The Devil’s Highway
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Afterword
Themes
All Themes Desolation and Desperation Myth, Religion, and The Spirit World Humanity and “Illegality” Bearing Witness
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Luís Alberto Urrea Don Moi García Reymundo Barreda, Sr. Nahum Landa Daniel Cercas/“El Chespiro” “El Moreno” Jesús Antonio Lopez Ramos/“Mendez” Rodrigo Maradona Rita Vargas Santos and Lauro Reymundo Jr.
Terms
All Terms Walker/Pollo Pollero Drag Signcutting La Migra Hyperthermia
Symbols
All Symbols La Cabeza Prieta Coyotes and Chickens
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The Devil’s Highway

by

Luis Alberto Urrea

Upgrade to A+
Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
  • Chapter 1
  • Chapter 2
  • Chapter 3
  • Chapter 4
  • Chapter 5
  • Chapter 6
  • Chapter 7
  • Chapter 8
  • Chapter 9
  • Chapter 10
  • Chapter 11
  • Chapter 12
  • Chapter 13
  • Chapter 14
  • Chapter 15
  • Chapter 16
  • Afterword
Themes
  • All Themes
  • Desolation and Desperation Theme Icon
    Desolation and Desperation
  • Myth, Religion, and The Spirit World Theme Icon
    Myth, Religion, and The Spirit World
  • Humanity and “Illegality” Theme Icon
    Humanity and “Illegality”
  • Bearing Witness Theme Icon
    Bearing Witness
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Luís Alberto Urrea
  • Don Moi García
  • Reymundo Barreda, Sr.
  • Nahum Landa
  • Daniel Cercas/“El Chespiro”
  • “El Moreno”
  • Jesús Antonio Lopez Ramos/“Mendez”
  • Rodrigo Maradona
  • Rita Vargas
  • Santos and Lauro
  • Reymundo Jr.
Terms
  • All Terms
  • Walker/Pollo
  • Pollero
  • Drag
  • Signcutting
  • La Migra
  • Hyperthermia
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • La Cabeza Prieta Symbol Icon
    La Cabeza Prieta
  • Coyotes and Chickens Symbol Icon
    Coyotes and Chickens
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
Download this Chart (PDF)
Download the Teacher Edition
Download this Chart (PDF)

The Devil’s Highway Study Guide

It's easy to cite LitCharts for use in academic papers and reports.


MLA

Tanner, Alexandra. "The Devil’s Highway." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 9 Feb 2018. Web. 15 Dec 2025.


Chicago

Tanner, Alexandra. "The Devil’s Highway." LitCharts LLC, February 9, 2018. Retrieved December 15, 2025. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-devil-s-highway.

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