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jenny_bean_reads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
A wonderful collection of essays about the American experience when you are not white. Hearing how similar in a lot of ways the immigrant experience is to the indigenous experience in the country was devastating but not surprising.
Having essentially a bunch of mini-memoirs was fascinating and I appreciate so much that so many wonderful and talented people took the time to share their experiences with America Ferrara and the rest of us.
Having essentially a bunch of mini-memoirs was fascinating and I appreciate so much that so many wonderful and talented people took the time to share their experiences with America Ferrara and the rest of us.
rainbowbookworm's review
4.0
A collection of first person narratives from people of all walks of life. This book was great because it opens our minds to the realities of what life is like for people whose backgrounds and realities are very different than our owns.
amicarlton's review
5.0
Amazing, thought-provoking, and something every American (or person, really) should read.
The audio book - even if you don't normally do audiobooks - is especially amazing because you hear each person's story in their own, unique voice.
I've enjoyed the work of America Ferrera for a long time, as well as many of the others. So it was especially impactful to hear their stories, especially the hard parts.
Definitely suggesting it for my book club this year!
The audio book - even if you don't normally do audiobooks - is especially amazing because you hear each person's story in their own, unique voice.
I've enjoyed the work of America Ferrera for a long time, as well as many of the others. So it was especially impactful to hear their stories, especially the hard parts.
Definitely suggesting it for my book club this year!
amberdawnford's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
cyprusr3ad5s's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
4.25
America Ferrera's famous friends write essays about what it means for them to be American on the fringes of what mainstream America thinks of as American. It's great if you grew up feeling like only you had to deal with this stuff, nice to know that famous people had to deal with it too.
sallydally's review
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
5.0
This book helped me feel less lonely in more ways than I knew possible as it connected me with the stories of people that look like me, that sound like me, and that know me and my experiences.
It gave me hope. It made me laugh and it made me cry. Not because every entry was well written or every story relatable. But rather because I found pieces of myself in their confusion. I found that people relate to themselves and each other in so many unique ways that I didn’t know was possible. It gave me an outlet for the feelings of Americanization and shame that would overcome me when I see other people understand more about the culture I come from, than I do. I loved this book. It’s not for everyone. But for me, it was what I needed. A reminder of my inherent worth. That I don’t need anybody else’s validation, permission, attention, or approval to be alive as I am. And that no matter where I go, no matter if people don’t understand me, don’t know me, I am connected to history of people who’ve been through the same things. And sometimes, we found each other.
It gave me hope. It made me laugh and it made me cry. Not because every entry was well written or every story relatable. But rather because I found pieces of myself in their confusion. I found that people relate to themselves and each other in so many unique ways that I didn’t know was possible. It gave me an outlet for the feelings of Americanization and shame that would overcome me when I see other people understand more about the culture I come from, than I do. I loved this book. It’s not for everyone. But for me, it was what I needed. A reminder of my inherent worth. That I don’t need anybody else’s validation, permission, attention, or approval to be alive as I am. And that no matter where I go, no matter if people don’t understand me, don’t know me, I am connected to history of people who’ve been through the same things. And sometimes, we found each other.