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arilaurel's review
5.0
I read this in about 3-4 sittings. It goes just in-depth enough to paint an affecting and distinct picture of Mexico and Central America and very clearly explains the political and territorial lines of demarcation that the US has played a role in drawing, and then conveniently erased from memory. A scholar might find this too simplistic, as it's mainly an account of an aid worker's experience and work at and below the border wall, and stories shared from conversations and experiences. But the book knows its audience, and as a person who was not familiar with finer details of the cartels and clashing powers, this was a helpful and memorable introduction. The book has character, and voice. People taking an opposing side will hate it. But it's not trying to win anyone over, it's just trying to shed light on things that have not entered the national discourse in any way except through the most shallow and reductive pundit points.
lorenadh27's review
5.0
Good, clear information paired with stories from the border. Not too dense buy packed with content that helps to lay out the complexities of the Southern US border. A good introduction to this issue that feels more authentic than the surface-level and/or biased info in mainstream media. I mean, of course this is biased too, but it's a bias from personal experience and based on the human needs of others.
alicedroni's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
I immediately donated money to No More Deaths after reading this book.
The author breaks down the entire border crisis in a very accessible way, giving tons of informative context split up with personal stories backing up the previous sections points.
It's impossible to come away from this book without an incredible respect for migrants and solidarity workers, as well as a new fire to research how to help your nearest border crossing.
The author breaks down the entire border crisis in a very accessible way, giving tons of informative context split up with personal stories backing up the previous sections points.
It's impossible to come away from this book without an incredible respect for migrants and solidarity workers, as well as a new fire to research how to help your nearest border crossing.
beelzebubbie's review
5.0
“The wall in the desert should be regarded as the symbol of my generation, as surely as the wall in Berlin was the symbol of the last one. Like the Berlin Wall, it will be torn down with hammers and bulldozers. I’ll be there if I’m still breathing.”
Incredibly comprehensive, powerfully written, devastatingly accurate description of the migrant struggle and who benefits from the creation of the artificial border and the deaths in the desert. This account is made all the more compelling and powerful by the intense and touching personal stories interwoven throughout. Everyone should read this book - I would read it again.
Incredibly comprehensive, powerfully written, devastatingly accurate description of the migrant struggle and who benefits from the creation of the artificial border and the deaths in the desert. This account is made all the more compelling and powerful by the intense and touching personal stories interwoven throughout. Everyone should read this book - I would read it again.
mutualaid's review
5.0
Masterpiece. Accessible. The first political book I have read from start to finish. Deeply alive and dynamic. A revolutionary inspiring practical text grounded in deep understandings of the present. Humble and complex.
neyhart's review
4.0
Some quotes that I want to remember:
"The border is not just a wall. It's not just a line on a map. It's not any particular physical location. It's a power structure, a system of control. The border is everywhere that people live in fear of deportation, everywhere migrants are denied the rights according to citizens, everywhere human beings are segregated into included and excluded.
The border does not divide one world from another. There is only one world, and the border is tearing it apart."
"I offer these words as ammunition to anyone who cares to intervene when other people are treated like pieces of meat."
"The suffering that takes place every day on the border is not an accident. It is not a mistake and it is not the result of a misunderstanding. It is the predictable and intentional result of policies implemented at every level of the government on both sides of the border. These policies have rational objectives and directly benefit identifiable sectors of the population in both countries. It may be evil, but it's not stupid."
"This is where the privilege politics that are so prevalent in the American activist milieu fall fatally short. People who are motivated by guilt and shame rather than by love and rage will eventually disengage; people who are not fighting for their own lives will eventually give up. Always."
"The border divides the whole world into gated communities and prisons, one within the other in concentric circles of privilege and control. At one end of the continuum, there are billionaires who can fly anywhere in private jets; at the other end, inmates in solitary confinement. As long as there is a border between you and those less fortunate than you, you can be sure there will be a border above you, too, keeping you from the things you need.
And who will tear down that second border with you, if not the people separated from you by the first."
"The border is not just a wall. It's not just a line on a map. It's not any particular physical location. It's a power structure, a system of control. The border is everywhere that people live in fear of deportation, everywhere migrants are denied the rights according to citizens, everywhere human beings are segregated into included and excluded.
The border does not divide one world from another. There is only one world, and the border is tearing it apart."
"I offer these words as ammunition to anyone who cares to intervene when other people are treated like pieces of meat."
"The suffering that takes place every day on the border is not an accident. It is not a mistake and it is not the result of a misunderstanding. It is the predictable and intentional result of policies implemented at every level of the government on both sides of the border. These policies have rational objectives and directly benefit identifiable sectors of the population in both countries. It may be evil, but it's not stupid."
"This is where the privilege politics that are so prevalent in the American activist milieu fall fatally short. People who are motivated by guilt and shame rather than by love and rage will eventually disengage; people who are not fighting for their own lives will eventually give up. Always."
"The border divides the whole world into gated communities and prisons, one within the other in concentric circles of privilege and control. At one end of the continuum, there are billionaires who can fly anywhere in private jets; at the other end, inmates in solitary confinement. As long as there is a border between you and those less fortunate than you, you can be sure there will be a border above you, too, keeping you from the things you need.
And who will tear down that second border with you, if not the people separated from you by the first."
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