ABSTRACT
I read Paulsen’s The Crossing in 1987 and was shaken by his portrayal of young Manny Bustos. The young boy’s daily activities of searching first for food and then for a place to sleep remained in my mind long after I finished the book. Over the years, I have read excerpts from the book to students in my classes and adults in conference audiences. Even today I continue to think about Manny and his struggle for survival.
