"The World in Half" author Henriquez tells the story of Mexican-born Maribel Rivera and Mayor Toro of Panama, two teenagers who fall in love. The narrative encompasses not only their romance but the experiences of Maribel and Mayor's family members and their fellow immigrant neighbors. "[It's a] portrait of Spanish-speaking immigrants in America," Nelson says of the book. "[It's] a great American novel about what it means to be an American."