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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Read the book. This book provides insights into the life of immigrant children and how our immigration policies deeply impact children and families.
I love a good memoir and this one was very good. She wrote about her experiences and what she went through in a way that you felt what she felt. The way she describes how those things affected her all they way through her adult life was so relatable as well. I really enjoyed this book.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway. My Side of the River is a well written memoir that had me wanting to know what would be next for Elizabeth about 90-95% of the time -- which I think is really good! I thought her childhood and high school and college years were particularly interesting as I remember these years were about looking for my own identity. Elizabeth had even more to juggle with her background, family status, and the political climate.
I do wish there was a little more closure at the end of the book, especially with her dad's diagnosis, her job transition, or if she goes back to New York. Some of this is briefly toughed on if you read the jacket cover About Me section, which is why I think it's weird it wasn't discussed even passingly in the actual book.
Overall, if you like memoirs, I'd recommend this book.
I do wish there was a little more closure at the end of the book, especially with her dad's diagnosis, her job transition, or if she goes back to New York. Some of this is briefly toughed on if you read the jacket cover About Me section, which is why I think it's weird it wasn't discussed even passingly in the actual book.
Overall, if you like memoirs, I'd recommend this book.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Deportation
Minor: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Abandonment
Moderate: Xenophobia
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
(3.5 rounded up) I really enjoyed getting to read a personal account of someone who experienced the challenges and wrongdoings of the American immigration system. I definitely learned a lot and got to read about a new experience outside my own. I will say, my rating of this memoir did dwindle after 200 pages or so. The author felt a bit self-aggrandizing/elitist and the writing got to be a bit "holier-than-thou," especially in Part Three when she talks about getting into/being at Penn and all her academic accomplishments. She also seems ungrateful at times for help she was offered and received, trying to give herself all the praise and credit (not to say she didn't do a lot of hard things on her own). The paragraph on googling the price of Canada Goose jackets and being shocked by your classmates' wealth was very relatable though. overall, enjoyable read with quick chapters & lots of insight!