Twelve-year-old Felipe and his younger sister, Romy, literally are running for their lives. Along with their mother, they are trying to escape El Salvador, haunted by fears of what has happened to their father, Jacinto, whose disappearance has propelled them into flight. Jacinto's political activities against the government had made him a target. Now that he has apparently been caught, their mother is following the advice he once gave her: "If they come for me, you and the children - grab hands and run." Felipe, Romy and their mother, Paloma, must rely on their strength, their wits, and most of all, one another, to survive as they journey by any means they can find through Central America and Mexico and on into the United States, where they are fugitives still. Insight into human nature, understanding and the political barriers to justice in many countries, including our own, are blended into this swiftly-moving first-person narrative that ends with a chapter set in Wisconsin. (Ages 11-14)

In her second novel, the award-winning author of Taste of Salt explores another political hotspot in this story of a family's flight from El Salvador. Temple paints a strong picture of what the family's life was like before, during and after their journey, as well as in a U.S. Detention center. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.