To the Other Side by Erika Meza

To the Other Side

Erika Meza

HarperCollins · Print & ebook · March 14, 2023

A Picture Books pick for readers exploring To the Other Side.

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Who it’s for
A child’s game frames a difficult journey with tenderness, danger, and room for hope.
Themes
Migration and border crossing, Sibling bond, Hope and perseverance
Pacing
Steady

About this book

Author-illustrator Erika Meza delivers a stunning and emotionally rich book from the viewpoint of those most impacted by border walls: young refugee children. This powerfully told tale highlights the spirit and strength of those embarking on a dangerous trek, and what awaits them on the other side.

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Yoto Carnegie Medal Shortlist * New York Public Library Best Book of the Year * Kirkus Best Book of the Year * School Library Journal Best Book of the Year * My sister tells me the rules of the game are simple. Avoid the monsters. Don’t get caught. And keep moving. If the monsters catch you, you’re out. A young boy and his older sister have left home to play a game. To win, they must travel across endless lands together and make it to the finish line. Each child imagines what might be waiting for them across the border: A spotted dog? Ice cream! Or maybe a new school. But the journey is difficult, and the monsters are realer than they imagined. And when it no longer feels like a game, the two children must still find a way to forge ahead. ★ "The story is ultimately hopeful, gently providing probing insight into the lives of the youngest migrants." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) ★ "Beautiful, timely, and poignant. Recommended for all collections." —School Library Journal Online (starred review) ★ "Powerful. It’s a realistic but hopeful look at two children’s emigration."— Publishers Weekly (starred review)

A Game Turns Serious

A child’s game frames a difficult journey with tenderness, danger, and room for hope.

Come here for

  • A young refugee’s perspective on crossing a border
  • A child’s imaginative lens on a perilous journey

Expect

  • Emotionally rich storytelling with a hopeful thread
  • A gentle frame that doesn’t soften the real danger

Where it sits

Immigration & Moving99%
US: Hispanic & Latino Stories44%
Sibling Stories33%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Survival Stories
  • Sibling Stories
  • Stories Set in Mexico
  • Big Feelings
Show all 8 publisher categories
  • Homelessness & Poverty
  • New Experiences
  • Self-Esteem & Resilience
  • Immigration & Moving
Authors
Erika Meza
Publisher
HarperCollins
Published
March 14, 2023
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Migration and border crossing · Sibling bond · Hope and perseverance
Reading lane
Survival Stories