La Linea

Pretty, dark-haired, 13-year-old Elena is brave and stubborn. She desperately misses Mamá and often has trouble sleeping because of her parents’ absence. When she cannot sleep, Elena rereads her cherished letters from Mamá. Elena resents the fact that Miguel gets to travel north without her. She thinks the age difference between her and Miguel is negligible, so she should be able to do everything Miguel does. Miguel disagrees. He thinks Elena is immature and prone to “famous temper tantrums” (5), but he underestimates her cleverness and perseverance. Thanks to her foresight, she and Miguel retain part of their money after being robbed.

Unlike Miguel, Elena has a knack for working on the rancho. She steadfastly kills the goat for Miguel’s goodbye dinner, and she has a green thumb and a talent for raising animals. Elena is also more empathetic than Miguel. While Miguel is ready to abandon Javi when he is no longer useful, Elena refuses. She cares about the older man, trusting his good character and treating him like an uncle or father figure. Elena is also more optimistic and forgiving than Miguel: She releases any anger toward Mamá for supporting Papá’s decision not to send for them. Elena is sensitive toward their family connection, joyfully welcoming Miguel when he decides to ride in the truck even after his hurtful words and pettish attitude. In a section of “Questions for the Author” in the novel’s backmatter, Jaramillo comments that she is most like Elena’s character because of her perseverance and stubbornness. Elena proves to be as tough and determined as Miguel during their desert trek.

The grey-haired migrant from El Salvador is “ancient, older even than Papá,” Miguel notes, but is tenacious in his determination (58). Although this is Javi’s second attempt to cross la línea, he refuses to give up. Javi worked at a coffee plantation until the job ended. He is desperate to provide for his wife and two children, Eduardo and Magdalena. Family is everything to Javi, and he feels guilty for leaving his children, knowing they must someday make the arduous journey to find him. Javi takes Elena and Miguel under his wing, vowing to protect Elena and swearing on his life that she will get across la línea.

Javi is talkative, good-hearted, and has a “big donkey laugh” (98), and he is tougher than his age might imply. Miguel sees that Javi is strong and muscular. Javi, like Elena, is also sensitive. He cries when the man he tries to help onto the train slips and dies, and he feels a special connection toward Elena, who resembles his daughter. Javi proves he is a valuable traveling companion in many ways. His knowledge and vigilance help Elena and Miguel survive the train trip. Javi’s grit and strength of will drive him forward across the desert despite his injured ankle. In a final act of self-sacrifice, he leaves Elena and Miguel the last of his water. Javi’s fate is arguable, but given Javi’s deteriorated condition, Miguel believes he perished in the desert. Elena believes otherwise.

For almost seven years, Abuelita raised Elena and Miguel as her own children. Their thin, gray-haired grandmother is loving, nurturing, and wise. Although poor in money, Abuelita is rich in heart. She does her best to provide for Elena and Miguel. She tenderly prepares humble but delicious meals for them and tries to teach them to be good people. Abuelita models Christian morality. In her “low, raspy voice,” she always tells the truth, even when it may be unpleasant (33). She rarely criticizes or scolds Miguel; the closest she comes to scolding him is when she sharply urges him not to judge his father—advice Miguel cannot act on. Abuelita is devout in her Catholic faith. She believes in the powers of the Virgin Mary and prays that Mary will guard, protect, and care for Miguel. Abuelita dies one year to the day Miguel and Elena leave San Jacinto. Abuelita represents family, love, and Miguel and Elena’s Mexican heritage.

The professional coyote works as a bootmaker in a market stall at the Mexican-US border. He is an older man with green eyes and a mustache. Known by the nickname El Plomero, or The Plumber, Moisés worked for Don Clemente for more than 20 years. As a final act of respect for the dead fixer, Moisés decides to personally lead Miguel, Elena, and Javi across the desert. Miguel can tell by the quality and extent of Moisés’s outfitting operation that he is a trustworthy professional. Moisés is tough, stern, and uncompromising. He is brutally frank about the dangers the group will face and adamant that he will let no one slow them down. Moisés is shot and captured by militia men but manages to leave his backpack for Miguel, Elena, and Javi to retrieve. This sacrifice helps Elena and Miguel reach their goal.

Readers only know Papá and Mamá through Miguel’s descriptions, but even though Papá and Mamá have been absent for years, they play a large role in Miguel and Elena’s lives. Reunification with their parents is the driving force behind Miguel and Elena’s trip north. Papá is self-taught and a firm believer in the importance of education. He wants his children to have a better, easier life than he had. He has been gone working toward this goal for so long that Miguel only has brief memories of sitting in Papá’s lap while his father read to him. Miguel is critical of Papá’s motivations and disillusioned about his love because of Papá’s refusal to accept help to bring the whole family to California. Miguel resents Papá despite wanting nothing more than to join him in California.

Mamá is Elena’s “savior.” Mamá s letters about their lives in California, filled with photographs and updates about Elena’s new twin sisters, help sustain Elena and keep her hopeful. Elena does not nurture the same resentment toward their parents that gnaws at Miguel. 

Don Clemente is San Jacinto’s wealthiest citizen: He can get anyone whatever they need. Don Clemente specializes in getting people across la línea as safely as possible—for an exorbitant price. Don Clemente is badly disfigured by a fire that took the lives of his wife and daughter. Miguel’s father saved Don Clemente’s life, and Don Clemente has long wanted to repay the favor by helping get Miguel and Elena across the border. Don Clemente’s news that Papá refused his offer is a bitter pill for Miguel that adds to his anger toward Papá, though Miguel later learns that Don Clemente was “a complicated and dangerous man” (121).