In “Across a Hundred Mountains,” Adelina embarks on a journey to the other side. She works alongside Dona Martina selling quesadillas at the train station. During her time there, Adelina witnesses a conversation between a man and a young girl discussing their plans to leave for the other side. The girl asks about the steps they need to take to reach their destination, and Juana overhears that they must take a train to Tijuana and find help from a reliable coyote. This newfound knowledge inspires Juana to save her earnings from working with Dona Martina.
After Juana’s mother was arrested for murdering Don Ellias, she decided to go to the United States in search of her father. She went to the train station and bought a ticket for Cuernavaca. While she was sitting, someone knocked on her window. It turned out to be Dona Martina offering her some money. Initially hesitant, Juana eventually accepted it because she realized she would need financial help.
Sitting across from Juana was a man, and next to her was a woman with a boy on her lap. Listening to their conversation, Juana learned that the man was also headed towards the same destination.
During the journey, Juana noticed a boy who seemed exhausted sitting next to her. At times, he would rest his head on her shoulder. However, when she turned around, she realized that he had actually placed his head on the woman’s chest. The woman tried to reassure herself that they were getting close to their destination. Unexpectedly, it became evident that the boy had passed away.
The man in front of Juana advised the woman not to draw attention to this tragic situation because nobody would offer help and they might even abandon her. When they reached their stop, Juana helped the woman get off the train. The woman appeared confused and disoriented, unsure of where to go.
Juana encountered a woman who appeared lost. The woman revealed that she had family in the area but they were unaware of her impending arrival. Despite her limited funds, Juana purchased a return ticket for the woman and decided to buy herself a ticket to Tijuana as well. Feeling hungry, Juana joined a food line. As she was being served, her train arrived and she hurriedly dashed towards it. During her hasty sprint, she accidentally collided with a blind homeless person, causing his coins to scatter on the ground. Choosing to help, Juana stopped to collect the scattered coins, only realizing afterwards that she had missed her train. Consequently, she spent the night sleeping there. The following day, Juana caught an early train to continue her journey.
Once she arrived in Tijuana, she found herself lost and unsure of where to go. Wandering aimlessly, she eventually grew exhausted and sought solace on a bench, falling asleep. Upon waking, she overheard approaching footsteps, growing closer with urgency as the voices called out to catch a thief. Fear propelled her into a sprint, but she was soon apprehended by those pursuing her, mistakenly believing she had stolen a wallet. Consequently, Juana found herself imprisoned, and it was there that she encountered Adelina, a fellow inmate who worked as a prostitute. Striking up a conversation, Adelina confided in Juana about her boyfriend, Carlos, who had coerced her into prostitution in order to secure money. Following their release from jail, Juana made the decision to accompany Adelina.
Initially, Juana moved in with her friend. However, the necessity for money drove her to enter the realm of prostitution. The fact that she was a virgin garnered significant attention on her inaugural day, which Juana found pleasurable. Alongside forming a strong bond with Adelina, she also befriended Veronica, although their connection was not as profound. At one point, when Adelina’s boyfriend assaulted her, Juana intervened and proposed they flee together to ensure their safety. Adelina consented but encountered an obstacle – she possessed legal documents whereas Juana did not.
They agreed to meet at a certain location and Juana had employed a coyote to help her cross. They were nearly on the opposite side but had to pass through a tunnel manned by immigration officers. They attempted to travel as quietly as possible, but the tunnel was both dark and foul-smelling. Despite this, they continued onward. Juana perceived the tunnel to be exceptionally lengthy, but her spirits lifted as she caught a glimpse of light. However, her optimism quickly diminished when she heard an unfamiliar voice, indicating that something was amiss.
It was Juana who got deported by the immigration officers. When she returned to the hotel to search for Adelina, Juana noticed the blood-stained covers and knew something was amiss. She rushed to Veronica’s room, but realized that Veronica had a client because she never preferred staying in hotels and instead entertained clients at her own place. It took Veronica a while to open the door, and when Juana asked her about Adelina, Veronica shut the door and revealed that Carlos had murdered her because she had angered him.
Juana became Adelina Vasquez after she got mad and took Adelina’s papers. Adelina decided to return to her hometown because of a phone call informing her about her mother’s illness. Upon getting off the bus, a young man named Jose Alberto kindly assisted her in carrying her bags. Adelina soon realized that he was her long-lost brother. Juana later asked Jose Alberto to accompany her to visit their mother, and he agreed. Upon their arrival, Juana’s mother mistook Jose Alberto for Miguel Garcia, causing great joy as she believed he had returned.
The visiting time came to an end and Adelina’s mom hesitated to say goodbye to Jose Alberto, as they had promised to return the next day. However, the following day, tragedy struck as Adelina’s mom passed away. Later on, Jose Alberto discovered that he was Juana’s brother, and he gave her their mother’s final plate. One aspect of this story that confused me was the conflicting information about Miguel Garcia – in the middle of the book, it mentioned his mental instability, but at the beginning, it stated that he had died in the desert.
