Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

My Side of the River by Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez

2 reviews

rootedreader's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy to review. My Side of the River follows Elizabeth (and her family) as she navigates two worlds-being an American and being the child of immigrants. She writes in detail of the pressure she feels to be the best while feeling outside pressure that she isn't and never will be. Following her from a young age until young adulthood we see her struggle to become her own person without losing touch with where she comes from. 

I enjoyed this quite a bit, my only issue with the last couple of chapters not as in depth as the rest of the book. 
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kari_f's review

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dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

4.0



I love when a memoir dives into societal structures and concepts that are bigger than any one person, and this one perfectly finds that balance. Readers will be engrossed in the author’s story while also learning a lot about the policies and societal norms that impacted her life. Immigration, education, mental health, and poverty are some of the big societal ideas that are tackled in this book, done so in a way that shares the first-hand perspective of someone having to navigate all of these.

I originally picked up this book because the author went to school about a mile away from one of the many schools I attended growing up, and I loved seeing many aspects (both positive and negative) of the city through her eyes. It is so important that experiences such as hers are shared and put into the spotlight, especially in a time where government policies and media consistently try to dehumanize immigrants. 

I definitely recommend this book, and I’m grateful to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy!
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