安·賈拉米洛的這部令人心碎的中學生小說《La Linea》出版十多年，講述了穿越墨西哥邊境進入美國的故事。如今，它比以往任何時候都更應景。
自從六年十一個月零十二天前，米格爾被父母留在墨西哥的那天起，他就一直夢想著回到加州與父母團聚。在他十五歲生日的早晨，米格爾的等待結束了。
或者說，他是這麼想的。北上前往邊境的旅程——la línea——充滿了危險。盜賊、邊境警衛，以及兩天穿越沙漠的艱苦跋涉。獨自生存已經夠艱難的了。更何況還要帶著他的妹妹──他的跟班。
錢花光了，希望也幾乎破滅了，米格爾和妹妹別無選擇，只能跳過臭名昭著的“mata gente”列車，向邊境疾馳而去。他們緊緊抓住飛馳的火車頂，彼此扶持，也緊緊抓住各自的夢想。但他們很快就明白，夢想並非總是遙不可及——即使是那些已經實現的夢想。
Over a decade since its publication, Ann Jaramillo's heartbreaking middle grade novel La Linea--about crossing the Mexican border into the US--is more timely than ever.
Miguel has dreamed of joining his parents in California since the day they left him behind in Mexico six years, eleven months, and twelve days ago. On the morning of his fifteenth birthday, Miguel's wait is over.
Or so he thinks. The trip north to the border--la línea--is fraught with dangers. Thieves. Border guards. And a grueling, two-day trek across the desert. It would be hard enough to survive alone. But it's almost impossible with his tagalong sister in tow.
Their money gone and their hopes nearly dashed, Miguel and his sister have no choice but to hop the infamous mata gente as it races toward the border. As they cling to the roof of the speeding train, they hold onto each other, and to their dreams. But they quickly learn that you can't always count on dreams--even the ones that come true.
