Noah JohnsonThis book has really shown the horrors and reality of what its like to try and achieve a better life. It feels almost as if the migrants are being punished by their own people for trying to better themselves. From Los Zetas to the currency exchange dealers every step of the way it seems someone is trying to hinder those leaving. #Hist416
@cjoshua2118 I think that calling the story "more real" is not the right verbiage. Every story is real, but this one is more personal and more intense because it is no longer viewing these stories from an academic and censored perspective. #hist416
@cjoshua2118 I think that this book is less about the smaller systems in the border because those are less researched and talked about. The big system are important, but those stories are a dime a dozen #Hist416
@cjoshua2118 I think that the strong sense of community is also created through their shared experience through the journey. #Hist416
I think that people are willing to go through La Arrocera because they are trying to escape something far worse. In the book Martinez mentions a small part of what people are fleeing, so I assume that the risk to them is worth it. #Hist416
@cjoshua2118 I agree Martinez offers an unfiltered look into what immigration is really like. However, it is likely that this is only the tip of the iceberg #Hist416
There seems to be a large amount of people trying to exploit their own after deportation. The issue comes from the united states' deportation tactics, but also from those excited to scam the deportees. #Hist416
Los Zetas seem to be the "villain" of this story so far because of obstacle they pose. Through this book so far Los Zetas have provided nothing except struggle and pain for the migrants #Hist416
The photo inserts really help illustrate how human these people are. They are not special people, they are average people who have to go through many horrors just for a chance at a better life. Some not even making it all the way, like the man murdered on his journey, left to die in the street. A grim reality of trying to make it to the border #Hist416
There seems that there is money to be made in both harming and helping migrants who are trying to cross. It seems that Los Zetas want to harm those trying to leave, which is surprising because I thought they would try to profit from helping migrants cross the border #Hist416