Summary Of Into The Beautiful North By Luis Alberto Urrea

Being born in Tijuana and raised by an American mother and a Mexican father gives the author of Into the Beautiful North, Luis Alberto Urrea, an in-depth perspective to the lives of Americans and Mexicans. Urrea’s unique heritage and missionary work has also exposed him to the struggles Mexican people face and the challenges they incur trying to flee their home country for refuge in America. Urrea made a deal with God that he would not rest until he told the story of the struggles Mexican peoples face ("Luis Alberto Urrea"). Urrea has used his career as an author to bring light to the subject and act as a defender for Mexican immigrants. His novel, Into the Beautiful North, was written with the intention of making illegal immigrants from Mexico

Nayeli, the head of the “Notorious Girlfriends”, is the glue that keeps the group together on their journey (pg. 19). So often she turns the other cheek on certain situations to keep focused on their mission. Nayeli exhibits bravery when she defends the group from men they meet at a taco stand, that later follows the group to their hotel room. She broke one of the men's fingers when he was attempting to open their hotel room door, then sprays them with pepper spray to protect her friends from the intruders (pg. 101). Nayeli fails her initial mission to bring men back to the town of Tres Camarones, but even so that doesn’t make her any less of a hero. During a conversation with Aunt Irma, Nayeli confesses that she was not as strong as Aunt Irma because she failed. Aunt Irma then enlightens her about her strength saying, “You are stronger than I will ever be” (pg. 315). Aunt Irma admits that outside of their small town she is nothing and Nayeli was needed because she was strong enough to conquer the world. Nayelli's strength, bravery and leadership is what kept the mission

He breaks down political issues into human life issues that are more relatable. Many times it takes being in another person’s shoes to truly understand the full spectrum of the current political situations and Urrea does an impeccable job at illustrating these issues. Urrea is keeping his promise to God. He has definitely used his career as an author to shine a light on the situation of immigration and shred some of the American stereotypes about illegal immigrants from Mexico, through the story of these unconventional heroes. This makes Urrea the true hero of the novel, Into the Beautiful