Until I Find Julian
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
Newbery Honor–winning author Patricia Reilly Giff tells a vivid, contemporary story about a remarkable boy who risks everything for his family and a bold girl who helps him. At home in Mexico, Mateo knows where he belongs: with Mami, Abuelita, little brother Lucas, and big brother Julian. When Julian leaves to work in el Norte, the United States, Mateo misses him. And when the family stops hearing from Julian, Mateo knows he has to find his beloved brother.
With only his old notebook and a backpack, Mateo heads for the border, where dangers await: robbers, and the border police, who will send him back home or perhaps even put him in prison. On his journey, Mateo meets Angel, a smart, mysterious girl who can guide his crossing. Angel is tough; so is Mateo, and his memories of his loving family sustain him. Because no matter what happens, he can’t go home until he finds Julian.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Giff (Winter Sky) offers an incisive look at the struggles of undocumented workers and the power of family and friends. Mateo, a 12-year-old Mexican boy, is distressed to learn that his older brother, Julian, has disappeared after a border patrol squad raided the Arkansas construction site where he was working illegally. Knowing that their family depends on the money Julian sends home and fearing for his brother's safety, Mateo makes a risky decision: "I have to find him, save him, the way he saved me once." In notebook entries that appear sporadically between chapters, Mateo reveals that Julian once rescued him from drowning and shares other memories that underscore the bond between them. On his perilous trek northward, Mateo meets Angel, a runaway girl who helps him cross into the U.S., and a tender, nurturing friendship develops. The characters' dreams (Mateo aspires to be a writer, Angel is determined to return to school, Julian longs to become a professional artist) bring added depth to each of them, while highlighting the hope and determination that drive them forward. Ages 8 12.
