Customer Reviews

Dead in Their Tracks: Crossing America's Desert Borderlands

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A story like this demands a great deal from an author. Although Annerino has obviously spent many hours researching the borderlands of the Southwest, the key to this monumental work is the extent to which he is willing to live the story he writes. He has taken immense risks, walking side by side through the desert with Mexican immigrants, and coming face to face with the coyotes and narcotraficantes and Border Patrol agents and ranchers of this volatile area. With Annerino's books, you always learn tons of local history, but never at the expense of that vivid sensation of dust and sweat and heat and imminent danger that keep it an interesting read. Highly recommended to anyone who wants to learn more about the little-known wilderness along the Mexican border and the human cost it extracts due to current immigration policies.

August 11. I sat down this evening to read DEAD IN THEIR TRACKS, and just finished it. All in one sitting. I really couldn't put it down. I think it's a tremendously important book. It should be required reading for those planning to cross the border, and track and control the border through immigration policies. The author did a huge amount of research, and legwork. I commend Annerino's efforts and results. His photographs, along with the maps, work well together to give the reader a first hand encounter with the land and people who cross it. I like the pacing of the chapters, the inclusion of both the men who cross the border and the Border Patrol agents, and Annerino's very thoughtful reflections on the value of Mexicans killed in the killing fields in search of a paycheck to send home to their families. It makes me feel real bad. It is hard to read at times only because it's so sad. Boy, am I glad I wasn't the photographer on those trips! Thank you for the remarkable book.

The photos in this book alone will move you. It was great to read about the author's journeys and firsthand experiences in the border desert of AZ. What I like most about the work is that we get a firsthand view of what it's like to cross those barren deserts just to get a job. It's amazing to hear those stories.

At one point in the book we read about John's travels from the Mexican border to the I-8 in the US. Elsewhere we read about his week-long journey through those same deserts at the peak of summer, stopping at wells and water-holes along the way just to stay alive.

While John's text is really disjointed, unorganized, and at times flat-out confusing, he's not writing to impress-- but to take the reader to the places he's been and help them to feel the feelings he has. This work is a great exposition of something that happens in our southwestern deserts almost every day.

"With a serious documentary investigation, in stunning photographs, and his own commentary, this text is something more than a denouncement, John defines it like this: "It's a testimony for the people who died trying to cross the frontier, but it's also a memorial to them because the book includes the dates, places, and [when known] facts of how they died." The photoraphy - it became a necessity for him to show the pain, the suffering of Mexicanos, and their courage to cross the other side: "They are heroes to me, because they're looking for ways to help their families by doing the work Americans refuse to do." The tone of his voice changed, again his look became more clear, his hands trembled with emotion, his words demanded an answer: "Why is life different for people? All of us are the same. The life of a movie star is no more important than a poor Mexicano." "The press in the U.S. focuses on movie stars, music, politicians, killings in schools, problems in other places around the world, but when Mexican citizens die on American soil, they keep quiet." -El Independiente

HISTORIAS DE VIDA. JOHN ANNERINO. ENCUENTRA LA REALIDAD NEGADA. La Manda Que Se Hizo Reportaje. "...Con una investigacion documental seria, impactantes fotografias y comentarios propios, este texto es algo mas que una denuncia, John lo define como: "Un testimonio de las personas que han muerto al cruzar la frontera, es una memoria porque tambien vienen en el libro fechas, lugares y datos de como murieron." La fotografia dejo de ser su forma de vida, se convirto en una necesidad de transmitar el dolor, el sufrimiento de los mexicanos y su valentia de cruzar hacia el otro lado: "Ellos son unos heroes para mi, pues buscan sacar adelante a sus familias y hacen trabajo pesado que los americanos rechazan hacer." Su voz cambio de tono, de nuevo su mirada de hizo clara, sus manos temblaron un tanto emocionadas, sus palabras reclamaron una repuesta: "Por que la vida es diferente para los personas? Todos somos iguales, la vida de una estrella de cine no es mas importante que un mexicano pobre. La prensa de Estados Unidos quiere estrellas de peliculas, de musica, de politicos, matanzas en las escuelas, problemas en todos partes del mundo, pero cuando se trata de los mexicanos que mueren en terrenos estadounidenses, guarda silencio..." -El Independiente

There are those who call themselves experts on the subject and those who are. John is the genuine expert. His points on the subject can only be done by being there and doing it. That is John, that is how he is. That is how he lives. A Master photographer, a Father, Journalist. His treatment on the border issue is a no-holds-barred trip into the unknown. He makes it known, he does it masterfully! When I read Dead in Their Tracks I found it to be the best publication on the subject. It should be required reading for those who are studying Hispanic Culture here at the University of Arizona! When one has the folks at ABC News and other News organizations beating on your door for your knowledge on the subject you know it is John Annerino. When you read a John Annerino book or see his imigaes you are guaranteed that you have exposed to the very best in subject treatment. Dead in Their Tracks will take you for a ride you won't soon forget.

This book, even though it was very short and hopped around a bit, was very compelling and absorbing. It really makes you understand and feel for those people looking for work across the Mexican-American border. Though the book stressed certain things such as the desert heat and the poverty of the immigrants in order to persuade the reader, it was so absorbing that it was easily forgivable, especially considering the subject matter... people braving the elements and coming close to (and sometimes entering) death in order to give their families and themselves a better life through a hard earned paycheck. We rarely hear about the deaths of people trying to cross the desert, partly because they are trying not to be noticed.

I think the author accomplished what he set out to achieve. This book was not written for literary credentials, but to make an impact on the people who read it and to make them think, as well as raise awareness of the subject. One line I'm sure summed up his reasoning for writing this book.. it read something like "A Mexican life is more important than a celebrity's last stint in rehab."

I am Mary H. Garcia. I am very proud to say that DEAD IN THEIR TRACKS made me aware of John's sensitivity. A book like this one needed to be written. He gives us information of our Hispanic culture. He took us thru a journey that none of us women or men could sustain or endure. This book took us thru burning deserts of Arizona. Just to see my people endure La Migra - hunger, thirst, made me shiver with pain for my people - wishing I could be there for them. The photos of skeletons, my people dying in the sun, and the work that John did was overwhelming. Thank you John Annerino for bringing reality to life! An excellant and outstanding book. John Annerino is a very courageous man.

This book was very educational. I loved the facts and the maps. I bring this book to work so that I can sneak in a few pages when I can.

Dead in Their Tracks: Crossing America's Desert Borderlands

Since 1540 attempting to traverse El Camino del Diablo, crossing the 4,100 square mile no-man's land, the borderlands in the Southwest corner of Arizona, stretching from Gila Bend to Yuma has proved to be a daunting task. This trail has proved to be one of the deadliest for illegal immigrants crossing over from Mexico to the 'promised land'.

So why then do these fearless young Mexican's take on the heat of Arizona's summers, attempting to cross the numerous desert basins and rugged mountain ranges, often without sufficient supplies of food or water? Annerino has been drawn to the outback of Arizona since a young man and joined up with a group of four migrants to document their trip as they saunter out in the rippling desert's mirages in an effort to find jobs in America in order to provide a better life for the young families they leave behind. They come in search of the jobs that most American's abhor - picking lettuce or watermelon in fields, working twelve-hour days to earn a few dollars.

Traveling with these migrant workers, sharing their journey, water and food Annerino writes a fascinating tale of their failed attempt, and documenting the shared journey that is tracked by La Migra, the maligned border patrol who often find themselves in the role of the rescuer, putting their lives at risk to help dying illegals, or picking up the remains of those whose dreams fell fatally short.

Annerino ends the book with a list 'in memorium' of all documented deaths of immigrants, refugees, border agents, and humanitarian who has died in Arizona's desolate desert. The tome as written, and including his own photographs, is one that will touch you no matter where you stand in the battle waged against illegal immigration.