Levi Vonk is a young anthropology student investigating migrant caravans in Mexico. Early in his process Levi meets Axel Kirschner, whose story includes time in the US, Guatemala, and travel through Mexico. Their experiences form the core of their book, Border Hacker: A Tale of Treachery, Trafficking, and Two Friends on the Run.

Axel is Afro-Latino and tells Levi he’s Guatemalan by birth but also spent many years living as an undocumented child and teen in metro New York City. With a wife and two kids living in the US, Axel was making his way in the world of technology. But a minor traffic stop leads to his deportation to Guatemala. When Levi meets him, Axel is making his way north and hopefully back to his family.

The more time the two men spend together, the more connected they become. Levi has tenuous connections to aid organizations and tries to help a variety of folks. But it’s Axel that he risks the most for. Together they dodge the cartels, border agents, police, and other unsavory characters.

Border Hacker gripped me from the very first chapter, although it often seemed too outlandish to be true. On the other hand, Levi is grounded in his approach, despite the sometimes frantic nature of his efforts to help Axel and others. These two men are on a voyage together that gets worse before it gets better and ultimately isn’t tied up in a neat Hollywood-style package.

My conclusions
The complexity of the whole migrant experience is completely believable. Levi and Axel encounter real-life characters throughout Mexico, many of whom live in the grey world between providing aid to migrants and making money by helping the cartels. Nothing is black and white in Border Hacker except the ink on the page.

Most of the story is told by Levi, and his tone is mostly measured with the underlying calm that comes from his white privilege. He often mentions the advantage of having a US passport. And yet, he’s not afraid to put his life and future on the line for the migrants, especially Axel.

Interspersed between Levi’s sections are Axel’s contributions, developed from multitudes of far-ranging conversations between the two men. Axel speaks with his own unique patois, a rhythm they include rather than whitewash. He’s a ballsy guy caught in an untenable situation, often with no choice but to use his hacking skills for illegal activity.

Axel and Levi are likable characters, which makes rooting for them easy. This is a cultural anthropology story that’s well-told and eminently readable.

I recommend Border Hacker if you want an unvarnished, true story of migrant caravans and undocumented life in Mexico.

Acknowledgments
Many thanks to NetGalley, Perseus Books, PublicAffairs, Bold Type Books, and the authors for a digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for this honest review. Border Hacker debuts on April 26, 2022.

Border Hacker is the true story of Axel Kirschner, an undocumented man who immigrated to NYC with his parents before he could walk or talk. As an adult, he was pulled over due to a minor traffic violation and deported to Guatemala - a place where he has not roots or legal means to work and live.

Attempting to cross back to the US via the legendary train "The Beast," Axel meets Levi Monk, an anthropologist interested in documenting the journey of those who are trying to cross. Before long, Levi and Axel become great friends and Axel reveals that he is an astute computer hacker - an ability that gives him tools to enable him to enter back in the US.

The two hurtle towards the US detailing a series of events that are almost too crazy to be real. Along the ride, both provide narratives of who they are and what they experienced prior to meeting. The entire ride you are on the edge of your seat, hoping against hope that the pair can make it.
Border Hacker is an adventure, an odyssey and an amazing story that you are sure to enjoy !

I am so glad to have stumbled upon this book. At first, I wasn't sure what I was reading, but I was happy to have pushed through.

Being from Canada, US immigration policy is not something I knew anything about. Mexico is somewhere we go to vacation and are sadly and by choice, ignorant to the poverty and crime; try not to look past the resort. I hear snippets on the news, shake my head, and go on with my day. I picked up a book a few years back that had some controversy around it regarding undocumented migrants and their travels. I learned a few things and swore to pick up some books by Latin X authors. I did. I read them, just trying to grasp somewhat of an understanding.

This book is from the inside; from down deep in years of living with those dealing with US immigration policy every day, on the run, in corruption, violence and desperation, even more so for those South of Mexico. These people are just pawns in government garbage, on both sides of the border, desperate for a documented life, a home address, a birth certificate, a bank account, peace.

The book was extremely well-researched. Levi got right down in the trenches and got dirty with this book. I did like the back and forth authoring with Levi and Axel, and the obvious difference in writing style. I loved that Axel was authentic in his writing and that he could be left to tell his story his way. I also appreciated Levi's more in-depth explanations. I can't wait to see this book blow up and make some waves!

This book was fabulous and I wish the authors all the best! I absolutely recommend it! Wishing this book much success!

Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and AUTHORS for this educational and transformational read!