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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.
debigo's review
3.0
Interesting
I did not feel a lot of emotion but this is a good quick read if you are interested in the challenges that immigrants face. The story is part ‘life of an American kid with illegal parents’ with a little bit ‘how I overcame to become an actor’
I did not feel a lot of emotion but this is a good quick read if you are interested in the challenges that immigrants face. The story is part ‘life of an American kid with illegal parents’ with a little bit ‘how I overcame to become an actor’
theallens's review
3.0
This was a very well done memoir and Diane Guerrero's childhood is a heartbreaking story of being an immigrant in the United States. I wish the tone of the book was a little more serious but overall I liked it. The last chapter is the tone that I wish the entire books was like because it is 5/5 but just for that chapter.
nmillerlibrarian's review
3.0
This is an important story that needs to be heard. Her life is compelling, and it puts a human face on a serious issue in our nation. As a piece of literature, it is a popular autobiography, so it will be dated quickly. It is coauthored, so the voice is somewhat inconsistent. I mostly listened to the audio book, which made the story much more interesting, as it was read by the subject.
jwanz86's review
5.0
This is a really solid and compelling tale. Her voice carries through powerfully. Sometimes that can be a distraction. But it's an important story to read and to share as it comes to an individual's experience from an immigrant family in the US's current state.
paonrojas's review
4.0
I don’t have words to describe how tough was for me to read this book. I felt everything as it was my own story. Maybe its because I'm an immigrant, or because It reminded me all the sacrifices my parents had done so I could have a better a life or maybe simply because Colombia feels too close to home. Here Diane tells us her story as a child with illegal parents. Everything her parents had to endure so she could be a citizen in this country and have a better life. She describes her life in the shadows, the constant fear and the hope they had that one they could be permanent residents. It’s a heartbreaking story and even though I knew her life was tough I never imagined it would be this bad. The only thought of her being a 14 years old left alone breaks my heart and it made me realize the privilege I have simply because my parents had the opportunity to come to this country legally. It is an amazing book and it was totally worth it.
Spanish
No tengo palabras para describir lo dificil que fue leer para mi este libro. Senti esta historia como si fuese mia. Tal vez fue porque soy una imigrante aqui en USA, o porque me recordo a todos los sacrificios que han hecho mis padres para que pueda tener una mejor vida aqui o simplemente fue que Colombia me recuerda mucho a mi pais natal. En este libro Diane nos cuenta su historia como hija de imigrantes ilegales aqui en USA. Nos cuenta por todo los que sus padres pasaron para que ella pudiese ser cuidadana america y tener una vida mejor. Nos describe su historia viviendo en las sombras, el miedo constante y la esperanza que siempre tuvieron de que algun dia iban a poder ser residentes permanentes. Esta historia me rompio el corazon y aunque sabia que no ina. Aser una historia feliz jamas me imagine que fuese tan dura. Me di cuenta del privilegio que tengo simplemente porque mis padres pudieron venir legales a este pais. Es un libro muy bueno y la unica razon por la que no es 5 estrellas es porque a veces senti un poco forzada la voz de ella, hubo partes que no me gusto mucho la narracion pero en si la historia es genial.
Spanish
No tengo palabras para describir lo dificil que fue leer para mi este libro. Senti esta historia como si fuese mia. Tal vez fue porque soy una imigrante aqui en USA, o porque me recordo a todos los sacrificios que han hecho mis padres para que pueda tener una mejor vida aqui o simplemente fue que Colombia me recuerda mucho a mi pais natal. En este libro Diane nos cuenta su historia como hija de imigrantes ilegales aqui en USA. Nos cuenta por todo los que sus padres pasaron para que ella pudiese ser cuidadana america y tener una vida mejor. Nos describe su historia viviendo en las sombras, el miedo constante y la esperanza que siempre tuvieron de que algun dia iban a poder ser residentes permanentes. Esta historia me rompio el corazon y aunque sabia que no ina. Aser una historia feliz jamas me imagine que fuese tan dura. Me di cuenta del privilegio que tengo simplemente porque mis padres pudieron venir legales a este pais. Es un libro muy bueno y la unica razon por la que no es 5 estrellas es porque a veces senti un poco forzada la voz de ella, hubo partes que no me gusto mucho la narracion pero en si la historia es genial.