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Common Book

The Devil's Highway: A True Story by Luis Alberto Urrea has been selected as the third UW Common Book by the University of Washington's Undergraduate Academic Affairs. The UW Common Book project aims to introduce freshmen to the University's academic community through a common reading experience and opportunities to engage in campus discussions and activities around the book.

The Devil's Highway: A True Story follows 26 men who in May 2001 attempted to cross the Mexican border into the desert of southern Arizona, a landscape dubbed the Devil's Highway. Of the 26, only 12 men survive. Through this reporting, Urrea tells the complex story of life on the US border, bringing humanity both to those who enforce border policies and those who attempt to enter the United States. UW sophomore Hang Nguyen says, "Urrea elegantly weaves immigration history into a contemporary journey of striving men. Prepare yourself to endure the thirst, desperation and heat as you embark on Urrea's journey."

For more information, visit the Common Book website.

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