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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
challenging
hopeful
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I could see this being a great read for young adults and think it would be a great catalyst to open up discussions in schools. The story was very sweet too — full of hope. ♥️ I love that for a Young Adult audience!
So maybe this is my bad for reading a YA book as an adult, but I didn't need/want/believe the hopefulness communicated in this story. I don't know.It felt like everything ended a little too happy for me.. and, unfortunately, that doesn't feel like reality today. 💔 I did appreciate that this book did talk about immigration, though, without overly sugar-coating it.
So, all in all, I have mixed feelings about this book! I don't think it was for me, but I could also see this book changing minds and lives.
So maybe this is my bad for reading a YA book as an adult, but I didn't need/want/believe the hopefulness communicated in this story. I don't know.
So, all in all, I have mixed feelings about this book! I don't think it was for me, but I could also see this book changing minds and lives.
Content Warnings
Discussion of immigration — not massive detail, but may be triggering to some.
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
I loved this. Liliana is a great teen character, and I loved the focus on her and her family, and how it humanized the issue of her parents being undocumented and what it is like for a family to be separated like this. It would be pretty hard to read this and NOT be rooting for her father to make his way back to them. I also liked the portrayal of the racism in the suburban school, and how the minority students tried to combat it, but how they didn't "fix" everything and have a happy ending where everyone realizes they were wrong and it's all ok now. I mean, I think the ending was hopeful, but it wasn't like all the problems were solved. Great story.
I loved this. Liliana is a great teen character, and I loved the focus on her and her family, and how it humanized the issue of her parents being undocumented and what it is like for a family to be separated like this. It would be pretty hard to read this and NOT be rooting for her father to make his way back to them. I also liked the portrayal of the racism in the suburban school, and how the minority students tried to combat it, but how they didn't "fix" everything and have a happy ending where everyone realizes they were wrong and it's all ok now. I mean, I think the ending was hopeful, but it wasn't like all the problems were solved. Great story.
Don't Ask Me Where I'm From is a novel that directly confronts racism in this country and in the majority white school that Liliana ends up attending because of a program, Metco, that allows a select group of urban Boston students to go to wealthier schools.
Liliana has just learned that her father is undocumented and has been deported back to Guatemala, and this adds a layer of stress on top of the racism that she experiences. Her family is struggling with the loss of her father and her mother's resulting depression. Glancing at some of the lower-rating reviews, I can see that some readers object to the fact that the heroine's father was undocumented and that he's working throughout the book to get back to his family, and I think that's the exact reason books like this need to exist.
The plot hits expected points, but there's enough characterization and nuance to keep the book from feeling like it's entirely about the message. Liliana's voice, particularly, is excellent, and the way it evolves as she begins to have to code-switch to try to fit in at her new school. Although tackling tough topics, Don't Ask Me Where I'm From stays relatively light in tone, largely because of the personality in Liliana's observations.
I'm going to keep this short, because I'm in no way the ideal reviewer for this, but I recommend it for sure, and I recommend looking for own voices reviews as well.
Liliana has just learned that her father is undocumented and has been deported back to Guatemala, and this adds a layer of stress on top of the racism that she experiences. Her family is struggling with the loss of her father and her mother's resulting depression. Glancing at some of the lower-rating reviews, I can see that some readers object to the fact that the heroine's father was undocumented and that he's working throughout the book to get back to his family, and I think that's the exact reason books like this need to exist.
The plot hits expected points, but there's enough characterization and nuance to keep the book from feeling like it's entirely about the message. Liliana's voice, particularly, is excellent, and the way it evolves as she begins to have to code-switch to try to fit in at her new school. Although tackling tough topics, Don't Ask Me Where I'm From stays relatively light in tone, largely because of the personality in Liliana's observations.
I'm going to keep this short, because I'm in no way the ideal reviewer for this, but I recommend it for sure, and I recommend looking for own voices reviews as well.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was a really amazing read. It grabbed me every time I opened the page and let me tell you that second half had me clutched by the collar, I couldn’t put it down! Centered around themes of identity, social justice and family, this book is sure to draw you in with its unique character voice and drama. It’s a compelling read and very relevant!
*Thanks to the publisher for the ARC*
*Thanks to the publisher for the ARC*
I was gifted this book by the publisher (thank you!) and here is my honest review:
This book is a strong first novel. It is an important and endearing story with a very strong voice. It covers very important subjects. It delves into racism and it discusses important issues of our time and how they affect people and families. Some things in this book were brushed over, but I feel like I learned a lot from this book overall.
This book is a strong first novel. It is an important and endearing story with a very strong voice. It covers very important subjects. It delves into racism and it discusses important issues of our time and how they affect people and families. Some things in this book were brushed over, but I feel like I learned a lot from this book overall.