The Devil's Highway

October 15, 2011

In May 2001, 26 Mexican men died in a section of the Arizona desert dubbed the Devil's Highway. Urrea, employing some journalistic license, paints a grim picture of the deadly struggle of those trying to enter the United States illegally and those working equally hard to secure the borders. This cat-and-mouse game between smugglers ("coyotes") and the U.S. Border Patrol ("La Migra") requires intelligence, creativity, endurance, experience, and luck. As the borders in urban areas became harder to cross, those sneaking illegals into "El Norte" have gone farther into the remote desert. The research here is excellent, and Urrea's narration is impressive. The story unfolds in a way that is fascinating to the listener--you can almost feel the heat and smell the desperation. A complex issue is covered with style, making this a recommended title for true crime collections and those interested in immigration. [The Little, Brown hc was a national best seller.--Ed.]--Scott R. DiMarco, Mansfield Univ. of Pennsylvania Lib.

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Urrea's book conveys the ambiance of the border between the U.S. and Mexico and the human cost of U.S. immigration policy. The story revolves around the gruesome events--now more than a decade old--that resulted in the deaths of 14 Mexicans who were trying to walk into the U.S. across the desolate Sonoran Desert. Urrea is scrupulously evenhanded in his treatment of U.S. officials and Mexican immigrants. He's even fair to the "Coyote" gangsters most obviously responsible for the tragedy. His reading of his own work offers all the advantages of author narration--perfect pronunciation and emphasis--with none of the disadvantages. He obviously enjoys the idioms of the border--in English and Spanish. F.C. (c) AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine