Being reviewed:
Deadly Divide: How Insects, Pathogens, and People Defied the Us-Mexico Border
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In this week’s episode of Writing Latinos, we talk with Mary E. Mendoza about her new book Deadly Divide: How Insects, Pathogens, and People Defied the US-Mexico Border, published by The University of North Carolina Press. Mendoza teaches history at The Pennsylvania State University. In Deadly Divide, she blurs the boundary between humans and animals, and borderlands history and environmental history. We talk about the similar ways that humans, ticks, cattle, and lice were racialized. I didn’t even know animals could have racial identities! We also discuss how the US and Mexican governments, and ranchers on both sides of the border, took the same approach to restricting immigration and stopping the spread of animal-borne diseases. This is the rare episode where listeners interested in Latino history and identity can also satisfy their inner science nerd. Thanks for listening!
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View a transcript of the episode here. 
