Beyond the Border
Originally published as a memoir for adults, this young reader's edition of The Distance Between Us is a rare example of an adaptation that doesn't lose its teeth. Reyna Grande recounts her childhood in Iguala, Guerrero, where she and her siblings were left in the care of a grandmother who clearly didn't want them. The 'distance' of the title refers to the physical border, but more poignantly, to the emotional gap that grows between parents and children when years of separation take their toll.
What makes this book stand out in the crowded field of 'issue books' is Grande's refusal to make anyone a caricature. Her father is both the hero of her dreams and a flawed, sometimes violent man struggling with his own demons and the pressures of poverty. This nuance is vital for middle-grade readers who are beginning to realize that adults—and systems—are complicated.
For kids who enjoyed Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan or Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai, this provides a more contemporary and geographically relevant perspective. It’s a fantastic tool for the 'language comprehension' strand of literacy, introducing kids to complex syntax and cultural concepts like El Otro Lado while keeping the narrative stakes high enough to keep them turning pages.
The teen-sized edition: The Distance Between Us (Young Readers Edition) is the official young readers adaptation of this book (ages 10–15) — same core ideas, shorter and gentler in the telling. The right handoff for a curious kid who isn't ready for the original.
