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“Like the chugging of The Beast, Johnston’s poetic prose permeates Manuel’s journey and gives a steady rhythm to the story even as Oaxaca-based psychotherapist and translator Fontanot de Rhoads provides details to ground it . . . A beautiful, visceral plunge into the perils that the train-jumping migrant brotherhood experiences.”

—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

“Johnston (Bone by Bone by Bone) and de Rhoads (a psychotherapist and debut author) offer a sympathetic, illuminating portrait of the challenges faced by one undocumented immigrant.”

—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“This does not shy away from the brutal realities of Manuel’s journey, but it also glories in the kindness and love of strangers, giving this harrowing story a balance of fear and hope . . . A tough yet hopeful immigration story.”

—Booklist

“This story feels personal and real; it does not romanticize or try to fully tackle the complex issue of immigration. Manuel narrates in a frank, unflinching manner, using a well-crafted combination of short, abrupt thoughts and longer descriptive sentences. Spanish words and phrases are woven expertly throughout the narrative.”

—School Library Journal

Beast Rider: A Novel

Written by Tony Johnston and María Elena Fontanot de Rhoads
Published by Amulet Books

Twelve-year-old Manuel leaves his small town in Mexico to join his older brother in Los Angeles. To cross the US border, he must become a “beast rider”—someone who hops on a train. The first time he tries, he is stopped by the Mexican police, who arrest and beat him. When he tries again, he is attacked by a Mexican gang and left for dead.

Just when Manuel is ready to turn back, he finds new hope. Villagers clothe and feed him, help him find work, and eventually boost him back onto the train. When he finally arrives in LA and is reunited with his brother, he is elated. But the longer he’s there, the more he realizes that something isn’t right.

Thrilling and heartfelt, Beast Rider is a coming-of-age story that reveals how a place and its people help to define you.

Primary ISBN: 9781419733635
Publication Date: March 2019
Available As: Hardcover, eBook
Young Adult, Age 12 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Setting: Mexico, United States (Los Angeles CA)

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: On Journey, Immigrant

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

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