Which Way Home

Gr 9 Up—Every year, thousands of Central Americans and Mexican Americans attempt to cross the border into the United States by riding atop freight trains. About five percent of them are children and teenagers. This extraordinary film brings viewers into the perilous, poetic, and inspiring world of several boys who dream of a better life, and risk life and limb to attain it. Kevin, 14, from Honduras, has plump cheeks and works hard not to cry when he thinks of his mother, who encouraged him to go to "El Norte." His friend Fito, 13, has neither bright eyes, round cheeks, nor a mother, and hopes to somehow arrange his own adoption in the United States. Other teenagers, some of them street children, share the ravenous look in Fito's eyes. The poignancy of their stories will help viewers engage with a complex array of social issues—including the differences between legal and illegal immigration, and what it means to be an American. Watching the boys ride the rails is heart-stopping. Along the way, Kevin, Fito, and their friends come across caring adults who provide food and medical care. However, these children are largely alone in the world. The combination of gorgeous cinematography, urgent social commentary, and sympathetic human stories make this a winning film. If a library can only purchase one film about immigration, this is the perfect choice.—Jess deCourcy Hinds, Bard High School Early College Queens, Long Island City, NY