4 1/2 out of 5 stars.

The Border is a heart-breaking, harrowing tale that definitely puts a human face on illegal immigration. It is timely considering the political climate in the United States right now, with all of this fear-mongering and talk of building a wall.

In the Author's Note, Mr. Schafer states "My hope for anybody who reads this novel is that it inspires you to take a moment and imagine what drives someone to come to this country and what that journey is like, whether legal or illegal. Empathy begins with the recognition that everyone has a story." I think it is extremely unfortunate that the people who most need to read this book to open their eyes, hearts and minds to humanity will never pick it up.

I have never read a book quite like this one. I honestly did not think that I was going to like it very much, and I was pleasantly surprised. Thank you Mr. Schafer for humanizing, well, humans. And thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. I'll definitely be purchasing this one for the library

There was much to celebrate as the different families came together for the birthday party of a fifteen year old girl. While the party was in full swing four of the young adults, Pato, Arbo, Marcos and Gladys sneak off for a smoke away from the eyes of their parents. When they hear sort of cracking noises they recognise it for gun fire and soon discover that all of their families have murdered execution style and the men responsible for the killings are still there. Marcos manages to get a gun from the house and a mini shoot out takes places between them and the bad guys. Finally the four manage to escape but not without this gang knowing who they are. They use the media to help to track them down as ‘missing children’. It really is game on as nothing seems like it will stop the narcos from hunting them down and finishing the job they began, to wipe all the families out!
There is only one solution for these traumatized kids and that is to make the perilous journey across the desert border between Mexico into the USA. A journey that takes a huge amount of lives each year from the elements, bandits and gangs roaming on the USA side also ready to take them down. This is a really touching story where a couple of the kids have to face a reality of their families lives that they never knew about.
This story puts four very traumatized kids into the situation of having no choice but to cross the border into the USA to literally try to save their lives as going back is certain death. The story though tells of the dangers that face hundreds of Mexicans each year while trying to enter America illegally.
Steve Schafer gives a very realistic account of the perilous journey made between Mexico and America through these four young and very naive teenagers. From the time their families were wiped out they have quickly transformed from children to adults. They are the ones that have to make all the decisions now. They have all had to face losing their families and it has formed a reluctant bond between them if they are going to survive they need each other.
This is a very fast paced story that gets straight into the action, the chase and then at a slower pace, but one of the most intense times, the journey crossing of the border. A story mixed with fact and fiction brilliantly told that will suit mid teens as a real gripping read and older readers as a fascinating story.
I wish to thank the publisher for an ARC of this book which I have reviewed fairly and honestly.

I have read alot of YA books filled with desperation, destruction and heart wrenching plots. This book takes you buy the heartstrings and never lets go. Immigration and thoughts about the polital and social ramifications of the Mexican border have been front and center in social media. This story presents this subject in a way that really lets us see a side of immigration by desperate means. Through the eyes of 4 teenagers who have lost everything and are forced to risk what little they have left; each other. A must read for young adults struggling to understand the argument about Mexican border crossings and the necessity of immigration.

I have never read a book that was anything like The Border. This is a story I think needed to be told because I don't think people realize how difficult life in other countries can be and why someone might chose to cross the border into America illegally. You feel sympathetic for these characters from the beginning and I was rooting for them the whole time. The story did feel a little slow in places, but where it didn't it was intense and interesting. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publsher, Sourcebooks Fire, for a copy of The Border in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was so excited to read this book. I honestly knew nothing about it or the author when I came across it on NetGalley. When I read that this was about 4 teens trying to cross the Mexican/American border after all of their families were murdered by a gang I was hooked. I’ve never read a book like this and with today’s politics in the US it is UBER relevant!

Let me tell you this, if you are looking for heartbreak – cause let’s be honest who doesn’t crave a good heart crushing story once in a while – YOU NEED TO GET THIS BOOK. My heart was hurting from beginning to end. The story is tremendously sad and the journey they take is physically and mentally exhausting. The writing was on point! It was as if I was reading a memoir, not a fictional story. The details were so precise and the descriptions were so extraordinary.

Some of the characters fell a little flat for me. The fact that the character who’s point of view we have falls in love with the only girl in their group is just typical. I understand, some of the scenes wouldn’t have been so dramatic without the romance, but it was such an obvious thing to happen. For a book that’s unlike any I’ve ever seen or read, it was disappointing to have the fail safe romance.

I loved this book though. And whether or not you think this might be something that will interest you, please give it a chance! I’m not normally one to push books on people but I loved this one and it’s so relevant to today’s events.

This isn't a title I would've picked up on my own. That said, there were parts of it that I really enjoyed and parts that I found just meh. The pacing is strong and the story moved forward at a good rate, which is probably what kept me reading until the end.

Lots of action. Even where the story slows, things are still happening and the tension is there. I think the biggest thing that held me back on this one was that I never really felt a connection. I kept turning pages to find out what happened next, but not because I cared specifically for the fate of any particular character, but in that train-wreck sort of way where you just stare at the carnage. There was an emotional distance here and, while the characters were well-drawn, for me, they remained mostly flat.

The story is well-written and fast-paced and, even though it's fiction, I think it helps paint a face on current immigration issues and what some have to sacrifice in order to survive. Overall a good read.

I received a free copy from NetGalley. Timely book given the current political climate, it gives personalities to one reason why someone might cross the border illegally and just how difficult it is to do so even without a wall. This book gives a lot of food for thought.

I was already bored, and skeptical because "white guy telling POC story." But then he threw in the "She's not like other girls" line and I had to DNF at 14%.

Patio has left a party to get fresh air. He sits down on an old abandoned seat when Arbo appears saying I thought you would be here. Marcos and Gladys are with them when they hear gunshots. They run back and find everyone dead at the party. A lone gunman sees them and tells them that they will kill them when one of his partners yells out to him and says kill them now. The killers are narcos. How do the four escape from the narcos at the murder sight? Plato thinks of someone they might be able to stay with that the narcos don't know about. This is necessary as they don't want their friends to be killed too. A decision is made that they must escape to the United States by crossing the border. The desert they cross almost causes their death. Gladys does die. How? Why? Plato tries to get them help after Gladys dies. Will he succeed? Do the three of them make it to the United States?

This is a heart rendering novel. I felt their anguish and pain not only when their families are killed but during their escape too. The novel is intense. It does have some surprises even though the story is filled with tension and suspense. The author does include some humor which eases the story for a short time. I found that the relationship between Plato and Arbo all too human but also helps the novel from becoming too sad. There is hope.

Interesting perspective. Can't wait to share with my students!

I finished this book within 2 days because I couldn't put it down! I loved the bond between Pato and Arbo and how they constantly supported one another with each new obstacle that was thrown at them! The fast pace and suspense will appeal to my eighth graders and keep them reading until the very end! I can't wait to "book talk" this book the first week of school! I anticipate that I will have a waiting list to check it out!

As Pato is entering his cousin’s birthday celebration with his parents he sees a strange black car sitting outside the house and means to say something about it but with the excitement of entering with his family it slips his mind. Later in the night Pato, Arbo, Marcos, and Gladys sneak away from the party to smoke when all of a sudden gunshots ring out in the night.

When the group return they find everyone from all their families have been executed with the gunmen still there. Marcos thinks quick and finds a gun to return fire but the group finds themselves on the run from the drug dealers. With nowhere to go and the narcos doing everything they can to find them the group finds themselves setting out to cross the desert hoping to find freedom in the US.

Steve Schafer has come up with an excellent novel that truly fits today’s society and headlines giving a look into the lives of some of the innocent that are forced to flee Mexico and risk their lives crossing the border illegally. With all the talk in the news of building walls on the border this story is very relevant with the four innocent teens having no other option but to run away from their home due to the volatile situation that was not any doing on their part.

The story is fairly fast paced with a decent amount of action building the tension throughout their journey although I did find a few slower moments. There’s a bit of a romance that builds between Pato and Gladys which of course didn’t sit well with Gladys’ older brother Marcos who becomes the self appointed leader and protector of the group to add to the drama of the story during their crossing. Arbo was the sort of class clown type of personality which leads to a few funnier moments to lighten up the read here and there.

Overall, while this young adult read is a story of fiction the reality of the characters situation is a great look into the struggles that some truly do suffer and I’d definitely recommend checking it out.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

The Border is a YA story by Steve Schafer. I am far removed for the YA group but I did enjoy this story. The action starts immediately but it took awhile to become invested in the characters. Some very intense edge of your seat moments but also found myself laughing out loud a few times. I was given an early copy to review.

I heard about this book earlier this week while listening to a Booklist webinar so I requested an ARC through NetGalley. The opening chapters grabbed me right away. We will be purchasing The Border for our teen collection. This is a great book for teens who like adventure and realistic fiction. The author created characters, especially Pato, that teens could relate to. It gives them a look at why some people cross the Mexican border into the U.S. but he does not take any political sides. The only criticism I have is that I wished the characters were developed a little more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire and Steve Schafer for providing an advance copy of The Border by Steve Schafer. Debut author, Steve Schafer, has written a heart wrenching book about Mexican teens forced to endure murder, secrets, betrayal, and danger after a celebratory family party results in the death of their families and all that they knew and loved in their lives. I could not put down this book as I followed Pato, Arbo, Marcos and Gladys through their intense journey from Mexico across the border and into the horrors of the desert. I loved the four characters: Pato who is vulnerable (but strong) to so many conflicting thoughts and feelings, Arbo (Pato’s best friend and cousin) can’t defend himself but helps in any way he can, Marco is a hothead who is not afraid to protect his sister, use a gun, and fight and finally Gladys, Marcos’ sister who is sweet, kind, and always tries to be positive keeping the group together with her wisdom. As these teens run from a Mexican gang and everyone else (they have bounties for their capture) the reader learns about their lives before the party and are catapulted into each hour and footstep after as they try to evade capture and flee to “safety” in the United States. These teens are tested time and time again in ways they never imagined. YA fans and reluctant readers hearts will palpitate as Pato and friends try to survive too much adversity and facing impossible choices. Readers will root for these Mexican teens through cliff hangers, chaos, and much suspense as they race against time toward a life that does not promise safety and security but that I hope, they can persevere. Please read the Author’s Note and Acknowledgments, they are very important and I liked that high school students read and gave feedback on this timely and real issue. Highly recommended!

A terrifying thriller from start to finish that explores family, culture, fear, and the depths of survival. THE BORDER moves with a fast-paced plot made more tragic by the truth behind its story.

Just by reading the description of The Border, I knew it was going to be an emotional roller coaster type read and it was. SO MANY FEELS. I laughed, I mostly cried. It was such a sad and emotional story. It’s also a story about survival and boy did Pato, Arbo, Marcos, and Gladys fight to survive. I grew to love every single character; even Marcos and at times it was so hard to. The things that they had to see and live through, no kid should ever have to. They lost everything and in the end they only had each other and they needed each other more than anything. They fought hard and I was rooting for them all the way to the end.

I’m glad I was given the opportunity to read this book, because it’s so important. Things that have happened in this book are things that have been going on in Mexico for decades. This isn’t something new and it’s still happening today. The Border may be a work of fiction, but some of the places and things happening are not. There are thousands of people that lose their lives in the Mexican desert just trying to get out of an already crappy life in Mexico. They’re willing to risk everything (even their life) for the chance and hope for something better for themselves and their families.

Overall, The Border was a very emotional read. At times it was pretty scary and some of the events that happen are horrific. There were some good moments as well even through all the bad. Hands down, one of my favorite books of the year so far. This book, this story, these characters were EVERYTHING. I loved this book so much and it’ll be one of those books that I will forever think about, talk about, and recommend.

This is a highly relevant and important book. It is fairly well written. The weight of the content makes it difficult.

I was invited to read and review this book and to be honest I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this book. The content was something that I don't usually choose, but I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed this book and I learned a lot about the lives of people who choose to illegally immigrate to the US via the Mexican/American border.
Living in the upper Midwest my entire life, I was aware of this happening, but never really knew much about it. I appreciate the insight this book gave me as well as the empathy that I have developed for those individuals having to deal with this experience.
Thank you for inviting me to read this book, it was amazing and eye opening to say the least.