This book is the follow-up book to Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna. This book is based on a true story of the author's great (maybe even another great) grandparents. Alda Dobbs pulls you in to the world of San Antonio 1913. The love between Petra and her family is heart-warming and Petra's hard work ethic is outstanding. Must read!!

*Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book for review, all opinions are my own*

When I read the first book I didn't know there would be more so I was surprised, and I was in a dilemma about whether or not to read the sequel but I really liked the first book so I decided to give this story a chance and I'm happy I did it. Like the first book, this book was spectacular, I really liked it.
I highly recommend this duology, I feel like it's the type of story that everyone should read.

The Other Side of the River by Alda P. Dobbs
A stunning sequel to Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna, this poignant historical story about family, literacy, immigration, growth mindset, and community shows Petra Luna’s grit and determination to help her family and survive in their new home in Texas after escaping the Mexican Revolution. 12-year-old Petra Luna is a complex, likable girl with big dreams and fierce loyalty. Once she gets the family to San Antonio with a bartered train ticket, she finds them shelter and gets a job. She becomes close with Sister Nora who encourages and supports Petra’s dreams of learning to read while she’s still providing for her family.

The Other Side of the River is the second book in the Petra Luna series and picks up minutes after the first book ends. Petra and her family have made it into the U.S. and they are being settled into a refugee camp. The camp is to find families work and send them on their way, or return them to Mexico if they can't find suitable work. Most of the contractors are looking for men and older children to employ, so Petra is in trouble. Her siblings and abuelita are not suitable for work, and noone is willing to hire a twelve year old girl who had three dependents. Once again, her resourcefulness plays in her favour and she is able to get train tickets to San Antonio. Once there, they find a place to live and she gets a job. Things are not easy, but she meets some people who want to help her and she finds a few good jobs. She learns to read and is able to take care of her family.

This is a wonderful book, but it is quite emotional. The things that Petra had to deal with were not pleasant, including the way she is treated by wealthy Mexican people. She worked hard from daybreak to sundown for a low wage, and when someone's relative comes along, she is quickly let go and left to flounder. These refugees wanted to work, they worked hard and were taking jobs that no one else wanted. This story also shows the importance of education and how hard Petra works to become educated to get ahead. This is a great middle grade book showing how many Mexican families ended up in the U.S. and became prosperous due to hard work.

An easy yet engaging middle grade read. It is a sequel, but this book can be enjoyed by readers who haven’t read the first one. The main character, Petra is a relatable and reliable protagonist. The trials and triumphs and the range of emotional experiences she undergoes hook readers and holds on to them until the end. Thank you for the ARC and the inspiration to add book one to my TBR.

What a wonderful story. The writing makes you feel like you are in San Antonio with Petra experiencing all that she is going through. Your heart breaks and then you find joy as Petra gets stronger. Loved it.

The Other Side of the River is an amazing follow up to The Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna. In the last book, Petra and her grandmother and siblings made it from Mexico to the United States during the Mexican revolution. This book tells the story of their journey in the United States beginning with a stay at a refugee camp on this side of the Rio Grande River. When Petra learns of a man selling train tickets to San Antonio, she does everything she can to get her family there so they don’t have to go back to Mexico. When they finally make it to San Antonio, life doesn’t get much easier for awhile. Petra finally finds work, but learns that she is easily dispensable in the job market. Then she finds Sister Nora and her life in America begins to turn around. Petra is an amazing character with determination, resilience, and a love for her family. I loved reading this book and finding out what happened when Petra and her family were on the other side of the river.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

I’ll start my review by saying the cover of The Other Side Of The River is just beautiful and the picture of young Petra opened my heart immediately. In this book, I meet Petra Luna for the first time as I didn’t know about Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna. Even though this is a sequel, it reads fine as a stand alone, Now I’m compelled to read the first book after finishing this one,

Petra, along with her younger brother and sister and her abuelita, are now on the United States’ side of the border. They have bravely and daringly crossed from Mexico into the United States territory to escape the Mexican War. Petra Luna is only a young teen, yet she is now the family matriarch. She is desperately searching for work to provide shelter and food for her displaced family.

Now in San Antonio, Petra soon learns that on this side of the border, her dreams of opportunity and riches are not as she perceived. She relates: “I had walked most of the streets in town, and none were paved with gold or sprinkled with diamonds like I’d once imagined. They were dull and muddy and made from packed earth like the ones back home” (p. 14).
In this new journey, Petra crosses paths with multiple immigrants and refugees who have traveled much further than she and her own family. One day Petra meets Don Wong, a Chinese store owner, and Sister Nora, an Irish Catholic nun who immigrated from Ireland to escape the potato famine. She reconnects with her own Mexican refugee cousin as he travels throughout the Western part of what is now the United States, working in the railroad system.

Petra sadly learns that American attitudes and racism, she thought she’d left behind on the other side of the Río Grande still exist in other words, the people who look down on her brown skin and bare feet, think someone like her doesn’t deserve more from life. Petra is determined she will get more out for life. She finds her strength and courage tested like never before as she fights for herself, her family, and her dreams.

Petra’s story is set on the streets of San Antonio in 1913. The relationship between Petra and her family is heartwarmig. She loves and protects her sister, but that sisterly annoyance still exists. Petra, only 12 year old, had to become the provider for her family and keep the promise to her father to keep the family safe.

A beautiful and touching work of historical fiction.

After I read BAREFOOT DREAMS OF PETRA LUNA last year, I knew I wanted to read more of Petra’s brave story and see what happened to her and her family. THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER begins where BAREFOOT DREAMS ends, picking up with Petra Luna on the bridge, following her into a refugee camp, and on into a new life.

I love the way the story is paced. It gives time for readers to sink into the historical setting without lingering too long. I felt like I could picture what was happening and the streets of San Antonio in 1913. The relationship between Petra and her sister was also really great. She loves and protects her sister, but sometimes feels annoyed by her, too. I felt like the relationship played out in a very realistic way. Petra also feels very much her age at twelve, almost thirteen. She feels the pressure of being a provider for her family and keeping the promise to her father to keep the family safe. But she doesn’t feel like a tiny adult.

All in all, I loved this story– as much if not more than the first book. I think readers looking for historical fiction should absolutely check out THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER. I don’t think you’d have to read BAREFOOT DREAMS first, but they’re both really good.

Posted 9/26/22.

A sequel to barefoot dreams and a very worthy one too. I read this with my older grandchildren who were shocked at how people can treat each other. They rightly pointed out that little has changed over the years and cited the refugees crossing the channel in small boats and our societys treatment of those refugees seeking help and a better life. Overall this is definately a book I would recommend and it makes a great starting point for further discussion.

Last year, when I read #NetGalley #ARCReview: Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna by Alda P. Dobbs, I was blown away by this children’s book that didn’t read like a children’s book. That book was so good at bringing young Petra’s world to life, I was sure it would be short-listed for the Newbery. I was wrong, although the book was the New York Public Library Book of the Year.

Happily, I discovered a sequel, The Other Side of the River (Amazon), whose publication date is September 6, 2022. I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of the book from NetGalley and Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I did not think a sequel to The Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna could be as good as the original. But in some ways, The Other Side of the River surpasses the original book. While the original book shared the plight of Petra’s family as they try to flee Mexico, the new book is completely different. Petra and her family are now in America, making their way to San Antonio, following the revolution in Mexico.

The trials and tribulations that Petra has to go through in this book are even greater than in the original book. Taking on the responsibilities of taking care of her family at such a young age, always hustling, always thinking, trying to better herself. These are all things that readers young and old can connect with. Dealing with an unfeeling boss, then finding a better place of employment, with better wages and benefits, is just one of the many life lessons one can learn from this book. The strength of family and caring for one another in unparalleled. To take on the burden of caring for a younger sister and brother as well as her grandmother is terrifying yet necessary to Petra’s growth as a person.

I don’t want to get into specifics here because I want you to be surprised at the book’s twists and turns as I did, but suffice it to say that once I was winding up this satisfying read, I could tell the door was open to a third book in the series, for which I was truly grateful. I hope I’m right, because this is the type of children’s book that needs to be written and read.

An MG historical fiction story set in 1913, of twelve year old Petra, who escapes the Federales in Mexico alongside her siblings and Abuelita. Leaving behind her father, who had to serve the Federales in order not to get killed and allowing his family to escape to San Antonio, America.

This is a story of displacement amidst the Mexican Revolution happening in Petra's hometown. I feel it is similar and associative to any displacement situations, only difference being the historical setting of 1913. A tale of strength and courage in times of uncertainty. Of Petra's grit to push on to keep her family alive during difficult times, hunger and a smallpox outbreak. Keeping everyone together. And also working towards her unbelievable dream of learning, despite the flak she received for having such a dream. Having that sense of hope that she will be able to save those around her if she was more literate. This story is rich in Mexican culture and peppered with the occasional Spanish language. There's a prequel to this, which i only found out upon seeing other reviews but as a sequel, TOSOTR still sits well as a standalone. But i think i might go find the first book to read the beginnings of Petra and her journey. Journey of grit, hope and exceptional bravery to survive. I will recommend this to MG readers who are ok with heavier content.

This sequel to "Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna" by Alda P. Dobbs continues the story of our heroine as she crosses the border into San Antonio with her Abuelita and siblings, Amelia and Luisito. Will they be reunited with their lost father? At times harrowing, always inspiring, "The Other Side of the River" is a great read for fans of "Esperanza Rising."

In this sequel to the highly-acclaimed sequel to Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna, twelve-year-old Petra has fled the Mexican Revolution with her younger siblings as well as their grandmother. Now the challenge is to find work so she can keep the vow she made to her father to take care of the family. In 1913 San Antonio, housing and jobs are scarce. Petra still dreams of learning to read and write. Will hard work, prayers, and the care of a kindly nun be enough to help Petra’s dreams come true? Find out in this excellent, inspiring work of historical fiction, perfect for middle grade readers.

When I finished “The Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna,” I was so sad it had ended. I loved how Dobb’s writing brought me right into the action and emotions of Petra and her family’s escape from their ravaged village during the Mexican Revolution culminating with their crossing of the Rio Bravo into the U.S. I was beyond thrilled to see that Petra’s journey would be continued and I was more than satisfied with the conclusion. While “The Other Side of the River” is a sequel picking up immediately after the characters cross into Texas, Dobbs does an exceptional job of setting the stage and catching readers up. It could be read and understood fully as a stand-alone, but why wouldn’t you want to experience the full story? Fabulous!

I devoured Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna and was thrilled when I heard Alda P. Dobbs had written a sequel. This book did not disappoint. Her writing style has an energy that puts me in the middle of the action right along with Petra. I love historical fiction and it's ability to use story to expose me to history I might not know much about. I don't like to give spoilers in reviews, but I will say this book has a heart as big as Texas. Reading about refugees and the grit Petra and her family need to survive has made me recommend this book to several people already and I cannot wait to see students loving it when school is back in session.

I will be sharing more about this book on my blog August 18th.

The Other Side of the River takes place during the Mexican Revolution, a daughter, Petra has a promise to keep as she travels to a new place leaving behind her dad, but she is not alone. Petra is also traveling with her young sister and baby brother to her grandmother who is getting older. They meet very different people and explore very different places all the while trying their best to support themselves and stay together.
The strength, the fight, and the urge to survive are something that immigrants face today in all parts of the world. It is great to humanize the lives that have to flee their homes for reasons far beyond their control. The struggle and dealing with injustices from people taking advantage of those with less but with more humanity and fight than all of these selfish characters put together Petra has to deal with in this book. Alda P. Dobbs makes Petra's diamond such a token of hope, a talisman, and when it goes missing well you will have to read The Other Side of the River to find out.

The immediacy and danger of the Mexican Revolution launched twelve-year-old Petra Luna unceremoniously into a life in a new country on the other side of the Río Bravo. Instead of finding the peace and prosperity promised by her expectations of America, however, Petra and her family are shuttled into a refugee camp where the threats of hunger and smallpox are ever present. As time passes, Petra and her family make friends with others, and each new day teaches them more about this new country they call home. While the path forward is not always easy, Petra keeps a firm eye on her dreams and will stop at nothing to make them come true.

This continuation of Petra Luna’s story begins shortly after the first book ends and does an excellent job reminding readers of the highlights of the previous installment. It is not critical to have read the first book before engaging with this one, but the back story helps readers better connect to Petra and understand what has made her into the young woman she is becoming. Like in the first book, this story is filled with Spanish language and culture, both of which are woven expertly into the narrative. Readers are introduced to Spanish vocabulary with italics initially, and subsequent mentions of these words appear alongside their English cousins. While this may be unconventional in its approach, it gives readers the clear understanding that for Petra—and for many others—Spanish and English coexist in inextricable harmony.

Beautifully crafted, this story reads somewhat like a diary, immersing readers in Petra’s world as she matures beyond her years. As the oldest child in her family, she must shoulder many of the burdens of ensuring her kin have food to eat and a roof over their heads. Not to mention, Petra must learn all about a new culture and its intrinsic expectations in the process. Dobbs has built upon inspiration from her own family history in this novel that incorporates true events from 1913 with fictional characters that thoughtfully represent real people who lived during this tumultuous time. Filled with cultural references, traditional foods, Spanish language, and deep family connections, this narrative is rich and fulfilling for readers of all ages. This is not only a compelling extension of Petra’s initial tale; it is also an important addition to historical fiction collections for middle grade readers.

When I read The Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna, I was so moved by Petra’s story that I didn’t think I would find another middle grade book that focused on this time period and the struggles the characters faced with as much emotional impact. When I saw this sequel, I was worried that it couldn’t be as good as the first book, but I had to read more about Petra’s story. I am so glad that I did, because Dobbs has written another masterpiece with The Other Side of the River. She remains true to the characters in this story, and I feel like I stepped right back into Petra’s life as this book picks up exactly where the first one left off. This time, though, we see Petra in America, specifically San Antonio, Texas, trying to take care of herself and her family, and continuing to dream big dreams about the life she wants so badly. We see her strength of character and her resolve, but we also witness her confusion about this new country and its customs. Once again, I cheered for Petra and I also wanted to cry for her. Sometimes she acts well beyond her years, but within a few paragraphs, she’s once again just a frightened young girl. Dobbs makes her struggle relatable, and that’s the real beauty of this story. I will absolutely be recommending this book to my middle school students this year! Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this amazing story.

In 1913, thousands of Mexicans, including 12-year-old Petra Luna, her six-year-old sister, one-year-old brother, and her grandmother cross the Rio Grande into Texas to escape the violent civil war in Mexico. They stay in an overcrowded refugee camp with little food and a smallpox outbreak. When the revolutionists take back the Mexican border town, the refugees are given the option to go back to Mexico or get a job in the United States.

Petra is torn between a brighter future in America where she might get to learn to read, or going back to their destroyed village in hopes of reuniting with her father. They decide to stay in America. Her grandmother is crippled with arthritis and can do little more than watch baby Luisito. It’s up to Petra to support the family. But being a girl, and a barefoot one at that, finding work isn’t easy. A charity group gives Petra her first pair of shoes which allows her to get a job working in restaurants.

For a while, she’s making enough money to pay the rent and buy food, but she gets replaced by a 14-year-old boy. Their meagre savings dwindle while Petra tries to find work. Petra meets Sister Nora, an Irish nun with bright blue eyes, and a kind heart. Sister Nora hires Petra to help her with the cooking and cleaning in the Wesley House. The nun also begins teaching Petra to read and speak English.

This is the second book featuring Petra. In the first, The Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna, her family travels across Mexico fleeing the murderous Federales army. This sequel is set in San Antonio in 1913 and gives the reader a vivid picture of the hardships faced by immigrants in a way that seems timeless and relevant.
Petra is one of the strongest, young characters that I’ve encountered, and I was excited to get to read a continuation of her story. Her fierce dedication to care for her family and her unending determination to become educated is inspiring. I highly recommend The Other Side of the River to readers ten and up and, this book’s excellent pacing would make it a wonderful classroom read-aloud. Even though this is a sequel, it’s not necessary to read the first book to enjoy this one.