I just finished reading this book today and have to say I enjoyed it more as I read further into the book. When I first started reading the book, I kept putting it down, however at a certain point, I kept going. This is a good book for a weekend read. I liked the characters and storyline.

Nayeli is young, beautiful, and fascinated with the Beautiful North; i.e., the U.S. Her father left to find work in Illinois. Most of the village men also went north looking for a better life for their families. Nayeli fears for the safety of her small Mexican village and, along with her home-girls and their gay friend, travels north looking for seven courageous men (as in The Magnificent Seven) to protect the village. Despite this somewhat imprudent premise, there is a lot of drama involved in the border crossing(s) and Nayleli's cross-country trip in search of her father. Urrea's latest effort was interesting, but not in the same caliber as The Hummingbird's Daughter, lacking its scope, passion, and historical detail. ( )

Bueno! Este libro es muy hard core! This is a great read. You won't want to put it down. The characters that Alberto Urrea develops are well done and hilarious and human. Brings a wider world view to the border issue than one gets from the American media. ( )

Nineteen-year-old Nayeli and her friends come to the realization that there are no men left in their small, poor Mexican village. All of the able-bodied males have gone north to the USA to try to earn money. Bandits come to town and there is no one left to protect the women and children left there. Nayeli and 3 friends decide to go on a mission: Go to the USA and bring back seven men (this, after seeing the movie, The Magnificent Seven) to save the town. Witty and peopled with colorful characters, Into the Beautiful North is an irresistible gem of a book. ( )