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nytephoenyx's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
I really enjoyed learning from this book and seeing the immigrant community through Cornejo Villavicencio’s eyes. Non-fiction books come in all shapes and sizes but I think the very best ones are written from the perspective of someone who has lived the experiences they are writing about and are able to share those experiences in an honest, unfiltered way. Cornejo Villavicencio excels at this and her reading of the work adds a level of emotion very few readers could add. It’s excellently written. I learned a lot.
In The Undocumented Americans, Cornejo Villavicencio tells different stories of different experiences. She tells the story of her own strength and guilt, her parents – each of whom have different experiences – and those of the individuals she has met and fought for. Cornejo Villavicencio makes you want to fight for them too. As we all should. As an audiobook, The Undocumented Americans is only five hours long – a short book. Every moment is meaningful. Words are carefully chosen and they are impactful. It’s the best way to write a sociopolitical non-fiction book. I’m impressed by Cornejo Villavicencio’s technique! I’d read more of her work.
In regards to the subject matter, I think there is a perfect balance of personal experience and outside stories. Whenever Cornejo Villavicencio discusses the work experience of an immigrant, she effortlessly ties that back to her father’s experience, her mother’s dysphoria, or her own guilt. Most impactful of these stories, for me, was learning about immigrants seeking sanctuary from deportation orders in a church or other place of worship. These are the tales you hear of heroes and fugitives of the law – not criminals but crusaders, those breaking laws for the good of all. These stories, this parallel, was so beautiful and heartbreaking. The deep loneliness of the men in sanctuary is devastating. Cornejo Villavicencio tells these stories directly and honestly. I appreciated it so much.
The Undocumented Americans taught me the level of sacrifice immigrants endure to create opportunities for future generations. Cornejo Villavicencio’s father returned to Ecuador once his children were stable, because he was tired of fighting for a living wage. Her mother is still trying to figure out who she is. Cornejo Villavicencio Carrie’s the heart and hurts of so many whose family experience parallels her own. This book is a must-read to grow our understanding of the immigrant experience in the United States and the additional hardships our systems place of refugees and those seeking a better future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
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