2009-10 CRP: Look Who's Reading:

"It was so easy for me to believe that I was not a contributing factor to the on-going illegal immigration problem, however, once I finished The Devil’s Highway, I began to understand how my actions did and do in fact actually have a huge impact on the lives of others, not only here in the United States, but in the world as a whole. The Devil’s Highway is an amazing narrative that paints a captivating picture of how truly strenuous the illegal journey across the United States-Mexico border is. This book forced me to challenge my view point on immigration as well as the way I live my life as a privileged citizen of the United States." Ebben W. Bell, 4th Year, Sociology Major, Riverview, Florida

"Even after reading the back cover of The Devil's Highway, I did not anticipate the depth of this book. Urrea describes aspects of illegal immigration that I had never considered while using descriptions that are simultaneously graphic and artistic. He illustrates the travels of the Yuma 14 in a very readable manner and invites his audience to immerse themselves in the wild of the desert. I truly enjoyed reading this book, and I know incoming freshmen will, too!" Marian Maloney, 1st Year, English Major

"Working in Mexico, I’ve met many people who have crossed undocumented into the US. Confronted with poverty, educational inequality, and lack of opportunities, this decision seemed like their only hope for a way out of endemic poverty and a better life for them and their families. While I have heard personal accounts of people crossing the border, it was hard for me to understand the tremendous courage and risk people take everyday, everywhere, to come to the US. In The Devil’s Highway, Luis Urrea so poetically and profoundly peels back the layers of such a contentious economic and political issue to connect us with these 26 men who risked everything to better their lives. This book is captivating, heartbreaking, gut-wrenching, and reading it compelled me to think even more critically about my – and our collective – role and responsibility to each other within and beyond our borders." Maria Rogal, Associate Professor, College of Fine Arts

“After reading The Devil’s Highway, I couldn’t shake the notion of how similar the motivations of the Yuma 14 are to my own. Most people I know will go to great lengths to make the best possible lives for themselves and their families. While we may find ourselves in very different physical, social, and economic circumstances, our basic motivation to move towards happiness and security crosses political and cultural boundaries. I think that Luis Urrea did an outstanding job of combining research, personal narrative, and richly detailed sensory descriptions to place us in the shoes of both the walkers and the border patrol agents. Solving our immigration issues with the building of a wall certainly seems like a simplistic notion after reading this book. Jill Lingard, Associate Director for Online Programs, Warrington College of Business Administration