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After soldiers kill his family, twelve-year-old Santiago and his four-year-old sister flee Guatemala in a kayak and try to reach the United States.

When, protected by the branches of one of the trees she loves to climb, Gabriela witnesses the destruction of her Mayan village and the murder of nearly all its inhabitants, she vows never to climb again until, after she and her traumatised sister find safety in a Mexican refugee camp, she realizes that only by climbing and facing their fears can she and her sister hope to have a future.

Tomasa and her family struggle during a time of war in Guatemala before setting out on a journey to find Mama and Carlos, who have gone into hiding, and brave various dangers before eventually making their way to the U.

When the dangers in their hometown force them to flee, three teenagers follow the route of La Bestia, a perilous train system that might lead them to a better life, if they can survive the trip.