Reyna Grande's "Across a Hundred Mountains" (public event)

Here is a synopsis of this book. It was taken directly from Reyna Grand'e webiste: www.reynagrande.com 

Across a Hundred Mountains is a stunning and poignant story of migration, loss, and discovery--as two women, one born in Mexico, one from the U.S., find their lives joined in the most unlikely way.

Adelina, a 31-year-old social worker at a battered women’s shelter, suddenly finds herself on a bus to Mexico, ready to confront her dying mother, accept her past and find happiness in her future.

Juana must say goodbye to her father, who leaves Mexico to create a better life for his family in the United States.  When her mother falls apart and her family hasn’t heard from her father in two years, Juana embarks on the same journey to find him and make her family whole again.  On her way, 14-year-old Juana is wrongfully accused of stealing a man’s wallet and is thrown in a Tijuana jail, where she forges an unbreakable bond with an American runaway.  While her new friend introduces her to dangerous territory, she also gives Juana her passage to a new life, and consequently, the opportunity to fulfill her dreams.

Mexican immigration is one of the most talked about, controversial issues in the news today. Author Reyna Grande, who came to the United States when she was nine, has an insider's perspective that lends insight to this politically charged issue. Across a Hundred Mountains puts a human face on the epic story about those who make it across the border, those who never make it across, and those who are left behind.