The Devil's Highway

Why is The Devil’s Highway important beyond America’s border regions? What audience do you think would most benefit by reading it?

Who is the villain of the story? Why or why not? If you do not believe there is a villain, who do you feel shares the most responsibility for the events related in the book?

What borders separate all of us as people? Which borders are necessary and which do you believe should be done away with?

What were the factors that pushed the Wellton 26 into the brutal region of the Sonora Desert? In the same situation, do you believe you would have made the same choice? Why or why not?

After reading The Devil’s Highway, if you could change one thing about border policy to save lives and enforce the laws in a humane way, what do you think would have the biggest impact? Why?

The author draws a parallel between the issues of today’s border and the United States’ treatment of “Coolies” in the nineteenth century. Can you think of historical parallels to any other current hot-button issue?

In America, there has been talk of building a wall to keep immigrants from crossing into the United States. Now that you’ve read The Devil’s Highway, does that plan seem more or less realistic to you than before? Why?

American is largely a nation of immigrants. Discuss how the country would be different if immigration had been made impossible fifty years ago, and then one hundred years ago. Would things be better or worse? Why?