The Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle, first published in 1995, is a life-changing novel for many and unforgettable in the eyes of Tucsonans Richard and Ann Bates.

In the novel, the lives of Los Angeles socialites, Delaney and Kyra Mossbacher, collide with those of Mexican immigrants, Candido and America Rincon.

In the beginning, the Mossbachers despise the Rincons, after discovering that they are illegal immigrants that have been camping out at a local park. To make matters worse, the Rincons steal supplies from the wealthier couple's property to survive. Delaney and Kyra see the couple as a threat, afraid of the safety of the community in which they reside. But in actuality, their ignorance keeps them from seeing Candido and America for the genuine people they are. It is not until the end of the novel, after Candido saves Delaney's life, that this finally becomes apparent to the Mossbachers.

The Bateses, who are originally from Sunnyside,Wash., and have known one another since the first grade, came across the novel when a friend recommended it to them.

Both teachers, Richard and Ann retired in Tucson after 32 years of teaching in Washington. Richard taught high school language arts and Ann taught elementary school for 17 years then middle school students with academic disabilities for 15 years.

Richard said that if he had known about the novel while he was still teaching, he would have assigned the book to his students.

"This would have lent itself very well to social issues," he said.

Richard and Ann have always been interested in border issues and the well-being of migrants. Even while living in Washington, migrant workers played a significant role in society, maintaining the orchards and fruit farming vineyards.

Now living in Tucson, both are very involved and aware of the issues that are facing people who live on the border, especially those living south of it.

Richard has recently become involved in the fair trade cooperative, Just Coffee: Caffeine with a Conscience. According to the organization’s web site they "market a pure organic Arabica coffee that is grown, harvested and marketed in a spirit of Justice."

The Bateses also attend Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, which is very involved with border issues, especially with the non-profit organization BorderLinks.

To Richard and Ann, The Tortilla Curtain is "life-remembering" because they are able to draw many parallels between their life and the novel.

The Bateses live in a gated community on the west side of town at Starr Pass, but regret their decision of living there now.

“That wall is a barrier between our acceptance of the community,” Ann said.

Since living in Tucson, Ann and Richard have become more open-minded. They admit that they used to cut themselves off from the immigrant community. Now they embrace it with open arms, and Boyle's novel has helped them do so.

"After reading this novel I feel like there is a face to those people," Richard said.

The Bateses now have good friends who come from several areas across the border. They specifically mention a woman they purchase tamales from, who they often visit at her home and converse regularly with her family.

Ann said that it is sad that many Americans judge these people before getting the chance to really know them.

"In their minds there are illegal immigrants, and therefore they are all illegal," she said. "It is unfortunate that the corporate world in America is taking over the human world."

The final line of The Tortilla Curtain reads: "[W]hen he saw the white face surge up out of the black swirl of the current and the white hand grasping at the tiles, he reached down and took hold of it."

To read more about The Tortilla Curtain, click here.