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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
Guerrero narrates the audio version of her memoir, and I might have enjoyed it more if I’d read the print version. She tells an important story, and one that will resonate with way too many teens and adults who have experienced similar circumstances. While she was growing up, her mother was deported twice, and managed to return to the US both times. When Guerrero was 14, she returned home from school to find that both of her parents had been arrested, and over the coming months they were ultimately deported to Colombia. The following years were a time of staying with family friends, scrambling to get accepted to college, and trying to cope with serious debt and serious mental health issues by drinking her problems away.
The decision to pursue acting seems to have been the turning point she needed to start getting things back on track. She had her ups and downs along the way, but finally got her big break with Orange.
The issues I had were with the tone of portions of her story. She can come across as bratty and self-absorbed— not just when she’s relaying things that happened in her teens and early twenties, where that might be age-appropriate, but in the way she recounts more recent events. Her attempts at humor were often more flippant. And the glossing over of her cutting and heavy drinking were disturbing.
I appreciate her honesty about the toll the separation had on her relationship with her parents, especially her mother; and I appreciate the fact that she has become involved in immigration reform efforts. I do think her experiences will resonate with older teens and twenty-somethings.
The decision to pursue acting seems to have been the turning point she needed to start getting things back on track. She had her ups and downs along the way, but finally got her big break with Orange.
The issues I had were with the tone of portions of her story. She can come across as bratty and self-absorbed— not just when she’s relaying things that happened in her teens and early twenties, where that might be age-appropriate, but in the way she recounts more recent events. Her attempts at humor were often more flippant. And the glossing over of her cutting and heavy drinking were disturbing.
I appreciate her honesty about the toll the separation had on her relationship with her parents, especially her mother; and I appreciate the fact that she has become involved in immigration reform efforts. I do think her experiences will resonate with older teens and twenty-somethings.
Immigrant voices are often missing from the immigration debate. Diane's story is heartbreaking and far too common.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.5 stars
I'd known about Diane Guerrero's story for a while already but only very briefly. Hearing about her parents deportation and her struggles of being abandoned by the government at the age of 14 was quite a punch in the heart (I was crying at several parts in this book). But it was also so, so inspiring. She didn't just give up and made her life the best she could and became such a wonderful and amazing person. She is an advocate for immigration reform and is really trying to make a change.
Especially the last (or so) chapter had me bawling because she urges people to go vote on November 8th... Knowing the outcome of the election, it was just so sad.
I'd known about Diane Guerrero's story for a while already but only very briefly. Hearing about her parents deportation and her struggles of being abandoned by the government at the age of 14 was quite a punch in the heart (I was crying at several parts in this book). But it was also so, so inspiring. She didn't just give up and made her life the best she could and became such a wonderful and amazing person. She is an advocate for immigration reform and is really trying to make a change.
Especially the last (or so) chapter had me bawling because she urges people to go vote on November 8th... Knowing the outcome of the election, it was just so sad.
This book shed light on the brokenness of the American immigration system. It's a shame that Diane had to deal with so much as a child. I don't know her, but I am so proud of what she's been able to accomplish in spite of the odds stacked against her. I cried. A lot! The last chapter "Call to Action" was so powerful. Thank you for telling your story Diane! I hope no child has to go through losing their parents the way you did.
I enjoyed this book much more than I was expecting to. Guerrero describes the impact of her parents' deportation completely from an adolescent's perspective, which is often bratty, unforgiving and self-involved. Unexpectedly (but thankfully), she also discusses the mental health aspect of deportation, including her own fight with depression. Highly recommend, especially in today's political climate.
Audible original audio narrated by the author.
When Diane Guerrero was fourteen years old, she came home from school to find an empty house. Her family had been picked up by ICE and were detained pending deportation. Fortunately for Diane, a family friend agreed to take her in, so that she could remain in school. This is her memoir.
The author has an important message to convey about the effects on children of America’s immigration and deportation policies. Diane had been born in the United States, so she was never at risk of being deported, but she was a child when her parents and brother were sent back to Colombia. And no government agency checked on her welfare … at all. Yes, you read that right. Social Services, Child Protective Services, ICE, Homeland Security … not one single government entity bothered to check to see if this 14-year-old child was okay, had food, shelter, clothing. It’s not like they didn’t know she existed. While her parents were awaiting deportation, she visited them at the detention facility, registering as their daughter, accompanied by the family friend who was temporarily caring for her.
The traumatic events left psychological scars, and Guerrero is open and honest about what she endured (including years of self-harm) until she got the emotional help she needed. She is now an outspoken advocate for immigration reform.
My book club had a very interesting discussion of this book. Her “voice” as an author is very young at the outset. It’s almost as if she were writing for a high school or even middle school audience. But as she recovers from the trauma, and particularly the last two chapters, her voice matures, and she writes with confidence and authority.
Guerrero narrates the audiobook herself. I had read the first two-thirds of the book in text format before a friend shared the audio with me. The difference in maturity between the beginning and ending is more evident on the audio.
When Diane Guerrero was fourteen years old, she came home from school to find an empty house. Her family had been picked up by ICE and were detained pending deportation. Fortunately for Diane, a family friend agreed to take her in, so that she could remain in school. This is her memoir.
The author has an important message to convey about the effects on children of America’s immigration and deportation policies. Diane had been born in the United States, so she was never at risk of being deported, but she was a child when her parents and brother were sent back to Colombia. And no government agency checked on her welfare … at all. Yes, you read that right. Social Services, Child Protective Services, ICE, Homeland Security … not one single government entity bothered to check to see if this 14-year-old child was okay, had food, shelter, clothing. It’s not like they didn’t know she existed. While her parents were awaiting deportation, she visited them at the detention facility, registering as their daughter, accompanied by the family friend who was temporarily caring for her.
The traumatic events left psychological scars, and Guerrero is open and honest about what she endured (including years of self-harm) until she got the emotional help she needed. She is now an outspoken advocate for immigration reform.
My book club had a very interesting discussion of this book. Her “voice” as an author is very young at the outset. It’s almost as if she were writing for a high school or even middle school audience. But as she recovers from the trauma, and particularly the last two chapters, her voice matures, and she writes with confidence and authority.
Guerrero narrates the audiobook herself. I had read the first two-thirds of the book in text format before a friend shared the audio with me. The difference in maturity between the beginning and ending is more evident on the audio.
a memoir about the controversial topic of immigration that the author wished she had; very important. Not overflowing with how the author became a star or her stardom.
A perspective and story that needs to be heard... worth reading.