40 pages 1 hour read

Luis Alberto Urrea

Into the Beautiful North

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2009

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Chapters 16-18 Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 16 Summary

The Camaronians and Candelaria walk for a while into the night; unbeknownst to them, they are still walking along the fence. Because the dark obscures their vision, they almost deliberately walk into a Border Patrol truck. Atomiko puts on a "warrior" show and then jumps back over the fence. The capture of the group is quite anticlimactic. As they are driving back, the agents stop and watch two other guards severely beat a boy. Vampi and Yolo began to cry.

Back at the deportation office, Nayeli is mesmerized by a black Border Guard and his skin tone. It is so similar to hers, only one shade darker. He notices that she is staring at him and she admits to him that she thinks his skin is beautiful. 

Chapter 17 Summary

The story’s narration shifts to Arnie, the Border Officer that Nayeli was admiring and reveals his point of view about his job and the realities of the border. He processes Nayeli's paperwork and laughs heartily at her story of finding warriors. He gives her a few treats from the vending machines and puts her back in the holding cell.