migrants. The book addresses misunderstandings about undocumented immigrants—who they are and their intentions for coming to the United States. One hopes that by reading about Mateo’s struggles, the reader would develop empathy for the plight of people seeking a better life.
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