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piyali's review against another edition
3.0
"Where are you from-from?" Lilian Cruz, an American citizen born and brought up in America, a child of parents from Central American countries, is always asked this question and she wants the world to stop asking her this. Not a whole lot is going right in 15 year old Liliana's life. Her father has disappeared, she has been chosen to be bussed to a school in the suburbs of Boston where the students are primarily white, her mother seems to be depressed. Liliana needs to find out what happened to her father, deal with her desperate and overprotective mother and find her place in her school to make sure her heritage is valued.
The book deals with important issues of immigration and race relations but I did not enjoy the narration. I believe it is written from the perspective of a 15 year old and the author has tried to make it authentic, but it simply did not work for me. Having said that, I am not the target audience. This is a young adult fiction and perhaps young adults will relate to the language and the mode of narration.
The book deals with important issues of immigration and race relations but I did not enjoy the narration. I believe it is written from the perspective of a 15 year old and the author has tried to make it authentic, but it simply did not work for me. Having said that, I am not the target audience. This is a young adult fiction and perhaps young adults will relate to the language and the mode of narration.
chanclareadss's review against another edition
5.0
I wish there was more books like this when I was growing up! I loved reading about Liliana and her struggles to fit in!
melancholylethe's review against another edition
4.0
Liliana’s story helps explore how to recognize racism and be an ally. It follows her journey as she begins a program at an elite school. How she deals with her father’s deportation, and begins to find out who she is in unexpected ways. She begins to start understanding her own culture and she how she is multi faceted. I like that everything wasn’t quite neatly tied up (the assembly for example). Liliana is a strong character, but she’s still figuring it out. I appreciate that realistic piece.
the_loudlibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the advance Kindle copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this one, which doesn’t release until 8.4.20. Add it to your purchase lists and TBRs though, as it is timely and riveting. First-generation American Liliana Cruz is surprised to learn that her parents signed her up for METCO, a program that takes Boston teens to the suburbs to integrate schools. When she is accepted, Lili finds herself in a whole new world. When she learns that her father has been deported and that both of her parents are undocumented, she feels even more out of place. Can she cope with her home reality and still blend in? Highly recommended for grades 8+.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this one, which doesn’t release until 8.4.20. Add it to your purchase lists and TBRs though, as it is timely and riveting. First-generation American Liliana Cruz is surprised to learn that her parents signed her up for METCO, a program that takes Boston teens to the suburbs to integrate schools. When she is accepted, Lili finds herself in a whole new world. When she learns that her father has been deported and that both of her parents are undocumented, she feels even more out of place. Can she cope with her home reality and still blend in? Highly recommended for grades 8+.
egamino's review against another edition
3.0
This book was similar to a lot of books in this genre. It was a fine book but not exceptional. Regardless I’m glad more Latinx writers are publishing!
wickerchicken's review against another edition
4.0
Lilliana Cruz is a protagonist who a lot of people will be able to relate to, she's trying to fit in at her new mostly white school, be there for her mom after her father disappeared, and be a writer all at once. She’s a character you feel like you're really with and can get you invested in a really good way. Even though there's not an epic plot, there are still hurdles to jump, and they are never easy. Its a wonderful new perspective for young people on how to navigate the world, and the author did a great job of giving the at times sirius story warm and hopeful moments.
janine1122's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
While I might not have been blown away by this book, I did really enjoy it. I think it's an important book, for a lot of different reasons.
The main character, Liliana, gets accepted into METCO - a program that provides underprivileged minority students the opportunity to attend a suburban school with more opportunities. Her parents had put her on the wait list for the program, without her knowing, and she suddenly finds herself leaving her school and friends in Boston to be bussed an hour away to suburban Westburg. Here Liliana finds herself one of few other minority students in a wealthy white community - and most of those other minority students are also part of the METCO program. She suddenly finds herself navigating a completely new and overwhelming environment.
Liliana is a great protagonist for a lot of reasons - her description of the differences between her neighborhood and school at home, compared to her new school environment highlight just how much the white middle class takes for granted. Her fresh eyes forced me to look at my own life and upbringing in a different way. I also loved the way that early on it was made clear that Liliana had some passionate artistic interests - namely writing and building miniatures out of cardboard. It's great to see how she grows, in particular as a writer, in the story.
There were times that I felt that some interactions between Lili and people at her new school felt over the top - but then I thought of stories that my cousin, who teaches in a wealthy suburban area, has told about her own experiences in the classroom, and I realized that, once again, my initial reaction was likely my own privilege showing.
Parts of this book were infuriating and hard to swallow, but were also necessary and true. There were also a lot of uplifting, affirming moments. And I really appreciated watching Lili struggle to find where and how she fits in this new environment she finds herself in, torn between what she's always known and where she is now. Definitely a worthwhile read.
While I might not have been blown away by this book, I did really enjoy it. I think it's an important book, for a lot of different reasons.
The main character, Liliana, gets accepted into METCO - a program that provides underprivileged minority students the opportunity to attend a suburban school with more opportunities. Her parents had put her on the wait list for the program, without her knowing, and she suddenly finds herself leaving her school and friends in Boston to be bussed an hour away to suburban Westburg. Here Liliana finds herself one of few other minority students in a wealthy white community - and most of those other minority students are also part of the METCO program. She suddenly finds herself navigating a completely new and overwhelming environment.
Liliana is a great protagonist for a lot of reasons - her description of the differences between her neighborhood and school at home, compared to her new school environment highlight just how much the white middle class takes for granted. Her fresh eyes forced me to look at my own life and upbringing in a different way. I also loved the way that early on it was made clear that Liliana had some passionate artistic interests - namely writing and building miniatures out of cardboard. It's great to see how she grows, in particular as a writer, in the story.
There were times that I felt that some interactions between Lili and people at her new school felt over the top - but then I thought of stories that my cousin, who teaches in a wealthy suburban area, has told about her own experiences in the classroom, and I realized that, once again, my initial reaction was likely my own privilege showing.
Parts of this book were infuriating and hard to swallow, but were also necessary and true. There were also a lot of uplifting, affirming moments. And I really appreciated watching Lili struggle to find where and how she fits in this new environment she finds herself in, torn between what she's always known and where she is now. Definitely a worthwhile read.
bll1010's review against another edition
3.0
Important story and voice. Worth purchasing and sharing.
theuncorkedlibrarian's review against another edition
NetGalley ARC | I had high expectations for Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From by Jennifer De Leon. Lacking quality writing, I appreciate the important and essential topics covered here, including racism and immigration. This is one of those August 2020 book releases that had so much potential that just fell flat in storytelling ability.
Thank you so much to the author and publisher for providing me with a free copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Thank you so much to the author and publisher for providing me with a free copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
reinacourt9's review against another edition
4.0
"Don't Ask Me Where I'm From" is maybe the first book that I've been able to see myself in the main character. At 15, I attended a majority white, affluent high school away from my hometown and my predominately Latinx neighborhood where I would have to wake up at 5 AM every morning to get there on time. I felt like I was living two different lives. I experienced similar microaggressions and acts of racism at the school that Liliana experienced. Unfortunately, my experience didn't have the feel-good outcome of change or school officials working towards creating a culture that embraced diversity like in this book. I wouldn't say that the writing is the most amazing, but I do feel like this book hit a personal/emotional cord and helped me feel less alone in my experiences.