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ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSTwelve-year-old Petra Luna has just crossed the Río Bravo into Texas with Abuelita, her grandmother, and her younger siblings, Amelia and Luisito, fleeing the Mexican Revolution. Papa is missing and Mama has died, so the family is now crowded into a refugee camp at Fort Duncan, hungry and waiting to learn if they can stay in America or will be sent back across the border. When officials announce that the camp will close in a week and anyone without a job will be deported, Petra sets out to find work and hold her family together, all while chasing a dream everyone around her calls foolish: learning to read. Her search takes them from the camp to the crowded streets of San Antonio, where Petra discovers just how hard it is to build a new life from nothing.
Free Battle of the Books questions for The Other Side of the River
SPOILERSEvery one of these has the same answer, and that is the point. In a real battle the question is read aloud with a dozen other books in play, and students have a few seconds to place it. Here is what a battle might ask about The Other Side of the River. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.
Where in the book they come from
- Early in the book
In what book does a soldier pour scoops of corn into a girl's stretched-out skirt?
✓ Answer
The Other Side of the River by Alda P. Dobbs
The first food train finally arrives and Petra and Amelia have no basket to carry anything in. Holding out their skirts works, and walking home with full arms is the first time Petra has felt happy since Mama died.
- First half
In what book does a boss study a girl's palms and say, "You have nice, strong calloused hands"?
✓ Answer
The Other Side of the River by Alda P. Dobbs
The chili queen is deciding whether to hire Petra for her open air food stand in the plaza. Petra has to admit she cannot read yet, but the hands she earned chopping firewood back home win her the job at sixty cents a day.
- First half
In what book does a shopkeeper press a free pilón of barrel candy into a little girl's hand?
✓ Answer
The Other Side of the River by Alda P. Dobbs
The pilón is the small gift Don Wong adds to thank customers for shopping with him, and Amelia stands on her toes waiting for hers every single visit. Small kindnesses like this are what start making the neighborhood feel like home.
- Second half
In what book does each visitor place a prayer stone at the foot of a grave?
✓ Answer
The Other Side of the River by Alda P. Dobbs
Camila's baby son is buried at the back of the cemetery, and everyone covers the little mound with marigolds and candles. Afterward they share orange slices and stories while Petra broods about Papa.
- Second half
In what book does a girl creep down a dark hallway toward a choir of singing boys?
✓ Answer
The Other Side of the River by Alda P. Dobbs
Petra slips into the most beautiful church she has ever seen to pray for work and hears a rehearsal that sounds to her like bells. The night ends badly when the boys spot her and laugh.
- Near the end
In what book does a serving girl step through a curtain shouting, "We're not fearful or ignorant people"?
✓ Answer
The Other Side of the River by Alda P. Dobbs
Petra has been listening from the hallway while wealthy dinner guests argue that refugee children cannot learn and that the new school belongs in a richer neighborhood. Mr. Knox stops Father Amaro from silencing her and tells her to speak.
