Out now: “The Line Becomes a River” by Francisco Cantú

Former border patrol agent and 2018 Festival speaker Francisco Cantú’s new book came out earlier this month, and it is already making waves. In “The Line Becomes a River: Dispatches from the Border,” Cantú shares his unique and dynamic experiences while keeping in focus the larger issue at the heart of the story.

The book is a massive undertaking, encompassing Cantú’s years in the deserts along the southern border of the United States and the years after he decided to leave but found he could never truly be extricated from the system and the realities of immigration policy.

Cantú’s narrative is haunting, and he holds nothing back. Whether you’re looking for a firsthand account from the border, a brutal lyrical memoir, or a lesson on the bloody history of the region, this book is worth the read.