The Only Road

“Para mi familia, and for all of those for whom leaving their home was, or is, the only choice.”

The author uses the Dedication to signal her support for immigrants like Jaime and Ángela. Her own family emigrated from Cuba, and while The Only Road is a novel, Diaz has partly written it to humanize the immigrant experience and help readers understand how what may seem like a choice may be no choice at all.

“I don’t want to die. But I don’t want to kill people either. What can I do?”

After Miguel’s death, Jaime realizes that the Alphas will kill him if he does not join their gang; joining them will mean he becomes a killer too. This impossible decision is what motivates Jaime to undertake the journey north. While that journey also holds the possibility of death, it also offers a chance at life.

“Tomorrow, at the burial, there’d be grieving. Tonight, however, was the time to celebrate Miguel’s life.”

Diaz gives a glimpse into Guatemalan funeral customs, which may be unfamiliar to readers. An important element of acknowledging a death is celebrating that person’s life, which can help ease the pain of that death. This is especially important in a young adult novel, as it helps the reader cope with the traumatic events of the story.