The Devil's Highway: Book Review
Eva Lugo
Ethnics Studies 101 T/R
Professor Craig Cook
November 20, 2013
The Devil’s Highway There are numerous stories all over the media about “illegal aliens” crossing the border and stealing jobs that belong to American citizens. Stories that make undocumented people seem like completely uncivilized criminals. However, The Devils Highway by Luis Alberto Urrea, offers a different approach. He writes a story of 26 men who leave their homes in search of a new beginning; hope for a better future. These men face some of the most dangerous of enemies including "La Migra" (the U.S. Border Patrol), "Cayotes", brutal vigilantes, Mexican Federales, rattlesnakes, extreme cases of hypothermia, and worst of all, the boiling hot sun (110 degree nightmare) that fried their brains and made their skin boil. Unfortunately, out of those 26 men, only 12 found the light at the end of the tunnel. The remaining 14 (the Yuma 14) died an unfortunate, devastating death. While it may be a terrible reminder of some people's horrible pasts, it is a definite eye opener for readers who do not know these struggles, or who only see the other side of things. As if that isn't intriguing enough to read on its own, Urrea also shines a light on some members of the border patrol. We see them as heartless monsters, and Urrea attempts to show us otherwise. Lastly, Urrea proposes the idea that the U.S Border security may be a bit too exaggerated. There isn't a single thing that can make this book any better. With that being said, The Devil’s Highway, by Luis Alberto Urrea is definitely a book worth reading because it is the brutal truth of the hard journey across the many walls that separate the U.S and Mexico. Luis Alberto Urrea, born in Tijuana, Mexico has written several books on a similar topic. He writes of loss, triumph, and everything in between. He emphasizes the mexican struggles of crossing over the U.S border. This is a book that should be read by those who only know of the American
Ethnics Studies 101 T/R
Professor Craig Cook
November 20, 2013
The Devil’s Highway There are numerous stories all over the media about “illegal aliens” crossing the border and stealing jobs that belong to American citizens. Stories that make undocumented people seem like completely uncivilized criminals. However, The Devils Highway by Luis Alberto Urrea, offers a different approach. He writes a story of 26 men who leave their homes in search of a new beginning; hope for a better future. These men face some of the most dangerous of enemies including "La Migra" (the U.S. Border Patrol), "Cayotes", brutal vigilantes, Mexican Federales, rattlesnakes, extreme cases of hypothermia, and worst of all, the boiling hot sun (110 degree nightmare) that fried their brains and made their skin boil. Unfortunately, out of those 26 men, only 12 found the light at the end of the tunnel. The remaining 14 (the Yuma 14) died an unfortunate, devastating death. While it may be a terrible reminder of some people's horrible pasts, it is a definite eye opener for readers who do not know these struggles, or who only see the other side of things. As if that isn't intriguing enough to read on its own, Urrea also shines a light on some members of the border patrol. We see them as heartless monsters, and Urrea attempts to show us otherwise. Lastly, Urrea proposes the idea that the U.S Border security may be a bit too exaggerated. There isn't a single thing that can make this book any better. With that being said, The Devil’s Highway, by Luis Alberto Urrea is definitely a book worth reading because it is the brutal truth of the hard journey across the many walls that separate the U.S and Mexico. Luis Alberto Urrea, born in Tijuana, Mexico has written several books on a similar topic. He writes of loss, triumph, and everything in between. He emphasizes the mexican struggles of crossing over the U.S border. This is a book that should be read by those who only know of the American