Boy of the Border
(October 2009, Sweet Earth Flying Press, ages9-12) is the
rousing coming-of-age story of 12-year-old Miguel Del Monte
who unexpectedly joins his uncle's herding party that is
driving wild broncos from northern Mexico to Los Angeles.
Miguel is determined to prove he is brave and smart
enough to deal with the anticipated hardships. Set during
the Mexican Revolution, Miguel and the horsemen encounter
roving bandits as well as the dangerous forces of nature in
the rugged American Southwest desert.
During the cross-border trek Miguel meets people from
diverse racial and ethnic groups. The bittersweet
interactions among them teach Miguel some major life
lessons. These experiences also reflect the common ground and
decency among people, the richness of various cultures and
the power of multicultural inclusion.
Each chapter of Boy of the Border is embellished
with exquisitely drawn illustrations done in sepia to hint
at the patina of an older book. The buoyant, lively
narrative
and dialogue keep the story moving and upbeat. In the
1930s, Arna Bontemps and Langston Hughes, prolific writers
and good friends, co-wrote a number of children's books with
Haitian and Mexican characters. They were meant to inspire
and educate young readers, especially children of color. Boy
of the Border was condensed into a 10-page novella
entitled "Broncos over the Border" and published in the July
1965 issue of Jack and Jill magazine. The full book was never
published.
Sixty-five years after Boy of the Border's
creation, Sweet Earth Flying Press uncovered the manuscript
among the Langston Hughes papers at the Beinecke Rare Book
and Manuscript Library of Yale University. Sweet Earth
Flying Press will release Boy of the Border in
October 2009.
About the Authors &
Finding Boy of the Border |
Advance Praise for Boy of the Border
"This beautiful story will enchant and
inform children even as it also gives us a fresh
appreciation of the literary magic of Langston Hughes and Arna
Bontemps."-Arnold Rampersad, Professor and Senior
Associate Dean, Stanford University.
"This first-ever publication uncovers a
riveting adventure story that will engage children and
adults alike."-Sonia Sanchez, internationally acclaimed
poet. |
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