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michellesantiago's review against another edition
5.0
It sucks you in and never lets go until the novel ends. And even then... I'm going to be thinking of this one for days. M.T. was an intriguing characters--I felt for her and her situation but she's not entirely sympathetic either (e.g., her relationship with her mother, who was a more sympathetic character). Instead she's very much a teenager, very human and very compelling. Full review to come.
Full review (originally posted on Michelle & Leslie's Book Picks)
I won't be surprised if The Secret Side of Empty wins a bunch of awards. Because, yep, it's that good. The novel is a little over 300 pages and I read it within 24 hours. I haven't read a 300+ book that fast in... well, forever. Right from the get go M.T.'s (her full name was Monserrat Thalia) voice and situation sucks you in and you pretty much have to keep reading until you're done.
The main theme of The Secret Side of Empty was being an undocumented immigrant or, as M.T. calls it, an "illegal." Her parents illegally came to the United States from Argentina when she was a baby. Her dad had big dreams of starting his own business and making it big in the U.S. and they will all eventually go back to Argentina. But over the years, it never happened and it left M.T.'s dad very bitter and abusive. So, M.T.'s home life wasn't a happy place.
School was her happy place--she's a straight-A student, the vice-president of the National Honor Society, she has a great best friend in Chelsea and was falling in love with her first boyfriend. But they were in their senior year and everyone was talking about college. Being an undocumented immigrant and her family poor, college wasn't an option for M.T. Seeing her friends' lives moving on to greater and grander things while she's stuck with no true options, she felt empty.
M.T. was an intriguing character. I felt for her and her situation but she wasn't entirely a sympathetic character either. She made some bad decisions. She's book smart but she also drinks at parties. She's outspoken but she's keeping a huge secret about her and her family. She sees her mother as a doormat and doesn't always appreciate all the things she did for M.T. or see her mom's inner strength. In her most darkest moment she contemplated suicide. She's imperfect and very human. There were times I didn't like her and there were times I wanted to give her a hug and I really liked that. I think all readers will see a bit of themselves in M.T.
The secondary characters were fleshed out as well. I love M.T.'s best friend Chelsea--she's the kind of friend you want in your corner. And M.T.'s love interest, Nate, was lovely. Everyone's first boyfriend should be like Nate. M.T. and Nate's relationship was bittersweet in the sweetest possible way.
After I finished reading The Secret Side of Empty it stayed with me for days. Such as fantastic debut novel by Maria Andreu! I cannot wait to read more by her. The entire story just felt so real and written so well that it sucks you in. The characters were imperfectly perfect and M.T.'s situation is real because there are millions of undocumented immigrants in the United States going through what she went through. But even if you're not an "illegal," you can still relate to the story because it is more than about being undocumented. The novel also touched on issues of physical abuse and suicide but, really it's more than about all the issues. The Secret Side of Empty is about growing up, making decisions, finding inner strength and finding yourself. You need this book in your life. Read it.
Full review (originally posted on Michelle & Leslie's Book Picks)
I won't be surprised if The Secret Side of Empty wins a bunch of awards. Because, yep, it's that good. The novel is a little over 300 pages and I read it within 24 hours. I haven't read a 300+ book that fast in... well, forever. Right from the get go M.T.'s (her full name was Monserrat Thalia) voice and situation sucks you in and you pretty much have to keep reading until you're done.
The main theme of The Secret Side of Empty was being an undocumented immigrant or, as M.T. calls it, an "illegal." Her parents illegally came to the United States from Argentina when she was a baby. Her dad had big dreams of starting his own business and making it big in the U.S. and they will all eventually go back to Argentina. But over the years, it never happened and it left M.T.'s dad very bitter and abusive. So, M.T.'s home life wasn't a happy place.
School was her happy place--she's a straight-A student, the vice-president of the National Honor Society, she has a great best friend in Chelsea and was falling in love with her first boyfriend. But they were in their senior year and everyone was talking about college. Being an undocumented immigrant and her family poor, college wasn't an option for M.T. Seeing her friends' lives moving on to greater and grander things while she's stuck with no true options, she felt empty.
M.T. was an intriguing character. I felt for her and her situation but she wasn't entirely a sympathetic character either. She made some bad decisions. She's book smart but she also drinks at parties. She's outspoken but she's keeping a huge secret about her and her family. She sees her mother as a doormat and doesn't always appreciate all the things she did for M.T. or see her mom's inner strength. In her most darkest moment she contemplated suicide. She's imperfect and very human. There were times I didn't like her and there were times I wanted to give her a hug and I really liked that. I think all readers will see a bit of themselves in M.T.
The secondary characters were fleshed out as well. I love M.T.'s best friend Chelsea--she's the kind of friend you want in your corner. And M.T.'s love interest, Nate, was lovely. Everyone's first boyfriend should be like Nate. M.T. and Nate's relationship was bittersweet in the sweetest possible way.
After I finished reading The Secret Side of Empty it stayed with me for days. Such as fantastic debut novel by Maria Andreu! I cannot wait to read more by her. The entire story just felt so real and written so well that it sucks you in. The characters were imperfectly perfect and M.T.'s situation is real because there are millions of undocumented immigrants in the United States going through what she went through. But even if you're not an "illegal," you can still relate to the story because it is more than about being undocumented. The novel also touched on issues of physical abuse and suicide but, really it's more than about all the issues. The Secret Side of Empty is about growing up, making decisions, finding inner strength and finding yourself. You need this book in your life. Read it.
sc104906's review against another edition
5.0
M.T.'s family is originally from Guatemala, but they are now living illegally in America. While her parents dreamed that they would build a fortune and return to Guatemala, reality is far different from their imaginings. No papers means that M.T.'s father and mother can't find a good job or housing. They can't make a decent wage, and are in constant fear of being caught. M.T. has worked hard at school her entire life, but with graduation looming, she realizes that it all means nothing. She still doesn't have papers and can't go to college or get a good job. The pressure of her secret just may force her to break.
missprint_'s review against another edition
2.0
M. T. should be living a fairy tale story of a life. To everyone else it probably seems like she is with her good grades that can make her Valedictorian, the trip she is organizing for the National Honor Society, and her picture perfect best friend with her good looks and fancy house.
M. T. even looks the part with her blonde hair and light complexion.
The only problem is that the story is a lie.
M. T. is an undocumented immigrant--the same as her mother and father. It was easy to blend in before. But now the future is uncertain. M. T. isn't sure what happens next except that it probably won't include college or anything resembling a happy family.
With everything starting to unravel M. T. is lost and unsure how to find her way back in The Secret Side of Empty (2014) by Maria E. Andreu.
The Secret Side of Empty is Andreu's first novel. It draws on her own experiences growing up as an undocumented immigrant in America.
This debut is an important novel that shines a light on an aspect of American life that few people rarely see. M. T. is in a desperate position caught between the country where she legally belongs and the country that has been home for most of her life.
Andreu expertly captures the push and pull M. T. feels between thinking of herself as an American and the underlying reason she knows she is nothing like her American friends. This already multi-layered story is further complicated with M. T.'s troubled home life and her own drastic plan for coping.
The Secret Side of Empty is a compelling and timely read as well as a much needed addition to the larger conversation about the immigrant experience.
Possible Pairings: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, Drown by Junot Diaz, The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga, Stealing Henry by Carolyn MacCullough, Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta, A Step From Heaven by An Na, This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales, Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
*This book was acquired for review from the publisher*
M. T. even looks the part with her blonde hair and light complexion.
The only problem is that the story is a lie.
M. T. is an undocumented immigrant--the same as her mother and father. It was easy to blend in before. But now the future is uncertain. M. T. isn't sure what happens next except that it probably won't include college or anything resembling a happy family.
With everything starting to unravel M. T. is lost and unsure how to find her way back in The Secret Side of Empty (2014) by Maria E. Andreu.
The Secret Side of Empty is Andreu's first novel. It draws on her own experiences growing up as an undocumented immigrant in America.
This debut is an important novel that shines a light on an aspect of American life that few people rarely see. M. T. is in a desperate position caught between the country where she legally belongs and the country that has been home for most of her life.
Andreu expertly captures the push and pull M. T. feels between thinking of herself as an American and the underlying reason she knows she is nothing like her American friends. This already multi-layered story is further complicated with M. T.'s troubled home life and her own drastic plan for coping.
The Secret Side of Empty is a compelling and timely read as well as a much needed addition to the larger conversation about the immigrant experience.
Possible Pairings: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, Drown by Junot Diaz, The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga, Stealing Henry by Carolyn MacCullough, Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta, A Step From Heaven by An Na, This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales, Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
*This book was acquired for review from the publisher*
emjrasmussen's review against another edition
A movement called Quiet YA has recently gained popularity in the YA community. It started out as a Twitter hashtag that readers used to promote YA books that deserved more buzz than they got—and it became an instant hit. Then, with the collaboration of several authors and bloggers, Quiet YA evolved into a larger project, featuring a week of blog posts and giveaways celebrating lesser-known teen books.
I absolutely love the Quiet YA efforts. It's disheartening to see a book I enjoyed fall to the sidelines for some reason or another, and while every book cannot attain John Green-esque popularity, I love working to gain more recognition for quieter novels. As a blogger, I enjoy reviewing big-name books that everyone has read, but I find it more fulfilling to review smaller books that more people should read.
The Secret Side of Empty is one of these lesser-known but lovely books. I haven't heard too much talk about it, but I am so glad I decided to pick it up.
I read Maria E. Andreu's debut at the perfect time—during college application season—and each chapter was tinted with my own college-related stress and excitement. This timing allowed me to absolutely ache for M.T. and her presumed inability to seek higher education. As much as every college-bound teenager hates the application process, I cannot imagine not having the option of college, not having reasonable funds to pay tuition, not having the ability to apply for federal aid. However, Andreu's writing so vividly and emotionally describes M.T.'s experience that readers do begin to understand a sliver of the character's struggle. In fact, the author evocatively portrays many aspects of the illegal immigrant experience: the pervasive fear of being deported, the reluctance to tell friends, and so much more. As a result, this book has the power to be both relatable and eye-opening—I would love to hand The Secret Side of Empty to young immigrants and to people who picket with anti-immigration signs, as both parties could glean something meaningful from M.T.'s tale.
Equally emotional is the protagonist's toxic relationship with her father. On top of her other worries, M.T. deals with his verbal and physical abuse, creating even more opportunities for saddening scenes. As with every book that deals with parental abuse, I loved feeling enraged on M.T.'s behalf, and I cheered relentlessly as I watched her learn to stand up to him. But M.T.'s story stands out next to similar tales thanks to her family's immigration status; she cannot call the police for fear of being deported, and her father's depressing disappointment with his life in the United States helps explain his actions.
On a lighter note, M.T.'s budding romance is impeccably written. Her love interest has all the makings of a perfect YA crush—he's clever, kind, and funny—but he is not the focus of the story. The romance exists primarily to shape M.T. and her personal journey, not as an obligatory toss-in meant to give readers a couple to "ship." Best of all, while the two character's relationship is adorable and enjoyable to read about, it is not portrayed as the end-all, be-all of each character's love life. It is simply portrayed as a fun high school relationship, the same kind of relationship most real teenagers have. In a world of YA characters who find their soul mates in high school—or while leading a revolution against a dystopian government, or in the middle of a battlefield—I appreciated the realism of this romance.
This book's romance combines with the story's more somber side to create a book that really should be more popular. The Secret Side of Empty is not only a well-written book, but an important book, showing that "immigration laws" are not just political buzzwords, but real obstacles for countless people. It's a story both personal and universal, and it left me hoping for another book by Andreu in the near future.
This review originally appeared at www.foreverliterary.blogspot.com.
I absolutely love the Quiet YA efforts. It's disheartening to see a book I enjoyed fall to the sidelines for some reason or another, and while every book cannot attain John Green-esque popularity, I love working to gain more recognition for quieter novels. As a blogger, I enjoy reviewing big-name books that everyone has read, but I find it more fulfilling to review smaller books that more people should read.
The Secret Side of Empty is one of these lesser-known but lovely books. I haven't heard too much talk about it, but I am so glad I decided to pick it up.
I read Maria E. Andreu's debut at the perfect time—during college application season—and each chapter was tinted with my own college-related stress and excitement. This timing allowed me to absolutely ache for M.T. and her presumed inability to seek higher education. As much as every college-bound teenager hates the application process, I cannot imagine not having the option of college, not having reasonable funds to pay tuition, not having the ability to apply for federal aid. However, Andreu's writing so vividly and emotionally describes M.T.'s experience that readers do begin to understand a sliver of the character's struggle. In fact, the author evocatively portrays many aspects of the illegal immigrant experience: the pervasive fear of being deported, the reluctance to tell friends, and so much more. As a result, this book has the power to be both relatable and eye-opening—I would love to hand The Secret Side of Empty to young immigrants and to people who picket with anti-immigration signs, as both parties could glean something meaningful from M.T.'s tale.
Equally emotional is the protagonist's toxic relationship with her father. On top of her other worries, M.T. deals with his verbal and physical abuse, creating even more opportunities for saddening scenes. As with every book that deals with parental abuse, I loved feeling enraged on M.T.'s behalf, and I cheered relentlessly as I watched her learn to stand up to him. But M.T.'s story stands out next to similar tales thanks to her family's immigration status; she cannot call the police for fear of being deported, and her father's depressing disappointment with his life in the United States helps explain his actions.
On a lighter note, M.T.'s budding romance is impeccably written. Her love interest has all the makings of a perfect YA crush—he's clever, kind, and funny—but he is not the focus of the story. The romance exists primarily to shape M.T. and her personal journey, not as an obligatory toss-in meant to give readers a couple to "ship." Best of all, while the two character's relationship is adorable and enjoyable to read about, it is not portrayed as the end-all, be-all of each character's love life. It is simply portrayed as a fun high school relationship, the same kind of relationship most real teenagers have. In a world of YA characters who find their soul mates in high school—or while leading a revolution against a dystopian government, or in the middle of a battlefield—I appreciated the realism of this romance.
This book's romance combines with the story's more somber side to create a book that really should be more popular. The Secret Side of Empty is not only a well-written book, but an important book, showing that "immigration laws" are not just political buzzwords, but real obstacles for countless people. It's a story both personal and universal, and it left me hoping for another book by Andreu in the near future.
This review originally appeared at www.foreverliterary.blogspot.com.
gabs_myfullbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
So, short little story to kickstart this review. I have been going through a pretty bad reading slump lately. Every book I pick up seems to be mediocre, or just plain bad. And it kind of made me not want to read. Like ever. So, when I picked up this book, I was a bit nervous, because I had been really excited to read it, but what if it was another letdown?
It wasn't.
In fact, it was probably one of the best books I have read since I finished the Harry Potter series around a month ago. That's how good this book was.
This book deals with illegal immigration. You want to know how many books I have read that actually deal with that topic? One, besides The Secret Side of Empty. That kind of surprises me. You would think that illegal immigration would be a bit more represented in literature, especially today when it's such a hot topic. But it hasn't been, and that worked in this book's favor. The story made me look at illegal immigration in a whole new way; I had never given a ton of thought to it, but M.T.'s experiences really opened my eyes. It made the issue more "real" for me. Ironic, that a fictional book can do that, but it did.
M.T. was one of those characters that I just loved and loved and loved. No, we don't share a lot of the same life experiences, (except for the fact that she's kind of a nerd and I am too, haha) but there were still things--little things, but they were still there-- that I could relate to her on. I always love when an author can create someone with a completely different life experience than me and yet I can still, on some level, connect with the character. That's what happened with M.T.
The story, while it was primarily about life as an undocumented immigrant, also branched out into other problems that many teens face. This book was so realistic; I just loved it. It could make me really sad one moment and really happy the next. It made me giggle, and sometimes I teared up.
I would like to end this review saying that I agree with M.T.; the bad guys are usually more interesting characters than the good ones. Especially in the early Disney Princess movies.
Guys, what are you reading for? Stop reading my review and start reading the book!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
So, short little story to kickstart this review. I have been going through a pretty bad reading slump lately. Every book I pick up seems to be mediocre, or just plain bad. And it kind of made me not want to read. Like ever. So, when I picked up this book, I was a bit nervous, because I had been really excited to read it, but what if it was another letdown?
It wasn't.
In fact, it was probably one of the best books I have read since I finished the Harry Potter series around a month ago. That's how good this book was.
This book deals with illegal immigration. You want to know how many books I have read that actually deal with that topic? One, besides The Secret Side of Empty. That kind of surprises me. You would think that illegal immigration would be a bit more represented in literature, especially today when it's such a hot topic. But it hasn't been, and that worked in this book's favor. The story made me look at illegal immigration in a whole new way; I had never given a ton of thought to it, but M.T.'s experiences really opened my eyes. It made the issue more "real" for me. Ironic, that a fictional book can do that, but it did.
M.T. was one of those characters that I just loved and loved and loved. No, we don't share a lot of the same life experiences, (except for the fact that she's kind of a nerd and I am too, haha) but there were still things--little things, but they were still there-- that I could relate to her on. I always love when an author can create someone with a completely different life experience than me and yet I can still, on some level, connect with the character. That's what happened with M.T.
The story, while it was primarily about life as an undocumented immigrant, also branched out into other problems that many teens face. This book was so realistic; I just loved it. It could make me really sad one moment and really happy the next. It made me giggle, and sometimes I teared up.
I would like to end this review saying that I agree with M.T.; the bad guys are usually more interesting characters than the good ones. Especially in the early Disney Princess movies.
Guys, what are you reading for? Stop reading my review and start reading the book!
liralen's review against another edition
4.0
I was wavering between three and four stars, but what tipped the scale is that the story does not hinge on M.T.'s romance. That is, M.T. is seventeen, so sometimes for her it feels like her life hinges on the romance -- but the story doesn't, which feels like a very important distinction.
M.T. is between a rock and a hard place: as an undocumented immigrant who doesn't remember her country of birth, she has good reason to want to stay in the U.S. But without papers, she has no chance of going to college or getting a good job, and she and her family are constantly looking over their shoulders. Add to that tension within her family -- M.T.'s father, once someone she looked up to, has essentially given up. He came to the U.S. with dreams, but fifteen years of working under the table at a restaurant have taken their toll. He's no longer a positive force in M.T.'s life.
There's a degree of restraint in the book, I think, that's really nice to see. For the most part things don't fall apart in catastrophic ways. The focus is more on how M.T.'s situation affects her internally than on how it affects her externally, which I hadn't expected. The beloved teacher who departs midyear doesn't swoop back in and fix things. Nate doesn't fix things. M.T. gets angry about Nate still being in contact with his ex; later, Sioobhan gets angry with M.T. for a very similar reason. M.T. doesn't necessarily see the parallels there, not yet, but the reader can.
One thing I really didn't love: how the accident near the end was dealt with. It reminds me of that episode in the L Word when Tina gives birth -- out comes the baby, and then all of a sudden it's oh god vital signs is Tina going to be okay is she GO TO BLACK commercial break fade back in -- and she's fine and it's never mentioned again. This wasn't that abrupt, but I'm not sure how much the arc added.
Also: still trying to figure out how. Was that last scene out of chronological order? Not sure. But it's nice to see some things, finally, looking up for M.T.
M.T. is between a rock and a hard place: as an undocumented immigrant who doesn't remember her country of birth, she has good reason to want to stay in the U.S. But without papers, she has no chance of going to college or getting a good job, and she and her family are constantly looking over their shoulders. Add to that tension within her family -- M.T.'s father, once someone she looked up to, has essentially given up. He came to the U.S. with dreams, but fifteen years of working under the table at a restaurant have taken their toll. He's no longer a positive force in M.T.'s life.
There's a degree of restraint in the book, I think, that's really nice to see. For the most part things don't fall apart in catastrophic ways. The focus is more on how M.T.'s situation affects her internally than on how it affects her externally, which I hadn't expected. The beloved teacher who departs midyear doesn't swoop back in and fix things. Nate doesn't fix things. M.T. gets angry about Nate still being in contact with his ex; later, Sioobhan gets angry with M.T. for a very similar reason. M.T. doesn't necessarily see the parallels there, not yet, but the reader can.
One thing I really didn't love: how the accident near the end was dealt with. It reminds me of that episode in the L Word when Tina gives birth -- out comes the baby, and then all of a sudden it's oh god vital signs is Tina going to be okay is she GO TO BLACK commercial break fade back in -- and she's fine and it's never mentioned again. This wasn't that abrupt, but I'm not sure how much the arc added.
Also: still trying to figure out how
Spoiler
M.T. applied, and was accepted, to college -- with scholarship -- pre-Dream Actreadingthepaperbacks's review against another edition
5.0
This book is so important, especially with our presidential election at bay. Yes, it's Young Adult (YA) but the topic of immagration, suicide and domestic violence are not light topics. And you shouldn't dismiss this book just because it's YA.
Andreu did an amazing job with this book. I was never bored reading it.
Highly recommend it.
Andreu did an amazing job with this book. I was never bored reading it.
Highly recommend it.
13lsliter's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
azagee's review against another edition
4.0
I almost put this book down.
The first chapter- the most important part of a novel, according to some -was abysmal. As if the stiff writing style and perpetually immature characters weren't enough, the narrative seems almost desperate for the reader to know that MT, our main character, is 'Spanish' (ie, Hispanic), but not one of those dark-skinned, dark-haired, 'obvious' immigrants (ie, Latina). Though she does call herself Latino halfway through the book- Honestly, the author doesn't seem to explain much beyond the fact that she's from Argentina and she's ESL, which isn't saying much: There are extremely white people who live in Argentina, thanks to the high population of German descendants. So, yeah... Came off just a little bit racist in those first few pages.
However, the parts that weren't outright bad were actually extremely emotionally compelling, and I decided to keep reading.
I am so glad that I did.
Written by an immigrant herself, this book is one of the most evocative stories I've ever read. It deals with the daily struggles of MT and her family in a blunt, no-frills way that only serves to expose every tender spot and emotion in our cast of characters. The plot, which at first seems to go nowhere, meanders from heartbreak to heartbreak, and breaks the the reader's heart as well.
Even I, a very white and natural-born America, could relate to MT. From the flashes of my own family I saw in her's, to the desperation for some kind of respite in her depression, there was a universal sorrow in MT's character.
All in all, this is a brilliant, poignant story, and one that does not get told enough. (I did have to take off one star for that beginning, though.)
p.s. I hope Josh and MT hang out a lot in Connecticut, where they make fun of Siobhan and listen to good music together. BFF.
The first chapter- the most important part of a novel, according to some -was abysmal. As if the stiff writing style and perpetually immature characters weren't enough, the narrative seems almost desperate for the reader to know that MT, our main character, is 'Spanish' (ie, Hispanic), but not one of those dark-skinned, dark-haired, 'obvious' immigrants (ie, Latina). Though she does call herself Latino halfway through the book- Honestly, the author doesn't seem to explain much beyond the fact that she's from Argentina and she's ESL, which isn't saying much: There are extremely white people who live in Argentina, thanks to the high population of German descendants. So, yeah... Came off just a little bit racist in those first few pages.
However, the parts that weren't outright bad were actually extremely emotionally compelling, and I decided to keep reading.
I am so glad that I did.
Written by an immigrant herself, this book is one of the most evocative stories I've ever read. It deals with the daily struggles of MT and her family in a blunt, no-frills way that only serves to expose every tender spot and emotion in our cast of characters. The plot, which at first seems to go nowhere, meanders from heartbreak to heartbreak, and breaks the the reader's heart as well.
Even I, a very white and natural-born America, could relate to MT. From the flashes of my own family I saw in her's, to the desperation for some kind of respite in her depression, there was a universal sorrow in MT's character.
All in all, this is a brilliant, poignant story, and one that does not get told enough. (I did have to take off one star for that beginning, though.)
p.s. I hope Josh and MT hang out a lot in Connecticut, where they make fun of Siobhan and listen to good music together. BFF.