The devils highway, written by journalist luis alberto urrea, is a true story about mexican migration into the united states. Luis alberto urrea describes the attempt of twentysix men to cross the. More specifically, it follows the lives and experiences of illegal immigrants, smugglers, and the u. The authors soul purpose was to us think and be aware of the events going on all around. Luis alberto urrea, son of a mexican father and an american mother, was born in tijuana, mexico on august 20, 1955. Kathleen johnson, kansas city star urrea writes about u. If more people read the devil s highway, such tragic lives might meet the golden arches before ending on the hot sand of a desert dune. The devils highway summary and study guide supersummary. The devils highway by luis alberto urrea overdrive rakuten. The devil s highway by luis alberto urrea little brown 2004. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of daily nova.
I wish this type of material was included as a pdf download in. Pdf in may 2001, a traveling party of 26 mexican citizens tried to cross. They include novels, nonfiction, poetry and a collection of short stories. The devils highway, urrea writes, has always had the mythic and seemingly vengeful atmosphere it possesses to this day. Luis alberto urrea describes the attempt of twentysix men to cross the mexican border into the desert of southern arizona, a region known as the devil s highway, detailing their harrowing ordeal and battle for. If you could give the devil s highway a new subtitle, what would it be. This 32page guide for the devil s highway by luis alberto urrea includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 16 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. At its heart, the devil s highway is the story of a journey in the hope of starting a better life. From a pulitzer prize finalist, the single most compelling, lucid, and lyrical contemporary account of t. Patricia may fayetteville his father was mexican, his mother american, and for luis alberto urrea, that mixed heritage made him a daily target for both mexican and gringo gangs, their members all eager. Urrea begins by recounting briefly some of the history of the haunted desert which is home to the cabeza prieta or darkhead national wildlife refuge, and the particularly treacherous strip of desert known as the devil s highway. The devil s highway luis alberto urrea traces the journeys of twentysix men traveling across the border through one of the most treacherous deserts known to man the devil s highway.
Chicago turabian author date citation style guide urrea, luis alberto. Listen to the devil s highway a true story by luis alberto urrea available from rakuten kobo. Those who have read luis alberto urrea s riveting nonfiction narrative, the devil s highway, will certainly be struck by how many of the loud voices in the current debates lack any sense of the history, the alltoofrequent tragedies, and the social and political complexities of immigration. Urrea invokes ancient religious texts which mention a vast desert known as desolation, beneath which all of the fallen angels are buried. Read the devil s highway pdf a true story by luis alberto urrea mad libs in a new 10th anniversary edition. In other words, urrea is suggesting that the story he is about tell is timeless. As internationally known as a tragedy, in may 2001, a group of mexican men decided to cross the u. Aside from the physical border itself, what other borders separate the people in.
The devil s highway chelsey sands university of arizona lrc 516 ssi 2012 by luis alberto urrea. It is a wasteland where any green vegetation is grey and were temperatures rise up to the triple digits. The devils highway by luis alberto urrea book club. In the devil s highway, author luis alberto urrea describes the events surrounding the deaths of 14 mexican migrants in the desert in may of 2001. He has won the lannan literary award, an edgar award, and a 2017 american academy. The son of a father from mexico and mother from the united. In his powerful new book, the devil s highway, author luis alberto urrea introduces the principal players in this tragedy. Mexico border, but it is also about many other invisible borders.
What is urreas main argumentmessage in the devils highway. 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 devils highway. American book awardwinner urrea wandering time, 1999, etc. A true story kindle edition by urrea, luis alberto. The story revolves around the gruesome eventsnow more than a decade oldthat resulted in the deaths of 14 mexicans who were trying to. It retells the tragic story from may of 2001 when a group of men. Innumerable lives have been claimed by this desert, in a manner similar to or even worse than the way the wellton 26 are currently suffering.
As long as there have been people walking the devil s highway, there have been deaths. The devils highway audiobook by luis alberto urrea. Bill moyers and luis alberto urrea on the devils highway. In may 2001, 26 mexican men scrambled across the border and into an area of the arizona desert known as the devil s highway. Jeff salamon, austin americanstatesman urrea s writing is wickedly goodoutrage tempered with concern channeled into deft prose. A finalist for the pulitzer prize for his landmark work of nonficiton the devil s highway, luis alberto urrea is also the bestselling author of the novels the hummingbirds daughter, into the beautiful north, and queen of america, as well as the story collection the water museum, a penfaulkner award finalist. The devils highway by luis alberto urrea read by luis. On may 19, 2001, 26 men crossed the border from mexico into the searing desert of southern arizona. The devils highway list the characters and describe them.
Luis alberto urrea said he initially was reluctant to write the devil s highway, his 2004 nonfiction book that became a finalist for the pulitzer prize the next year. Open ended essay, including a brief summary and reaction to the devil s highway 3 to 4 pages, typed, 12 point font, double spaced, 1 inch margins. He grew up in san diego, california where he later attended the university of san diego and received his bachelors degree in creative writing. Chronicles the true story of twentysix men who attempted to cross the mexican border into the southern arizona desert known as the devil s highway, describing how the men struggled to survive the deserts harsh conditions and why only twelve survived the journey. Describes the attempt of twentysix men to cross the mexican border into the desert of southern arizona, a region known as the devils highway, detailing their harrowing ordeal and battle for survival against impossible odds.
Author interview luis alberto urrea, author of the devil. Every family in the united states arrived here from somewhere else. Urrea could easily expand on those twenty pages and write a new book the current state of things mexican and american. The following questions are from the discussion guide at the end of the book. Mexican border culture with a tragic and beautiful intimacy that has no equal. In the opening pages of the devil s highway, the author draws a parallel between the issues of todays border and the united states treatment of chinese coolies in the nineteenth century. A true story, by luis alberto urrea, little, brown and company, new york, 2008. Luis alberto urrea writes that some of the yuma 14wellton 26 were aliens before they ever crossed the line. Border patrol found the group strewn across the landscape four days later, 14 were dead from the heat. A moving examination of immigration issues off the shelf. A tremendous amount of research must have gone into this account, and urrea has woven it all into a terrifically powerful narrative. The devils highway is a retelling of the true story about immigration into the united states. What marine recruits go through in boot camp earning the title making marines on parris island duration. Please use this display as a guideline and modify as needed.
You may choose to use these prompts to help guide your essay. When five stumbled out of a mountain pass four days later, luis alberto urrea writes in his startling account, the devil s highway little, brown. The devils highway by luis alberto urrea plot summary. The following version of the book was used to create this guide. Luis alberto urrea talked about immigration and his book, the devils highway.
What are your initial reflections in reading the devils highway. The devils highway is easy to read, gripping and not at all preachy, while having a heart of anger and compassion which i found moving and fierce. S border through the deadliest region in north america, the arizonian desert. Author breaks barriers with border patrol agents sfgate. Start a free 30day trial today and get your first audiobook free. From a pulitzer prize finalist, the single most compelling, lucid, and lyrical contemporary account of the absurdity of u. Devils highway assignment las 195 a final paper the. Excerpt from the pulitzer prizenominated the devil s highway by luis alberto urrea. For those of you who have read the devils highway by luis. Signin to download and listen to this audiobook today. These citations may not conform precisely to your selected citation style. If possible, also distribute the copy of faith based values for immigration reform to the class as an example of work done by an organization in tucson, arizona. Urrea talks about writing acclaimed book the devils highway.
If youre using a pc or mac you can read this ebook online in a web browser, without downloading anything or installing software. Right near the devil s highway itself is a mutated saguaro that rises ten feet into the sky. Luis alberto urrea, author of the devil s highway, signs a copy of his book oct. Written by luis alberto urrea, audiobook narrated by luis alberto urrea. The devil s highway quotes showing 19 of 9 if it was the border patrols job to apprehend lawbreakers, it was equally their duty to save the lost and the dying. It was a fictional account of 26 men who lost their way along the camino.
Author luis alberto urrea tells bill moyers how meeting u. The devil s highway, by luis alberto urrea, is a deeply evocative story about the border conflict between the united states and mexico. Both governments to blame for devils highway, author. The devils highway luis alberto urrea pdf a true story by. The devils highway by luis alberto urrea overdrive. The devil s highway isnt just a great book, its a necessary one. A political analysis of the devils highway daily nova. Las 195 a final paper the devil s highway the devil s highway, by luis alberto urrea assignment. Luis alberto urrea author a finalist for the pulitzer prize for his landmark work of nonfiction the devils highway, luis alberto urrea is also the bestselling author of the novels the hummingbirds daughter, into the beautiful north, and queen of america, as well as the s. The twin es take you to the mexican border, crossing miles of a sere and mysterious bombing range our ironists eye loves to pick out crazy things. A true story without we recognize teach the one who looking at it become critical in imagining and analyzing. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature.
Luis alberto urrea s message is that the immigration system is broken and needs to be addressed on multiple fronts. Urrea, who was the 1996 writerinresidence at ul lafayette, is the author of books. The devils highway, written and read by luis alberto. The imaginative license urrea takes, paralleling the laconic facts of the case that he incorporates into his narrative, produces a powerful, almost diabolical impression of the disaster and the exploitative conditions at the border. Chicago turabian humanities citation style guide urrea, luis alberto, the devil s highway. He also makes it clear how tragic the fate of the men who died on the devil s. Urrea s book conveys the ambiance of the border between the u.
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