Rating: 
Summary: A narrative asking for mercy
Review: The book is mostly written to ask reader to give mercy to the people who mostly wanted to live a better life without struggling for it. The question we now ask ourselves as reader of this book is that, should "quarter be given" to those lives in that city Tijuana just because the author felt simpathy for them ?. If you just a moment take a look at the crime rate in America and look at the condition of that city Tijuana, do you want to have that type of crime in this country.I am sorry that I wasted my money on this book. If you really want to read about poverty, I suggest that you read some real author like Henry Mayhew, or Jack London may be instead of this book.
Rating:
Summary: Not an objective look
Review: The specific examples used are to illustrate what the author wants us to believe. I would have prefered a much rounder picture of the border. ... offers no alternatives to the reader but to take Mexico's problems off their hands and solve them with our generosity.
Rating: 
Summary: I FOUND THIS BOOK TO BE ENJOYING AND SAD.
Review: THIS BBOK HAS OPENED UP MY EYES TO WHAT REALLY HAPPENS IN THE SOUTH. I WAS SUPPOSED TO READ THIS BOOK FOR CLASS AND AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE BORING. THE AUTHOR USED EVERYTHING TO KEEP ME INTERESTED. THERE WERE A LOT OF SAD PARTS IN THE BOOK THAT REMINDED ME OF THE WAY I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY ALSO. IT'S SO SAD HOW SOME US DO MAKE IT AND SOME US DON'T......
Rating:
Summary: a modern tale of dante's inferno yet lyrical, but real
Review: This book is a must read for anyone who cares to understand Mexico's border life. Pieces of his stories will haunt you for days, months, or years. He writes in such a manner that innocently seeks your mind but in the end it will garner oh so much more. I only wish he could then tell us how the other side of Mexico lives or can live with such abject poverty (In Mexico, over 40 million out of 90 million live in poverty--17 million live in severe poverty, NAFTA, ye all shall be free..).
Rating:
Summary: Not for the cold-hearted
Review: This book, plain and simple, is about truth: the truth about the distribution of wealth in the world and the truth about the abject poverty our own hoarding of wealth produces. Those reviewers who find it simply an indictment of Americans "who work hard for what they get" insult the five or so billion people in the world who work just as hard as we allegedly do--and probably more--yet end up living from hand to mouth, day to day. It is an incredible pathology of the rich, lazy and fat that they attribute their incredible wealth (relative to say, Tijuana) and the poverty of others to such things as "work" and "initiative". This book clearly shows how fraudulent these claims are. You want initiative and hard work? Try picking through the trash dump every day to feed your family--as opposed to simply saving up for a new home theater system.
Rating:
Summary: Have A Good Cry, But Then Act
Review: This is a heart wrenching book that attempts to describe what it's like to be one of the poorest of the poor in the world. The author outstandingly introduces to people, some of whom are his close friends, who live in an entirely different world and yet have the same desires and dreams as we although they are often too discouraged to dream them.
The author, a reasonably intelligent man with a good education and experience, is also wise enough to know that there are no easy remedies to the poverty that afflicts the people in his book and so many others.
The saddest part of the book is actually in Urrea's follow-up book, "By the Lake of Sleeping Children". In it, he describes how people have contacted him about the region seeking to do research, write articles or event o a television show. "Very few," he wrote, "want to send money." Sending money is not the solution to poverty, but writing a check is the easiest thing to do to temporarily alleviate some of their suffering. So go and have a good cry. Then, after you get down on your knees and thank God for the blessings you have, consider putting your compassion into action.
Rating:
Summary: Not for the cold-hearted
Review: To be honest, i was very dissapointed with the book. Being chicano, i am ashamed that this book was written by one of my own people. To me it was basically a slang dictionary for non spanish speaking people. Even though i'm not fond of the book, i have to admit some parts were rather intertaining. That's my 2 cents. :) ~Andy
Rating:
Summary: not pleased with book.
Review: To be honest, i was very dissapointed with the book. Being chicano, i am ashamed that this book was written by one of my own people. To me it was basically a slang dictionary for non spanish speaking people. Even though i'm not fond of the book, i have to admit some parts were rather intertaining. That's my 2 cents. :) ~Andy
Rating:
Summary: From the moment you see the first word, you'll be tugged
Review: You'll be tugged into a fascinating world that cannot be as close as it is, cannot be as dire as it is nor cannot be as tender as it is. But it is. And each word you read will tug you to stand up and DO something about it, shout out in frustration at the unfortunate happenings of people you will grow to care about as much as the author does.
The beauty of it all is that the author never sentimentalizes or forces it at you. He just says it as he sees it. And he has a beautiful set of eyes.
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