October 2009 University Of Kansas

When falling crop prices threaten his family with starvation, fifteen-year-old Victor Flores heads north in an attempt to “cross the wire” from Mexico into the United States so he can find work and send money home. But with no coyote money to pay the smugglers who sneak illegal workers across the border, Victor must struggle to survive as he jumps trains, stows away on trucks, and hikes grueling miles through the Arizona desert. Victor’s journey is fraught with danger, freezing cold, scorching heat, hunger and dead ends. It’s a gauntlet run by millions attempting to cross the border. Through Victor’s often desperate struggle, Will Hobbs brings to life one of the great human dramas of our time.

10 Main Event Sort

1.Victor’s friend Rico shows Victor his $1500 “coyote” money to help Rico cross the U.S. border. Victor realizes his corn crop will not be enough to help his family, so he decides to go to the U.S. too. 2.Victor travels on a bus and then hops a car train, staying in a Mexican built Suburban. 3.Victor and Julio make a plan to float into the U.S. through drainage ditches. Julio takes a chance with an inner-tube while Victor thinks it is too risky. 4.On a bus Victor meets Miguel, who teaches him how to use a map and cross into the U.S. over the rough mountains. 5.Victor and his friend make it across the border but are caught and deported back to Nogales.

6.Victor meets up with Rico, and they carry food for the mule train they have joined. 7.After crossing through rough terrain, escaping from drug dealers, and rescuing a Border Patrol guard, Victor finally makes it to America. 8.Victor and Rico discover that the picking season in Arizona is over and Rico’s brother is a crook. However, they are hired to pick vegetables in far away Washington state. 9.Victor and Rico make lots of money to send home. Although Rico decides to return to Mexico, Victor stays and hopes to become a U.S. citizen.

Fish Bowl student-lead discussion

The outer circle sits the observers. You are assigned to observe one student in the fishbowl. You are accountable in writing down every point your partner addresses in the discussion, along with evidence used to support the point. The observer is only an active listeren and cannot participate in the discussion. The inner circle sits the fishbowl participants. You will be actively engaging in the conversation. You are accountable to each other and building and listening connections. Everyone is accountable for parts of the discussion. So pay attention to the whole conversation. On wrap up, everyone will readdress the topic, and make conclusions on the own using evidence from the entire discussion. Fish Bowl

INSTRUCTIONS  During the fishbowl, observers are not allowed to speak. Their job is to listen and learn from the fishbowl students  Observers will have an opportunity to discuss any issues that emerge in later processing dialogue.  One of the fishbowl students the role of facilitator. Your responsibility will be to ask questions, facilitate the fishbowl discussion, and make sure everyone has an opportunity to talk.

At the beginning of the novel, Rico tells Victor that the U.S. will change its immigration laws allowing those already in the U.S. to stay. What kind of law would you propose to solve the illegal immigration issues between Latin America and the United States? In your opinion, what is the most obvious danger that Victor encounters on trek to El Norte. What did you learn about humanity from reading Crossing the Wire? How does money affect Victor’s journey? Are there factors beyond money that motivate him to try and find work in the U.S? When Victor finally sends money to his mother he is “on a mountain top of happiness” (page 208). If he could have called her, what would he have said?

Rico leaves Mexico because of his parents’ expectations of him, page 7, and he returns to Mexico because of his expectations of himself, page 214. Will Rico try again to come to the U.S? On page 97, Miguel and Victor talk about the opportunities in America for hard workers and the advantages children have in the states. What does Miguel mean when he says, “In Mexico, if you are born poor, there are no branches within reach, and the trunk is coated with lard?” How do you believe U.S. teens take for granted their tree of opportunity? Miguel and Victor talk about the relationship between illegal Mexican immigrants and the States. Miguel poses several rhetorical questions to Victor, page 100. Express your opinion on the following dialogue: “They say that one out of every ten citizens of Mexico is living in the States. Think if they ever rounded us all up. Who would do all the work? Are they willing to pick the fruits and the vegetables to fill their grocery stores? How much would their food cost without us to harvest it? I tell you, they would miss us badly. As for our country, think if we weren’t able send all this money back to our families.”