Mateo makes the dangerous journey back home to the United States through the Sonoran Desert with the help of a new friend, a ghost named Guillermo in a supernatural borderland odyssey by debut graphic novelists Julio Anta and Jacoby Salcedo.

As long as he remembers to stay smart and keep his eyes open, Mateo knows that he can survive the trek across the Sonoran Desert that will take him from Mexico to the United States. That is until he’s caught by the Border Patrol only moments after sneaking across the fence in the dead of night.

Escaping their clutches comes at a price and, lost in the desert without a guide or water, Mateo is ill-prepared for the unforgiving heat that is sure to arrive come sunrise. With the odds stacked against him, his one chance at survival may be putting his trust in something, or rather someone, that he isn’t even sure exists.

If you’d asked him if ghosts were real before he found himself face-to-face with one, Mateo wouldn’t have even considered it. But now, confronted with the nearly undeniable presence of Guillermo, he’s having second thoughts. Having spent his afterlife guiding migrants to safety, Guillermo knows things about the Sonoran Desert far beyond what could be explained by a mere hallucination. But even as Mateo forms an uneasy partnership with Guillermo, survival is still uncertain.

The Sonoran Desert, with its hostile temperatures and inhabitants, is teeming with danger as the Border Patrol and rogue militias prowl its deadly terrain. As his journey stretches on, Mateo will have to decide exactly what and who he’s willing to sacrifice to find home.

PRAISE FOR FRONTERA

"Anta pulls no punches, organically weaving together myriad contemporary border issues. Salcedo’s richly colored backdrops and expressive characters make the desert and its inhabitants come alive in an adventure steeped in magical realism that artfully conveys a small sampling of migrant stories." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A touching story of resilience, this is a must-read for those who are looking for insight on the migrant experience with a supernatural twist." — Booklist

"A stirring supernatural framing of an all too common and heartbreaking reality." — Kirkus Reviews

"Exploring topics of immigration, racism, freedom, and ­helping others, this action-packed graphic novel presents the journey across the ­border in a whole new way." — School Library Journal

"This magical graphic novel captures the very real resilience of people trying to build a life of stability and emphasizes how love can survive and cross the most desolate plains." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

"A new classic of Latinx literature!" — David Bowles, award-winning author of They Call Me Güero