Hidden Sea – My Review

Hidden Sea – My Review 

“Nothing prepares one for the shock of crossing the Rio Grande into a busy Mexican border town. Nowhere in the world is the transition so palpable, abrupt, or extreme. On one side of the river you’re idling in your lane, waiting for the light to change, daydreaming about nothing in particular, and then, a quarter mile later, you’re careening down a potholed avenue jockeying for space with smoke-belching trucks, cars, taxis, and buses. Lanes don’t matter, traffic lights are discretionary, and aggressive, balls-out driving is the norm.”

This was one of the most fast paced books I’ve read in a long while. From the first chapter the story captivated me to finding out what happened to Augie. It led me on journey where Augie’s dad and uncle take it upon themselves to find him no matter what it cost them – even if its friendships or their own lives. The Hidden Sea takes readers on a journey of finding Augie from going to friends who are rich and famous, to a former country star.

The book’s main premise deals with the fictional story of the fishing slavery issue on ships. While the authors disclose at the beginning that the use of sea-slaves on fishing boats in the Gulf of Mexico does not exist, it does in the South China Sea. Even bringing this to light gives me the realization to ask more often where potential seafood came from before I order it.

After traveling to Mexico a few years ago the above quote I pulled out of the Hidden Sea gives a near perfect description of what’s it like driving in that country. Taxi’s running red lights, honking for passage, people at intersections selling goods – the list could go on. The one good thing I remember is that during one trip our taxi driver stayed with us the entire time and even escorted me to the bathroom more than once. The Miles Acreneaux writers’ descriptions of Mexico are very real giving readers a sense of true place for the regions they describe.

A lot of Spanish is interspersed throughout the book, which lends to the authenticity of the story being told. Thankfully, the authors realize that not everyone can understand that language and creatively tell the readers what was said. On another note – if the plight of refugees wanting to enter the US as the authors describes in the encounter with the Mexico priest– if its 5 percent true then its horrific what people will endure for a better life for them or their children.

The authors bring the story together in unexpected surprise endings by showing that to true to life the world is small indeed.