Winner of the International Latino Book Award “An incredibly heartfelt depiction of immigrants and refugees in a land full of uncertainty.” — Kirkus Reviews “Insightful, realistic picture...especially important reading for today’s children.” — Booklist “Fans of The Only Road will appreciate...while teachers and librarians may find the text useful to counter unsubstantiated myths about Central Americans fleeing to the US.” — School Library Journal Jaime and Ángela discover what it means to be living as undocumented immigrants in the United States in this timely sequel to the Pura Belpré Honor Book The Only Road . After crossing Mexico into the United States, Jaime Rivera thinks the worst is over. Starting a new school can’t be that bad. Except it is, and not just because he can barely speak English. While his cousin Ángela fits in quickly, with new friends and after-school activities, Jaime struggles with even the idea of calling this strange place “home.” His real home is with his parents, abuela , and the rest of the family; not here where cacti and cattle outnumber people, where he can no longer be himself—a boy from Guatemala. When bad news arrives from his parents back home, feelings of helplessness and guilt gnaw at Jaime. Gang violence in Guatemala means he can’t return home, but he’s not sure if he wants to stay either. The US is not the great place everyone said it would be, especially if you’re sin papeles —undocumented—like Jaime. When things look bleak, hope arrives from unexpected places: a quiet boy on the bus, a music teacher, an old ranch hand. With his sketchbook always close by, Jaime uses his drawings to show what it means to be a true citizen. Powerful and moving, this touching sequel to The Only Road explores overcoming homesickness, finding ways to connect despite a language barrier, and discovering what it means to start over in a new place that alternates between being wonderful and completely unwelcoming. Alexandra Diaz is the award-winning author of The Only Road , The Crossroads , Santiago’s Road Home , and Farewell Cuba, Mi Isla . The Only Road was a Pura Belpré Honor Book and won the Américas Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature, as well as numerous other accolades. Santiago’s Road Home was an International Latino Book Award gold medalist and an ALA Notable Children’s Book. Farewell Cuba, Mi Isla was a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year, received the Teacher’s Favorites Award from the Children’s Book Council, and received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews and School Library Journal . Alexandra is the daughter of Cuban refugees and a native Spanish speaker. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, but got her master’s in writing for young people at Bath Spa University in England. Visit her at Alexandra-Diaz.com. The Crossroads CHAPTER ONE “Are you sure I have to go? There’s only six weeks and three days left of school anyway.” Jaime twisted the straps of his new backpack around his hand. “I can help you with your work, Tomás, I know I can.” The large brown building seemed to have been dropped from space into a field of cacti and scattered bushes that the locals called trees. The glass gleamed from the windows and the stucco and brick walls still had that new, un-broken-in, graffiti-free look that made the whole building less welcoming. New in every way. But to Jaime Rivera, who was used to chipped cinder blocks and slatted windows that opened and closed with a hand crank, this school building looked completely alien. Tomás put an arm around Jaime’s shoulders but kept driving down the two-lane highway toward the solitary building in the middle of the desert. On his other side, his cousin Ángela shifted the new backpack on her lap to reach for Jaime’s hand. “I’m scared too,” she said just loud enough for Jaime to hear. They’d talked about it all week. Tomás and Ángela. Mamá and Papá back in Guatemala. Even Abuela had her one-minute say in it. Everyone agreed, “The children need their school,” and “They should be grateful for this opportunity.” It’s not that Jaime didn’t want to go to school. It’s just that going in August would be better than going now, today, in the middle of April. Today. Only a week after coming to live with his brother, Tomás. Only a week since he arrived in southern Nuevo México. A week since he and Ángela had crossed la frontera into los Estados Unidos. Tomás parked the truck in a big parking lot near the glass front door. These people really liked their glass. “Alright. The sooner we do this, the sooner you’ll see everything’s going to be okay.” Jaime didn’t believe him. He glanced at Ángela and then scooted out of the driver’s side door Tomás held open for him. With a second slamming door, Ángela got out too. At fifteen, she was going to a different school, one ten minutes away and in the middle of town. They’d driven past it yesterday when they’d gone grocery shopping. That school at leas