Praise for The Border

  • Winner: Long and Short Reviews YA Book of the Month. Voted by readers, September 2017.

  • Finalist: 2018 Joan F. Kaywell “Books Save Lives” Award

  • "This is a thought-provoking adrenaline rush sure to satisfy fans of action and adventure." - Booklist

  • "This book is both eye-opening and terrifying. Schafer creates a compelling story about survival and wanting to create a better life far away from the violent Mexican drug cartel... Filled with chase scenes, dangerous situations, and a strange love story, the plot moves along at a rapid-fire pace and keeps the reader engaged." - School Library Connection

  • "This story is timely and controversial because it looks at the U.S./Mexico border issue on a humane level, not a political one. Schafer's cast of characters provides young adult readers with a variety of relatable characters to root for as he aptly demonstrates the ruthless realities facing those who cross the border between the two countries." - VOYA Magazine

  • “Thrilling...often brilliant." - Kirkus Reviews.

  • “Steve Schafer walks us through the ebbs and flows in the lives of ordinary immigrants, the dramatic moments at the border, the fear, the yearnings, and the hope for a better future. An engrossing narrative delivered in trepidant prose.” -  Mauro Guillen, Director of the Lauder Institute at The University of Pennsylvania

  • “Teenagers facing one of the most arduous, life-threatening journeys any person can endure is elegantly presented in this important book.  Jolted from their home country by violence and thrown into an escape to save their lives, the four young people in this powerful story find hardship and humanity, ruthlessness and compassion without ever losing their own sense of optimism, hope, love, and goodness.  Like many other refugees and immigrants, these young people did not want to leave their homes and families, the place of belonging.  Rather, they were forced into seeking safety and security in el norte.  In this book, Schafer puts a face on immigrants, especially young ones, a face that is missing in the national debate about immigration reform.  This book can inspire our future voters to the empathy for those who come searching for safety.” - Luis Zayas, Dean of the School of Social Work at The University of Texas

  • “In his book The Border, Steve Schafer deftly brings to life the drama of unauthorized border crossing and gives a human face to those often dismissed simply as “illegals.” The story of how four young people compelled by circumstances beyond their control struggled and survived a perilous crossing of the Sonoran desert into the United Sates restores humanity and dignity to the 11 million undocumented migrants who now live among us.” - Douglass Massey, Henry G. Bryant Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs at Princeton University

  • "Steve Schafer has given voice to a tragically common, but far too-infrequently told narrative of reality in towns and villages in Mexico…Lest anyone think Steve Schafer’s account is exaggeration, I can attest to the realistic depiction he provides of innocent children, adults and families caught up in the dystopia of cartel-controlled areas in Mexico. I have provided legal representation to dozens of asylum seekers from Mexico who have the same horrific story to tell." - Vanna Slaughter, Director of Catholic Charities of Dallas. 

  • "A riveting story of survival and perseverance along the unforgiving frontier of the Sonoran desert." - Summit Daily

  • Check out reader reviews on Goodreads here and Amazon here.

Speaking Events

Steve is always seeking new opportunities to speak at schools. If interested, please email stevegschafer@gmail.com. Here are some prior speaking event testimonials:

  • Steve Schafer delivered a talk at our high school that students still mention regularly. His affability and good humor engaged and inspired students, especially those who consider themselves writers and know how real the struggle is. High school audiences are demanding, but Steve easily commanded the attention of nearly two hundred students through a mixture of personal anecdote and hard-earned wisdom. The least interested students were constantly entertained, and the most interested students were meaningfully inspired. ~ Chris Gardner, Hays High School, TX

     

  • My students loved speaking with Steve about his book The Border, the creative process, and the issues facing our country today. While Steve's talk was engaging, the best part of his visit was that he stayed after class to answer all the questions that my more curious students didn't have a chance to ask. Thanks, Steve, for giving my students a peek into the world of a writer and for letting them know that their stories matter! ~ Erik Nelson, Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School, PA

     

  • Steve Schafer visited Texas State University to read from and speak about his new book. Afterward, a panel discussion of scholars in immigration and Latino culture provided insights about the book and the criminalization of immigrants.  Mr. Schafer's reading and review of the novel provided profound insight and empathy for the challenges faced by immigrant refugees, particularly coming from Mexico. Furthermore, the ensuing conversation was a powerful discussion of the vulnerability and marginalization of refugees in the United States. ~ Dr. Mark Trahan, Texas State University 

  • The students thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Schafer's presentation about his book, The Border.  The background information and personal experiences provided by Mr. Schafer to the students were invaluable in understanding the story.  The content is timely as many current events are immigration related and students are engaged in the topic.  He was very professional in his presentation and was eager to interact with high school students.  I would highly recommended having him for a school visit.  ~ Dr. Lisa Ruff, Wissahickon High School, PA

  • It’s not everyday that students are able to meet and engage with artists who are writing about experiences they may have encountered. I had an opportunity to bring Steve in to chat with a group of bilingual students who were working on a personal narrative writing and performance workshop. During Steve’s time with the students, he engaged them with two simple questions: why artists write and how to begin writing and telling a story. Many of the students who were shy spoke up and asked questions and what we discovered very quickly was that we had many writers in the room wanting to connect with Steve and write their stories. The conversations that day continued in subsequent lessons. ~ Joshua Campbell, Hedgpeth Williams Middle School, NJ

  • THANK YOU to Steve for taking time out of his schedule to talk to us! The students had a wonderful time! It means so much to me and my students.It was certainly a highlight of our year!~ Carrie Grieme, Illinois School for the Deaf, IL

     

  • Thank you to Steve! I think it was a great experience for them to see that authors are "real" people and how writing a book and getting it published aren't as easy as it might seem! ~ Michelle Bongers, Madison Middle School, WI

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