Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

The Devil’s Highway: A True Story by Luis Alberto Urrea is advertised as the story of 26 men who crossed the Mexican American border into the desert of Arizona to Devil’s Highway. Twenty six entered the desert, but only twelve came out alive. Urrea discussed the men who take the walkers across the border into the dry desolate land. The “Coyotes” often leave people to die after leading them across the border into the U.S. The “Coyotes” charge a large fee to lead these people across the border, sometimes a month’s salary. Perhaps the title Coyote is appropriate.

I expected this to be the story of those 26 men. Urrea does tell their story, but too often he lost focus and went off on a tangent, which detracted from the story. He used this opportunity to demonize the border patrol, and his bias showed through loudly. He spent too much time presenting his view and not enough on the plight of the twenty-six.

The author’s enthusiasm for the topic clearly shines through. The inflection and tone of his voice is perfection. It demonstrated and brought out emotions. Urrea’s writing style is descriptive; his words paint a picture of the area. I could see the men signing up to cross the border. One of the parts I very much enjoyed was the history of the area. The author did a great job of presenting it. Urrea is a very talented author.