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Biography & Autobiography

The Devil's Highway

By Luis Alberto Urrea

book iconLittle, Brown

Description

This important book from a Pulitzer Prize finalist follows the brutal journey a group of men take to cross the Mexican border: "the single most compelling, lucid, and lyrical contemporary account of the absurdity of U.S. border policy" (The Atlantic).

In May 2001, a group of men attempted to cross the Mexican border into the desert of southern Arizona, through the deadliest region of the continent, the "Devil's Highway." Three years later, Luis Alberto Urrea wrote about what happened to them. The result was a national bestseller, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, a "book of the year" in multiple newspapers, and a work proclaimed as a modern American classic.

Summary by AI

The Devil's Highway by Luis Alberto Urrea

  • Author's Background: Luis Alberto Urrea is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author known for his lyrical prose and exploration of Mexican-American identity.

  • Main Theme: The perilous journey of undocumented Mexican immigrants crossing the Sonoran Desert into the United States.

  • Key Points:

    • The Sonoran Desert: A vast and unforgiving landscape that claims the lives of many immigrants each year.
    • The Coyotes: Smugglers who guide immigrants across the border for a fee, often exploiting and endangering them.
    • The Immigrants: Desperate individuals fleeing poverty, violence, and persecution in their home countries.
    • The Border Patrol: Agents tasked with enforcing immigration laws, often accused of brutality and indifference.
  • Reputation:

    • Critical Acclaim: Praised for its powerful storytelling, vivid characters, and unflinching portrayal of the human toll of immigration.
    • Controversy: Some critics have accused Urrea of sensationalizing the issue and portraying the Border Patrol in an overly negative light.
  • Who Should Read It:

    • Readers interested in immigration, border issues, and the human experience.
    • Those seeking a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant narrative.
    • Individuals concerned about the plight of undocumented immigrants.

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