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A review by analyticalchaos
The Devil's Highway by Luis Alberto Urrea
5.0
"They were aliens before they even crossed the line."
Urrea's prose is threads of silk weaving together to form a tapestry. It has been months since a book has gripped me like this. From the first few paragraphs, I was enraptured in a detailed, well-rounded story that truly takes all perspectives of a case. Though Urrea mentions his bias towards the end, the majority of the novel takes into account the border patrol workers, the coyotes, and the undocumented migrants. Even the foreign relations negotiated between Mexican towns and American governments is provided to give the reader adequate background.
What truly makes this book standout is the nuance and humanity. Instead of pointing fingers and condemning individuals, Urrea presents context to further the reader's understanding. He makes us stand in the grey area. Even in the most heartbreaking parts of the novel, he doesn't soften the truth to make it digestible. The tragedies of the desert are on full display.
Urrea's prose is threads of silk weaving together to form a tapestry. It has been months since a book has gripped me like this. From the first few paragraphs, I was enraptured in a detailed, well-rounded story that truly takes all perspectives of a case. Though Urrea mentions his bias towards the end, the majority of the novel takes into account the border patrol workers, the coyotes, and the undocumented migrants. Even the foreign relations negotiated between Mexican towns and American governments is provided to give the reader adequate background.
What truly makes this book standout is the nuance and humanity. Instead of pointing fingers and condemning individuals, Urrea presents context to further the reader's understanding. He makes us stand in the grey area. Even in the most heartbreaking parts of the novel, he doesn't soften the truth to make it digestible. The tragedies of the desert are on full display.