The Crossing [Turtleback]

Gary Paulsen (Author)

Product Details

• Turtleback
• Publisher: Demco Media (March 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0606031758
• ISBN-13: 978-0606031752
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 4.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,888,950 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Crossing is a great book. Gary Paulsen astonished me!, March 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Crossing (Paperback)

The Crossing was about an orphan named Manuel Bustos. Manny was his nickname. He was a poor Mexican boy. Manny lived on the streets and slept in a cardboard box. He had no time for heroes. He needed to scrap, fight boys bigger than him for money. The two most important things to Manny were to survive and to find a way to get across the border. As part of Manny's daily routine, he would go to the bridge by the Rio Grande and watch the " turistas," tourists throw coins to him and the rest of the beggers. When Manny catches money he has to run fast before the bigger boys try to beat him up and steal his money. One day when Manny was being chased by the bigger boys he went into an alley behind a club called "Club Congo Tiki." Manny out ran them and hid in the alley. When Manny was in the alley a drunk man named Sergeant Robert S. Locke went into the alley and started vomiting. He had to much to drink. Manny slowly tried to reach for the Sergeants wallet. Manny was taking advantage of the weak and drunk Sergeant. Manny stole the wallet and started running with it. Robert chased after him. At one point Robert caught up to him and grabbed Manny on the arm. Then a police officer was walking by and he saw Robert holding Manny tightly. The officer said, " What's going on here?" Robert was a little spaced out but he remembered seeing Manny on the streets. Robert replied as, " Nothing officer." The officer left and Manny thanked Robert. Robert then got his wallet back. That was the beginning of Robert and Manny's friendship. Robert and Manny became close friends. Robert let Manny follow him around, eat with him, and be his friend. Both Robert and Manny needed each other as friends. Manny had no one to pay for him or to talk to. Robert was a dried up, drunk, shy, and lonely person.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fast paced and exciting read., October 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Crossing (Paperback)

Settings and characterizations are realistic and many readers will be able to identify with them.I have been searching for a novel for adult intermediate level ESL (English as a Second Language) students to read in less than four weeks. This fills the bill perfectly.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars R S H, April 17, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Crossing (Paperback)

I think "The Crossing" is a good book because it shows you how some people struggle to surrvive.My favorite part of the book was at the end but i wont tell you ill let you read it for yourself. :)
i think its interesting how Robert controls his friends and how he controls his drinkin;Him trying to keep his comrads out of his mind.i like the way he acts because he's really serious when "The Man In The Mirror" appears, but then when hes not there he acts kinder.