ACROSS THE GREAT RIVER is Irene Beltran Hernandez's first novel, which chronicles, through the eyes of a young girl, a Mexican family's illegal entry into the United States. The family's experiences with labor smugglers, a folk healer, rape and violence are all told with the innocence and directness of a young girl who must face the harshness and reality of life at an early age. Especially recommended for young adult and adult readers.