The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Diaz, Alexandra. The Only Road. Simon & Schuster Books, 2016.

Jaime Rivera learns that his cousin and best friend, Miguel, has been killed by a local gang in their Guatemalan village. Jaime's parents tell him the news, and Jaime becomes worried that the gang will come after him next because he also refused to join the gang in the same way Miguel did.

The family joins together for Miguel's wake and Jaime draws a picture of Miguel to try and remember him. Jaime's parents decide he and Ángela must attempt to cross the border to the United States to stay safe from the gang. Jaime and Ángela begin to plan their trip and their family works on procuring enough money to pay for their passage.

Jaime and Ángela travel by truck with a driver named Pancho until they cross into Mexico. Jaime and Ángela wait at the bus station to begin their trip through Mexico. They ride the bus for a few hours before they are stopped by border control. Jaime occupies himself with drawing in his sketchbook and tries to remain calm as they question and detain some of the other migrants on the bus.

Jaime and Ángela manage to convince the border patrol that they are Mexican, so they are allowed to stay on the bus. They stay overnight at a church where they are given food and accommodations. The next day, they meet the man who will bring them through the remaining distance to the U.S. border. They must board a train and stay in the storage area packed full of other migrants.

Jaime and Ángela meet other young migrants at the church who also follow them to the train. The compartment is hot and densely packed, and none of the migrants have enough food and water. A young girl asks Jaime if she can share some of his food and he agrees. When the train is stopped by the border patrol, all of the migrants scatter and run away. Jaime and Ángela find their friends the next morning and ask around about where to catch the next train they need to take. They walk the long distance to the train.

Jaime and Ángela are nervous about riding on top of the train to Juárez, but they know they have no other option to make it to the border. All of the teens make it aboard, but the train is soon attacked by Mexican gang members. They run and hide, but Jaime and Ángela get separated. They find each other again the next day, and Ángela asks Jaime if they should just give up and return to Guatemala. Jaime refuses, and he and Ángela continue traveling.

Jaime and Ángela meet a woman named Señora Pérez who brings them to the border. They meet up with their smuggler, Conejo, who prepares to bring them across the border. They successfully make it across and Jaime and Ángela reunite with Jaime's older brother, Tomás. Tomás notifies the family back in Guatemala that they made it safely, and Jaime and Ángela look forward to their new life in Texas.