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readingafrica's review
5.0
This book shed light on the brokenness of the American immigration system. It's a shame that Diane had to deal with so much as a child. I don't know her, but I am so proud of what she's been able to accomplish in spite of the odds stacked against her. I cried. A lot! The last chapter "Call to Action" was so powerful. Thank you for telling your story Diane! I hope no child has to go through losing their parents the way you did.
nickscoby's review
4.0
I enjoyed this book much more than I was expecting to. Guerrero describes the impact of her parents' deportation completely from an adolescent's perspective, which is often bratty, unforgiving and self-involved. Unexpectedly (but thankfully), she also discusses the mental health aspect of deportation, including her own fight with depression. Highly recommend, especially in today's political climate.
book_concierge's review
4.0
Audible original audio narrated by the author.
When Diane Guerrero was fourteen years old, she came home from school to find an empty house. Her family had been picked up by ICE and were detained pending deportation. Fortunately for Diane, a family friend agreed to take her in, so that she could remain in school. This is her memoir.
The author has an important message to convey about the effects on children of America’s immigration and deportation policies. Diane had been born in the United States, so she was never at risk of being deported, but she was a child when her parents and brother were sent back to Colombia. And no government agency checked on her welfare … at all. Yes, you read that right. Social Services, Child Protective Services, ICE, Homeland Security … not one single government entity bothered to check to see if this 14-year-old child was okay, had food, shelter, clothing. It’s not like they didn’t know she existed. While her parents were awaiting deportation, she visited them at the detention facility, registering as their daughter, accompanied by the family friend who was temporarily caring for her.
The traumatic events left psychological scars, and Guerrero is open and honest about what she endured (including years of self-harm) until she got the emotional help she needed. She is now an outspoken advocate for immigration reform.
My book club had a very interesting discussion of this book. Her “voice” as an author is very young at the outset. It’s almost as if she were writing for a high school or even middle school audience. But as she recovers from the trauma, and particularly the last two chapters, her voice matures, and she writes with confidence and authority.
Guerrero narrates the audiobook herself. I had read the first two-thirds of the book in text format before a friend shared the audio with me. The difference in maturity between the beginning and ending is more evident on the audio.
When Diane Guerrero was fourteen years old, she came home from school to find an empty house. Her family had been picked up by ICE and were detained pending deportation. Fortunately for Diane, a family friend agreed to take her in, so that she could remain in school. This is her memoir.
The author has an important message to convey about the effects on children of America’s immigration and deportation policies. Diane had been born in the United States, so she was never at risk of being deported, but she was a child when her parents and brother were sent back to Colombia. And no government agency checked on her welfare … at all. Yes, you read that right. Social Services, Child Protective Services, ICE, Homeland Security … not one single government entity bothered to check to see if this 14-year-old child was okay, had food, shelter, clothing. It’s not like they didn’t know she existed. While her parents were awaiting deportation, she visited them at the detention facility, registering as their daughter, accompanied by the family friend who was temporarily caring for her.
The traumatic events left psychological scars, and Guerrero is open and honest about what she endured (including years of self-harm) until she got the emotional help she needed. She is now an outspoken advocate for immigration reform.
My book club had a very interesting discussion of this book. Her “voice” as an author is very young at the outset. It’s almost as if she were writing for a high school or even middle school audience. But as she recovers from the trauma, and particularly the last two chapters, her voice matures, and she writes with confidence and authority.
Guerrero narrates the audiobook herself. I had read the first two-thirds of the book in text format before a friend shared the audio with me. The difference in maturity between the beginning and ending is more evident on the audio.
marieintheraw's review
4.0
a memoir about the controversial topic of immigration that the author wished she had; very important. Not overflowing with how the author became a star or her stardom.
reikista's review
4.0
Diane’s Colombian immigrant parents brought her up in poor neighborhoods in Boston until her mother was deported, returned, was deported again, returned once more, and then both parents were finally deported for good when she was 14 and she was essentially left on her own, living with the parents of her friends. She was saved by an arts high school and became an actress in Orange is the New Black for Netflix. Heart-wrenching and political.
dlauabby's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
4.0
Diane's content from this book was made fairly easy for latinos and minorities to relate to. I think that was the biggest hook for myself. As a minority in the US, I found my identity called to and seen. I certainly enjoyed the little moments that Diane had with her father growing up, mostly because my father was the same way when it came to being affectionate. The nicknaming with random yet meaningful things was where I started feeling connected with Diane's writing. The inclusion of describing Diane's culture played out beautiful and made the reader want to see Colombia. I loved that.
Although, as the book progressed, and this is based on her own life and her family's, it turned into a bit of a sob story. Nonetheless, what happened to her and her family is real as can be. I am not invalidating that. More of it being that I am not able to fully comprehend how she truly dealt with it all and the abrupt separation from her family. It happens to lots of people everywhere in the US and it's kept quiet. I am not surprised at the lack of action on the part of the government. But it is unfair to everyone it happens too and not talked about enough. Mostly because people believe there's nothing that can be done. But pros to Diane, for all the action she's now taking for all the people who can't demand action because of their legal status.
Although, as the book progressed, and this is based on her own life and her family's, it turned into a bit of a sob story. Nonetheless, what happened to her and her family is real as can be. I am not invalidating that. More of it being that I am not able to fully comprehend how she truly dealt with it all and the abrupt separation from her family. It happens to lots of people everywhere in the US and it's kept quiet. I am not surprised at the lack of action on the part of the government. But it is unfair to everyone it happens too and not talked about enough. Mostly because people believe there's nothing that can be done. But pros to Diane, for all the action she's now taking for all the people who can't demand action because of their legal status.
tuesday_evening's review
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deportation and Self harm
shannonw19's review
3.0
Diane Guerrero's memoir of her youth and her parents' deportation from the United States at the age of 14 is a moving and emotional story. Ms. Guerrero's parents moved to the United illegally from Columbia and Diane was born in the United States. This book looks at the mircocosom of her life and addresses the bigger issue immigration through that story.
Diane's parents worked two jobs each most times to make ends meet. They lived in constant fear of deportation. She did not speak to people voluntarily. She worried about it all the time. When she was 14 years old, Diane came home to find her parents gone. They had been taken by ICE and detained. She saw them in the detention center before they were deported. she, being a U.S. Citizen, stayed behind. She lived with friends of her family for longer periods of time. She got into the Boston Academy of Arts for high school and it changed her life. She discovered performing.
She went to college and her life began to spin out of control. She suffered from depression and anxiety, to the point that she nearly committed suicide. She sought out a therapist and worked her way back to mental health. Then she landed roles on tv shows. She became successful and eventually reunited with her parents.
I enjoyed this book. Ms. Guerrero is a good writer and tells a compelling, personal story. The only reason I did not rate this book higher is that I found the last chapter very, very preachy. Not that a call to action is a bad thing, but the way it was presented seemed a little strident.
Other than the last chapter, I enjoyed this book.
Diane's parents worked two jobs each most times to make ends meet. They lived in constant fear of deportation. She did not speak to people voluntarily. She worried about it all the time. When she was 14 years old, Diane came home to find her parents gone. They had been taken by ICE and detained. She saw them in the detention center before they were deported. she, being a U.S. Citizen, stayed behind. She lived with friends of her family for longer periods of time. She got into the Boston Academy of Arts for high school and it changed her life. She discovered performing.
She went to college and her life began to spin out of control. She suffered from depression and anxiety, to the point that she nearly committed suicide. She sought out a therapist and worked her way back to mental health. Then she landed roles on tv shows. She became successful and eventually reunited with her parents.
I enjoyed this book. Ms. Guerrero is a good writer and tells a compelling, personal story. The only reason I did not rate this book higher is that I found the last chapter very, very preachy. Not that a call to action is a bad thing, but the way it was presented seemed a little strident.
Other than the last chapter, I enjoyed this book.