Until I Find Julian

Reviewed by: Ann Marie Townsend - South Berwick Public Library, South Berwick, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 9, 2016

Review

This is a well written novel on the topic of illegal immigration from Mexico. Mateo is a twelve year-old boy from a loving family who lives in poverty with his widowed mother, grandmother and younger brother and leaves to search for his older brother, Julian, who works illegally in the United States to help support his family. When Julian goes missing during a raid on the construction site he works at, Mateo leaves to find his brother. During the dangerous journey, Mateo meets Angel, a girl who helps him cross the Rio Grande and becomes his companion on the journey. Mateo does have the address of a cousin in Texas who helps him travel to Arkansas to the address where Julian previously lived. Angel is street smart, but illiterate, and together they search for Julian. This is age appropriate for the intended audience of grades 3-6, the problem is articulated well without going into the politics of it and puts a face to the problem without being to graphic.

Overall Book Score: very good