Based on a true story, the tale of one girl's perilous journey to cross the U.S. border and lead her family to safety during the Mexican Revolution.
"Wrenching debut about family, loss, and finding the strength to carry on."--Booklist, starred review
"Blazes bright, gripping readers until the novel's last page."--Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Vital and perilous and hopeful."--Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee
It is 1913, and twelve-year-old Petra Luna's mama has died while the Revolution rages in Mexico. Before her papa is dragged away by soldiers, Petra vows to him that she will care for the family she has left--her abuelita, little sister Amelia, and baby brother Luisito--until they can be reunited. They flee north through the unforgiving desert as their town burns, searching for safe harbor in a world that offers none.
Each night when Petra closes her eyes, she holds her dreams close, especially her long-held desire to learn to read. Abuelita calls these barefoot dreams: "They're like us barefoot peasants and indios--they're not meant to go far." But Petra refuses to listen. Through battlefields and deserts, hunger and fear, Petra will stop at nothing to keep her family safe and lead them to a better life across the U.S. border--a life where her barefoot dreams could finally become reality.
"Dobbs' wrenching debut, about family, loss, and finding the strength to carry on, illuminates the harsh realities of war, the heartbreaking disparities between the poor and the rich, and the racism faced by Petra and her family. Readers will love Petra, who is as strong as the black-coal rock she carries with her and as beautiful as the diamond hidden within it."--Booklist, starred review
Alda P. Dobbs is as passionate about connecting children to their past, their communities, and nature as she is about writing. Alda lives with her husband and two children outside Houston, Texas.
Author of THE GRIEF KEEPER, winner 2020 Lambda Literary Award │ co-founder @latinxKidlitBF │ rep'd by @wordoneliterary │ she/her/ella 🇺🇾🏳️🌈
Three stunning debut authors on the podcast: adored FAT CHANCE CHARLIE VEGA by @crystalwrote; freaking SO excited for FIFTEEN HUNDRED MILES FROM THE SUN by @JONNYescribe (donde esta mi copy??) and looking forward to BAREFOOT DREAMS OF PETRA LUNA by Alda Dobbs - don't miss it! https://t.co/r8mLpiL1nx
Novelist/poet, EVERY LAST SECRET, EVERY BROKEN TRUST, EVERY HIDDEN FEAR, PLOTTING THE CHARACTER-DRIVEN NOVEL. Poetry-HEART'S MIGRATION, DARK SISTER. She/her
RT @acuevaswrites: Congratulations to Alda Dobbs and her beautifully moving book The Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna for being the sole Latin…
Border Regional Library Association (BRLA) founded in 1966 for the promotion of library service and librarianship in the El Paso/Las Cruces/Juárez metroplex.
Congratulations to the 2022 Southwest Book Awardees "Abecedario de Juárez" by Julian Cardona and Alice Leora Briggs - @UTexasPress "Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna" by Alda P. Dobbs - @Sourcebooks "The Beloved Border" by Miriam Davison - @AZpress https://t.co/ee8n14nGHx