54 pages • 1 hour read
Jason De LeónThe Land of Open Graves: Living and Dying on the Migrant Trail
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2015A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Land of Open Graves by Jason De León critiques the US border enforcement policy known as Prevention Through Deterrence, which forces migrants into the Sonora Desert, using inhospitable terrain as a mechanism to deter undocumented immigration and obscure governmental responsibility for deaths. Through ethnography, De León highlights the harsh realities faced by migrants like Memo and Lucho, and the profound impacts on their families and communities. The book includes graphic descriptions of death and anti-Latinx racism.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Jason De León's The Land of Open Graves powerfully blends ethnography and archaeology to expose the harrowing experiences of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. Reviewers praise its vivid narrative and impactful use of firsthand accounts. Critics note occasional academic jargon that could challenge general readers. Compelling yet heart-wrenching, it is a crucial contribution to migration studies.
Who Should Read The Land of Open Graves?
Readers who are captivated by the intersection of ethnography, human rights, and social justice will find The Land of Open Graves by Jason De León compelling. Comparable to works like The Devil’s Highway by Luis Alberto Urrea and Tell Me How It Ends by Valeria Luiselli, this book is ideal for those drawn to deeply human and urgent narratives about migration.