Many of the characters in the novel wrestle with the prospect of leaving their homes to cross la línea. Why do some characters choose to leave and make the perilous journey? What are their motivations for either leaving or staying? Finally, consider your answer in the Personal Connection Prompt. Does your response align with any of the characters’ motivations in the novel?

Teaching Suggestion: The novel primarily follows the main characters’ motivations to cross the border—Elena and Miguel wish to be reunited with their families, while Javi hopes to join his relatives in New York and aid his family left behind in El Salvador. However, Jaramillo briefly touches on other characters who choose to stay in San Jacinto. Some characters find the journey to be daunting or impossible, while others are not physically able to make the journey. Additionally, characters like Don Clemente and Juanito are able to profit off of others’ journeys in the human smuggling business. Furthermore, these motivations do not always end with favorable results; Jaramillo portrays this division in the Epilogue with Elena’s choice to return to Mexico.