Written by Alda P. Dobbs
At the start of the book Petra’s father istaken to fight in the Mexican Revolution. Petra, her Abuelita, her sister Amelia, and her baby brother cross the American border into a refugee camp in Texas. With no way of getting food or a place for her family to stay, Petra goes out looking for work. There are not many people looking to hire twelve-year olds, so Petra finds a way to get a train ticket to San Antonio away from the smallpox-infested refugee camp. Petra finds a job in a chili shop but is let go as soon as they find a boy to do the job. She finds a Nun in a catholic church that helps her make her start in America. She tells Petra about how she and her sister came to America from Ireland during the famine. She works hard for her family and brings home enough money to pay for their food and their little home. Her father finally runs away from the revolution and finds his family. She learns that if she works hard enough, she can find her dream. She learns that she can learn to read and write and can become the teacher she wants to be.
Reviewed by Christie Haslam, Librarian, Gearld Wright Elementary
Review shared in 11/20/2023
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 4-8
The Other Side of the River
Written by Alda P. Dobbs
Sourcebooks Young Readers
350 pages
Release Date: September 6, 2022
ISBN: 9781728238449
A review copy was provided by the publisher.
