Separated at the Border

Walsten’s gripping debut humanizes the Southern border crisis by focusing on two Honduran refugees: 15-year-old Antonio Vazquez and his seven-year-old sister, Isabella. With their father murdered by the MS-13 gang and their mother missing, the Vazquez siblings hope to start a new life in Houston with their aunt. But once they cross the border, the two are separated. Antonio ends up at Florida’s Everglades Detention Facility, whose head, Rebecca Cross, has been selling some of the children sent to her to a Dominican gang that has expanded into human trafficking. That corruption comes to the attention of an idealistic fledgling journalist, Diamond Herrera, who’s outraged at the federal government’s family separation policy. When Diamond learns how Cross is treating her charges, she contacts her old journalism professor, Jason Taylor. Jason’s skills as a former Army Ranger come in handy when Diamond persuades him that direct private action is needed to rescue children. Never mind the clichéd romance that develops between Diamond and Jason. Fans of timely topical thrillers will be pleased. [em](BookLife) [/em]