Southwest Books of the Year 2021: Ann Dickinson's Kids' Picks

by Lai, Thanhha

Book - 2019

Háng, a teenage Vietnamese girl, takes a harrowing journey to Texas to try to find her long-lost younger brother, who was torn from her arms as a baby six...Show more Háng, a teenage Vietnamese girl, takes a harrowing journey to Texas to try to find her long-lost younger brother, who was torn from her arms as a baby six years ago. She finds him, now almost totally Americanized, and he doesn't want anything to do with her. Hàng carries memories of her parents being killed and seeing other kids murdered into life in a strange country where she is surrounded by people speaking an unknown language. Leroy, a young wanna-be cowboy, takes pity on her and tries to become friends. --Ann Dickinson Show less

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City of Gold

by Hobbs, Will

Book - 2020

Mules have been stolen from Owen's family ranch. He follows the thieves from New Mexico into southern Colorado to retrieve them. Owen chases the thieves b...Show more Mules have been stolen from Owen's family ranch. He follows the thieves from New Mexico into southern Colorado to retrieve them. Owen chases the thieves by foot, by rail, and by horse to Telluride, the City of Gold. He finds the mules, their brands having been changed, working in the mines. The Butch Cassidy Gang is involved in this theft. Owen works tirelessly to save the mules and return home safely. --Ann Dickinson Show less

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Southwest Sunrise

by Grimes, Nikki

Book - 2020

Jayden, a young boy, does not want to move from New York City to New Mexico. Once he arrives in the Southwest, he finds mountains, flowers, red rock pilla...Show more Jayden, a young boy, does not want to move from New York City to New Mexico. Once he arrives in the Southwest, he finds mountains, flowers, red rock pillars, and an endless turquoise sky. He wonders where this sky was in New York City. He spends a day exploring, then thinks maybe this place could become home after all. This book won the Children's Literature Legacy Award. --Ann Dickinson Show less

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The Everything I Have Lost

by Aguilar Zeleny, Sylvia

Book - 2020

Julia's father is a drunk who works for El Gringo, a gang leader in Juarez, Mexico. At night the family is awakened by gunfire, bomb explosions, missing p...Show more Julia's father is a drunk who works for El Gringo, a gang leader in Juarez, Mexico. At night the family is awakened by gunfire, bomb explosions, missing people, and bodies lying in the streets. One day her father arrives home badly beaten up. Julia's friend tells her that Los Narcos did it. She goes to stay with her tía in El Paso for a while, and her father deteriorates and dies. This terrifying story was previously written in Spanish by the author. --Ann Dickinson Show less

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We Are Not From Here

by Torres Sanchez, Jenny

Book - 2020

Pulga, Pequeña and Chico are three friends who live in Guatemala. Pulga's father was killed in a crash, Chico's mother was also killed, and Pequeña is unw...Show more Pulga, Pequeña and Chico are three friends who live in Guatemala. Pulga's father was killed in a crash, Chico's mother was also killed, and Pequeña is unwillingly pregnant by a gang member. After much violence and fear, the three decide to ride La Bestia, a train that can take them north to Mexico and further. They have to ride on top of the train or cling to railings on the outside of the train. It's a perilous journey, and when other riders yell, "Jump!" because Los Narcos or La Migra are approaching, all three jump from the top of the train, severely hurting Chico. This is a heart-breaking story inspired by true events. --Ann Dickinson Show less

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See all of Ann Dickinson's picks, past and present. See all of Ann Dickinson's picks, past and present. Show less

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