56 pages • 1 hour read
Francisco CantúThe Line Becomes a River: Dispatches from the Border
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2018A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
Consider the book’s title, The Line Becomes a River. Why is the Rio Grande’s designation as a part of the US-Mexico border so significant in the text? How do rivers, water, and desert terrain figure into Cantú’s understanding of borders?
In the Prologue Cantú recounts his and his mother’s experiences visiting El Paso and Ciudad Juárez. Why did he begin the book with this story? How does this foreshadow the experiences and research to come?
In Part 3 Cantú includes the full text of several letters of recommendation written on José’s behalf to be filed with his immigration proceeding. Why does he include these letters? What effect does this have on you as a reader?
