Red Midnight

Gr 5—9—Santiago is jarred from sleep by his mother as she thrusts his four year-old sister, Angelina, into his arms. Frantically, she tells them to flee to the forest surrounding their village. Santiago returns briefly to see that guerilla soldiers have murdered his entire family. His uncle Ramos lies dying, but tells Santiago to go to his house, take his "cayuco," and sail to America. There he must tell the story of what happened that night in this small village in Guatemala. Santiago sets off for Ramos's house with a bewildered and frightened Angelina. Relying upon his wits, he manages to get there and retrieve the kayak that will start them on their journey. Santiago is only 12 and a nautical novice. But with fierce determination and perhaps a bit of naïveté, he pilots the craft out of Guatemala and across the ocean to the United States. Ben Mikaelsen's novel (Rayo, 2002) is a gripping survival story of two children afloat for 25 days who face an angry sea, dehydration, hunger, and exposure. Chris Nunez's authentic Latino accent lends credence to the story of this resourceful boy. He perfectly conveys Santiago's shock as the story opens as well as the desperation the children feel. This true-to-life tale illuminates the plight of refugees leaving behind a country they love with hope as their only guiding star. This will be a sure fire hit with middle schoolers.—Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA