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ksuazo94's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Deportation, Terminal illness, Grief, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual violence and Violence
emmehooks's review against another edition
4.5
This book is a mix of deeply personal fears and experiences, narrative reporting, and community building as a radical act of self-preservation and existence.
Graphic: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Classism, Deportation, Medical content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Abandonment, Cancer, Chronic illness, Mental illness, and Police brutality
Moderate: Addiction, Grief, War, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Self harm, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Sexual harassment, Trafficking, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Hate crime, and Infidelity
spark_879's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Deportation, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Fatphobia and Suicide attempt
christynhoover's review against another edition
4.5
I've never fully grasped the level of unrelenting stress and fear that the undocumented live with 24/7, year after year, in the US. Until I read this book.
Graphic: Cursing and Deportation
savvylit's review against another edition
5.0
One aspect that is discussed thoroughly in this book is the exploitation of undocumented workers by their so-called employers. In her chapter on Ground Zero, for instance, Villavicencio discusses the fact that many of the first responders on September 11th were undocumented. She gets to know a group of folks who were instrumental in the debris cleanup at Ground Zero. All of them now experience financially and physically devastating chronic diseases as a result of the harsh chemicals & carcinogens they were exposed to on the (underpaid) job.
Another key topic that Villavicencio explores is the myriad ways that being undocumented affects mental health. For example, she becomes deeply involved in the lives of families whose fathers are on the brink of deportation but have taken sanctuary in local churches. Though the children are still able to see their father, they struggle with the fact that they're forced to live apart. Some of the children she gets to know even begin to dissociate as they struggle to process their new, fraught realities.
This book isn't entirely about untold suffering and exploitation, however. It is also about solidarity, hope, radical joy, and the myriad ways that the undocumented support each other. And Villavicencio bears witness to it all - with passion, rage, and deep understanding.
I truly believe that The Undocumented Americans should be required reading for all who identify as American.
Graphic: Hate crime, Deportation, Grief, Medical content, Police brutality, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Mental illness
chaoticnostalgia's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Deportation, Sexism, Classism, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Racism, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Self harm, and Confinement
Moderate: Chronic illness, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Abandonment, Gun violence, Violence, Mental illness, Alcohol, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Fatphobia, Rape, Addiction, Alcoholism, Infidelity, and Emotional abuse
dominicangirl's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Xenophobia
Moderate: Deportation
solenodon's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Xenophobia, Racism, Racial slurs, Mental illness, Grief, Deportation, Confinement, Colonisation, Medical trauma, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cancer, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, and Panic attacks/disorders
nagev's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Deportation and Violence
Moderate: Racism, Police brutality, and Chronic illness