THE BORDER BETWEEN US
By Rudy Ruiz
Literary Fiction
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Pages: 256
Publication Date: August 27, 2024
SYNOPSIS
The Border Between Us is a poignant coming-of-age novel from one of the most exciting voices in fiction.
Ramón López was born along the US–Mexico border but is determined to get out and embrace the American dream—and he’s not sure whether his complicated family is a help or a hindrance. As the son of immigrants, as Ramón grows, his admiration for his entrepreneurial father sours as he watches his
dad’s dreams of success wither on the vine. Ramón’s mother is constantly preoccupied with his younger brother, who struggles with intellectual disabilities. And the outside world is rife with danger and temptations threatening to distract Ramón from his dreams of making it to New York and succeeding as an artist.
As dreams clash with reality and values conflict with desires, Ramón finds the American dream within his reach—but will it demand too big a sacrifice?
Award-winning author Rudy Ruiz brilliantly captures the beauty and danger of border life as Ramón struggles to understand his home and his place in the world. The Border Between Us is a stunning, compassionate story about a son’s fraught relationship with his father, the challenges of pursuing a creative life when one comes from humble beginnings, and the power of embracing one’s whole self.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rudy Ruiz is the author of The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez and Valley of Shadows. He is a winner of the Jesse H. Jones Award for Best Book of Fiction, the Gulf Coast Prize in Fiction, and multiple International Latino Book Awards. A bilingual native of the
US–Mexico border, he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Harvard University. Rudy lives and writes in Texas and New England with his wife and children. Visit his website at RudyRuiz.com.
Jennie Reads REVIEW
The Border Between Us is one of those books that sneaks up on you—gently pulling you in with its engaging characters and then hitting you right in the heart. Ramón’s journey from childhood to adulthood is full of questions, struggles, and the ever-present tension of belonging. Born along the US-Mexico border, he straddles two worlds, never quite fitting neatly into either. His family is both a challenge and a comfort—his father’s fading aspirations weigh on him, his mother juggles the quiet labor of keeping the family afloat while caring for his younger special needs brother, and all the while, Ramón wrestles with his own sense of identity.
What makes this book stand out is its quiet but powerful exploration of the universal desire to fit in while trying to figure out how to be true to oneself. Ramón’s longing to carve out a life as an artist, chase success, and reconcile his heritage with his ambitions feels deeply personal and universally relatable. His struggles are not just about breaking away but also about understanding where he comes from and what it means to honor his roots.
The writing is immersive, painting vivid scenes that transport you right to the heart of border life—its beauty, its hardships, and the constant push and pull between two cultures. If you enjoy character-driven stories that make you think, feel, and maybe even see the world a little differently, The Border Between Us is a must-read. A poignant, insightful novel that lingers long after the last page.
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Jennie Reads 
Wonderful review to wrap up this campaign for the book. This is definitely one of my favorite books to come along for several months.
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