It is hard not to fall in love with Lydia and her son Luca. After their family is murdered in Acapulco and they know they are next on the hit list, Lydia decides to flee Mexico for a better life in the United States. They embark on a long, embattled journey and meet others in situations like themselves along the way, and they work together.

I really liked everything about this one: characters, plot, pacing, setting. So much of this is an adventure story, and oftentimes it’s hard to get your bearings as a reader when there’s a lot going on at any one time. This didn’t have that. You feel the adventure and intrigue, but yet there are small moments that give you bearings in time, place and setting.

Also what I enjoyed about this is that it is written to give you empathy, not sympathy, with Lydia’s and Luca’s plight. Our current administration tries to portray immigrants one way, and, even though I know it’s not true, I felt a new understanding of people’s plights in other countries.