Following the conclusion of the Mexican-American War in 1848, the border between the two countries remained in flux, a flexible barrier that restricted the movement of some people, goods, and animals without impeding others. In a discussion of her new book, historian Rachel St. John shows how government officials, Native American raiders, ranchers, railroad builders, miners, investors, immigrants, and smugglers contributed to the rise of state power along the border and developed strategies to navigate the increasingly regulated landscape.

St. John is associate professor of history at New York University. Line in the Sand was a finalist for the 2012 Spur Award for Best Western Contemporary Nonfiction sponsored by the Western Writers of America.

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