In the Country We Love: My Family Divided
by Diane Guerrero, Michelle Burford
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"Diane Guerrero, the television actress from the megahit Orange is the New Black and Jane the Virgin, was just fourteen years old on the day her parents and brother were arrested and deported to Colombia while she was at school. Born in the U.S., Guerrero was able to remain in the country and continue her education, depending on the kindness of family friends who took her in and helped her build a life and a successful acting career for herself, without the support system of her family. In show more the Country We Love is a moving, heartbreaking story of one woman's extraordinary resilience in the face of the nightmarish struggles of undocumented residents in this country. There are over 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the US, many of whom have citizen children, whose lives here are just as precarious, and whose stories haven't been told. Written with Michelle Burford, this memoir is a tale of personal triumph that also casts a much-needed light on the fears that haunt the daily existence of families likes the author's and on a system that fails them over and over"-- show lessTags
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Originally posted on ars shatomica.
Don’t make the mistake of reading In the Country We Love: My Family Divided in a public place. Otherwise you will be like me, in an Austin sushi restaurant, trying not to let tears fall into some delicious rolls, as I read about the awful experience of Diane’s parents’ sudden deportation and her being left alone at age 14. Fortunately not all of the book is heart-wrenching! With the aid of Michelle Burford, Diane’s confident, funny voice shines through with her appropriately placed hashtags and real talk.
But at the heart of this book, it’s a memoir about the impact of the deportation of two immigrants—who made every attempt at becoming citizens but in the end were swindled by a sketchy, show more corrupt lawyer, btw—upon their daughter, the solo U.S. citizen in her family. Times were definitely not easy for Diane as she waded through adulthood far too early at age 14 and navigated herself through finishing high school, picking a college, and ultimately working towards fulfilling her dream of becoming a performer. Spoiler alert: she did! Diane plays Maritza on Orange is the New Black and Lina on Jane the Virgin.
In the Country We Love is one the best memoirs I’ve read in a long time, and frankly, it’s because this book has a discernible purpose other than the author waxing about their life: the United States needs immigration reform. Diane’s parents’ struggles with navigating paperwork in a language they made every attempt at learning was heartbreaking and even more so when they put themselves in the hands of corruption. I’m paraphrasing Diane here, but I agree when she wrote that regardless of where you stand on the immigration debate, the U.S. government should not have abandoned its own citizen: no social worker or child protection service worker ever showed up at her door after ICE sent her parents off to Colombia.
By now, any sensible person should know the “American Dream” is far from a dream, and the effects of its expectations against reality actually can be nightmares. The Guerreo’s tried! They tried to learn English, they tried to get their paperwork in order, they tried nearly damn everything to become citizens, but our system let them down. It’s infuriating to think that we promise America as this land of plenty where all your hopes and dreams can come true, but in reality, it’s not. Our system is not built to make any of this easy or live up to the so-called ideals of the “American Dream.”
What I loved, though, was Diane and her family did prevail through their struggles, even if their lives didn’t exactly turn out as they had hoped or planned. This memoir was a really great read, despite the heavy matter. I cannot recommend it enough for those wanting a perspective someone failed by our immigration system and the promise of birthright citizenship. show less
Don’t make the mistake of reading In the Country We Love: My Family Divided in a public place. Otherwise you will be like me, in an Austin sushi restaurant, trying not to let tears fall into some delicious rolls, as I read about the awful experience of Diane’s parents’ sudden deportation and her being left alone at age 14. Fortunately not all of the book is heart-wrenching! With the aid of Michelle Burford, Diane’s confident, funny voice shines through with her appropriately placed hashtags and real talk.
But at the heart of this book, it’s a memoir about the impact of the deportation of two immigrants—who made every attempt at becoming citizens but in the end were swindled by a sketchy, show more corrupt lawyer, btw—upon their daughter, the solo U.S. citizen in her family. Times were definitely not easy for Diane as she waded through adulthood far too early at age 14 and navigated herself through finishing high school, picking a college, and ultimately working towards fulfilling her dream of becoming a performer. Spoiler alert: she did! Diane plays Maritza on Orange is the New Black and Lina on Jane the Virgin.
In the Country We Love is one the best memoirs I’ve read in a long time, and frankly, it’s because this book has a discernible purpose other than the author waxing about their life: the United States needs immigration reform. Diane’s parents’ struggles with navigating paperwork in a language they made every attempt at learning was heartbreaking and even more so when they put themselves in the hands of corruption. I’m paraphrasing Diane here, but I agree when she wrote that regardless of where you stand on the immigration debate, the U.S. government should not have abandoned its own citizen: no social worker or child protection service worker ever showed up at her door after ICE sent her parents off to Colombia.
By now, any sensible person should know the “American Dream” is far from a dream, and the effects of its expectations against reality actually can be nightmares. The Guerreo’s tried! They tried to learn English, they tried to get their paperwork in order, they tried nearly damn everything to become citizens, but our system let them down. It’s infuriating to think that we promise America as this land of plenty where all your hopes and dreams can come true, but in reality, it’s not. Our system is not built to make any of this easy or live up to the so-called ideals of the “American Dream.”
What I loved, though, was Diane and her family did prevail through their struggles, even if their lives didn’t exactly turn out as they had hoped or planned. This memoir was a really great read, despite the heavy matter. I cannot recommend it enough for those wanting a perspective someone failed by our immigration system and the promise of birthright citizenship. show less
Originally published at https://reallifereading.com/2017/03/30/in-the-country-we-love-by-diane-guerrero/
There was an article in the San Jose Mercury News, a newspaper I glance at every day, about families in the Bay Area applying for dual citizenship for their American-born children at Mexican consulates. The fear of deportation has led them to plan for these emergency situations where the family has to be uprooted. It’s based partly on a misconception that US-born children won’t be allowed into Mexico without proper documents.
Reading the stories of the undocumented rushing to get Mexican citizenship for their kids made me angry and made me reflect on the story of Diane Guerrero, an actress on Orange is the New Black. She is an show more American citizen but her parents were undocumented immigrants from Colombia. And one day, when she was just 14, she returned home to find that they were gone. They had been taken by the immigrant authorities and were inmates in a detention centre.
Guerrero had to live with a family friend. Although they made her feel welcome, she was always worried that she would do something to make them kick her out. She wasn’t an actual family member after all. And with everyone just barely making ends meet, an extra person in the house (even if her parents sent money) was difficult.
Guerrero applied to Boston Arts Academy, a public high school for visual and performing arts, and it was there she honed her performing skills. But her long-distance relationship with her family becomes even more fractured.
I love how Guerrero has become a fierce advocate for immigration. Guerrero is set to play an attorney defending undocumented immigrants. And the pilot sounds like it’s based on her story – that the attorney is the child of undocumented parents.
In The Country We Love, co-written by Michelle Burford, has a very casual tone of voice. I can imagine Guerrero talking as I read it. And I have the feeling it would be quite a good audiobook to listen to. show less
There was an article in the San Jose Mercury News, a newspaper I glance at every day, about families in the Bay Area applying for dual citizenship for their American-born children at Mexican consulates. The fear of deportation has led them to plan for these emergency situations where the family has to be uprooted. It’s based partly on a misconception that US-born children won’t be allowed into Mexico without proper documents.
Reading the stories of the undocumented rushing to get Mexican citizenship for their kids made me angry and made me reflect on the story of Diane Guerrero, an actress on Orange is the New Black. She is an show more American citizen but her parents were undocumented immigrants from Colombia. And one day, when she was just 14, she returned home to find that they were gone. They had been taken by the immigrant authorities and were inmates in a detention centre.
Guerrero had to live with a family friend. Although they made her feel welcome, she was always worried that she would do something to make them kick her out. She wasn’t an actual family member after all. And with everyone just barely making ends meet, an extra person in the house (even if her parents sent money) was difficult.
Guerrero applied to Boston Arts Academy, a public high school for visual and performing arts, and it was there she honed her performing skills. But her long-distance relationship with her family becomes even more fractured.
I love how Guerrero has become a fierce advocate for immigration. Guerrero is set to play an attorney defending undocumented immigrants. And the pilot sounds like it’s based on her story – that the attorney is the child of undocumented parents.
In The Country We Love, co-written by Michelle Burford, has a very casual tone of voice. I can imagine Guerrero talking as I read it. And I have the feeling it would be quite a good audiobook to listen to. show less
Diane Guerrero's book (and her life) is one part fun Hollywood success story, one part struggle with demons, and three parts immigration horror story. But minimizing it to just one sentence doesn't do justice to the incredible fortitude it's taken for her to climb out of the darkest of days.
When she was just fourteen, her undocumented immigrant parents were taken by ICE while she was at school. The trauma she experienced as a result of their incarceration and deportation was just beginning. It changed everything about her teens and early twenties. Of course it still affects her today.
She writes of her childhood and teen years with humor and nostalgia, evoking all the silliness and heartache. However, I found her twenty-something show more stories of self-abuse and isolation the most affecting. She could have stopped short and given these years the surface treatment, instead focusing on her later successes. Instead, she flips that option and shares the deepest despairs with honest pain.
When her parents were deported and she was left unmoored, they lost touch. For everyone who's ever been distanced from their parents, this is especially moving.
Guerrero is willing to share her story and bare her soul in this book. I give her tremendous props for the courage it must have taken to write this. Her writing style is like a chat, tweet, or blog with all the OMGs and hashtags you'd except. I listened to the audiobook read by the author, which was a better choice for me. show less
When she was just fourteen, her undocumented immigrant parents were taken by ICE while she was at school. The trauma she experienced as a result of their incarceration and deportation was just beginning. It changed everything about her teens and early twenties. Of course it still affects her today.
She writes of her childhood and teen years with humor and nostalgia, evoking all the silliness and heartache. However, I found her twenty-something show more stories of self-abuse and isolation the most affecting. She could have stopped short and given these years the surface treatment, instead focusing on her later successes. Instead, she flips that option and shares the deepest despairs with honest pain.
When her parents were deported and she was left unmoored, they lost touch. For everyone who's ever been distanced from their parents, this is especially moving.
Guerrero is willing to share her story and bare her soul in this book. I give her tremendous props for the courage it must have taken to write this. Her writing style is like a chat, tweet, or blog with all the OMGs and hashtags you'd except. I listened to the audiobook read by the author, which was a better choice for me. show less
Heart-breaking and politically relevant memoir with an authentic voice. Diane Guerrero, actress in the popular TV shows Orange is the New Black and Jane the Virgin, tells the story of her parents' deportation and the devastating effect it had on all of their lives. It reveals the circumstances that many undocumented immigrants live with on a daily basis. This title will be released on May 3, 2016.
Diane Guerrero was only fourteen years old when she walked into an empty house and discovered her parents were detained for deportation. Diane, show more an American citizen, was left to fend for herself and no government official ever contacted her. With the help of friends, she was able to continue her education in the United States, but she never saw her parents on US soil again. After years of secrecy, even from some of those closest to her, Diane went public with her family's story in an LA Times op-ed on November 14, 2014. She also appeared on CNN.
Each chapter begins with a large photograph and I really liked that the photos were interspersed with the story, rather than gathered in the middle or at the end. It is more impactful to see the images when they are most relevant. The writing style is casual and conversational. There is slang and textspeak scattered throughout the text. I have complained about slang usage other books, but that is usually in the case of an author imitating someone else's voice. In this book, I thought it helped show Diane's personality and made her voice more authentic. I also think it makes it more accessible to a wider audience. Plus, if there is ever a moment to use 'OMG', meeting a president would be it! However, I was glad the textspeak was used sparingly. Diane writes with great compassion and perspective when discussing her family, friends, and former classmates. The central focus of this book is the plight of undocumented immigrants, but she also touches on the impact that media portrayals of race have on self-esteem and the hopelessness inherent in the poverty cycle.
Diane's parents and their young son left Columbia for the United States to escape political instability and to start a better life. Five years after their arrival, Diane was born. She grew up in an economically disadvantaged Boston neighborhood with strong community bonds. She grew up with a lot of love and her parents did the best they could to give their children a good life, but the heavy weight of secrecy and the fear of deportation always lingered overhead. Her parents worked hard and made attempts to become legal citizens, but it is a long, arduous process and there were many insurmountable obstacles. The prospect of doing something that would catch the eye of the authorities made it a scary process to even begin. One of the most heartbreaking sections in the book involved people who make careers out of taking advantage of undocumented immigrant's hopes to become legal citizens and their inability to report crimes. I also really felt for her brother Eric, who was caught up in a difficult situation that was not of his choosing.
It is difficult to read about any child going through what Diane went through when she was separated from her parents. The fear and sadness described in the chapters surrounding her parents' deportation was palpable. She describes the loneliness of living like a guest and the overwhelming pressure of having to become an adult at such a young age. A sense of hopelessness eventually creeps in and she cast aside dreams of success in the entertainment industry. The stress of everything that had happened and the lack of outlet eventually became too much to bear. She speaks honestly about her battle with severe depression during college.
Reentry into creative pursuits gave Diane solid footing during her recovery. Since her career is just beginning and the central focus of the book is her personal story, there are only a few chapters about the entertainment industry. She writes about a few of her experiences on the sets of Orange is the New Black and Jane the Virgin. It is especially funny to read about what she thought OITNB was when she auditioned, versus the award-winning phenomena it became! However, the specter of her parent's absence always lingers in the background. She reveals the emotional blocks she had to overcome to make peace with the past and how her experiences made her a more empathetic actress. Her success in the entertainment industry also gave her a greater platform to help others.
The short "Call to Action" chapter at the end is the only part of the book that is overtly political and it applies her individual story to the national scale. She discusses the contributions that immigrants make to society, as well as the impracticalities of building walls at the border and mass deportations. She emphasizes the importance of voting and writing elected officials.
This is one woman's story, but it is a story shared by many. I really admired Diane's strength, determination, and honesty. Even if a person disagrees with Diane's conclusions, an open-minded reading of her book could go a long way towards toning down the dehumanizing rhetoric directed towards immigrants. It is one of my favorite celebrity memoirs and I'm definitely a fan for life now! I recommend it, especially those interested in reading about the human side of immigration issues. This book deals with some difficult issues, but I think it could be inspiring and informative for older teens as well. If the topic of this book interests you, I recommend the fictional book The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez.
I received this book from the LibraryThing's Early Reviewer's program, in exchange for an honest review. show less
Human beings are not categorically bad because of their mistakes. They can learn from their errors and get back on track. No one should be forever written off because of one part of his or her history.
Diane Guerrero was only fourteen years old when she walked into an empty house and discovered her parents were detained for deportation. Diane, show more an American citizen, was left to fend for herself and no government official ever contacted her. With the help of friends, she was able to continue her education in the United States, but she never saw her parents on US soil again. After years of secrecy, even from some of those closest to her, Diane went public with her family's story in an LA Times op-ed on November 14, 2014. She also appeared on CNN.
Each chapter begins with a large photograph and I really liked that the photos were interspersed with the story, rather than gathered in the middle or at the end. It is more impactful to see the images when they are most relevant. The writing style is casual and conversational. There is slang and textspeak scattered throughout the text. I have complained about slang usage other books, but that is usually in the case of an author imitating someone else's voice. In this book, I thought it helped show Diane's personality and made her voice more authentic. I also think it makes it more accessible to a wider audience. Plus, if there is ever a moment to use 'OMG', meeting a president would be it! However, I was glad the textspeak was used sparingly. Diane writes with great compassion and perspective when discussing her family, friends, and former classmates. The central focus of this book is the plight of undocumented immigrants, but she also touches on the impact that media portrayals of race have on self-esteem and the hopelessness inherent in the poverty cycle.
Life does that to us. Deep down, we know what may come to pass, but we hope that what we dread can be permanently put off. We convince ourselves it may never occur, because if it were going to, it would've already. Then without warning, reality socks us in the face and we realize how foolish it was to believe we'd been spared. And however many years we spent agonizing about what tragedy may come, the sting is no less severe when it does.
Diane's parents and their young son left Columbia for the United States to escape political instability and to start a better life. Five years after their arrival, Diane was born. She grew up in an economically disadvantaged Boston neighborhood with strong community bonds. She grew up with a lot of love and her parents did the best they could to give their children a good life, but the heavy weight of secrecy and the fear of deportation always lingered overhead. Her parents worked hard and made attempts to become legal citizens, but it is a long, arduous process and there were many insurmountable obstacles. The prospect of doing something that would catch the eye of the authorities made it a scary process to even begin. One of the most heartbreaking sections in the book involved people who make careers out of taking advantage of undocumented immigrant's hopes to become legal citizens and their inability to report crimes. I also really felt for her brother Eric, who was caught up in a difficult situation that was not of his choosing.
The day you finally start dealing with your past is the day you stop dragging into the present.
It is difficult to read about any child going through what Diane went through when she was separated from her parents. The fear and sadness described in the chapters surrounding her parents' deportation was palpable. She describes the loneliness of living like a guest and the overwhelming pressure of having to become an adult at such a young age. A sense of hopelessness eventually creeps in and she cast aside dreams of success in the entertainment industry. The stress of everything that had happened and the lack of outlet eventually became too much to bear. She speaks honestly about her battle with severe depression during college.
Our passions don't just compel us, they can also heal us.
Reentry into creative pursuits gave Diane solid footing during her recovery. Since her career is just beginning and the central focus of the book is her personal story, there are only a few chapters about the entertainment industry. She writes about a few of her experiences on the sets of Orange is the New Black and Jane the Virgin. It is especially funny to read about what she thought OITNB was when she auditioned, versus the award-winning phenomena it became! However, the specter of her parent's absence always lingers in the background. She reveals the emotional blocks she had to overcome to make peace with the past and how her experiences made her a more empathetic actress. Her success in the entertainment industry also gave her a greater platform to help others.
Any cause worth taking up requires courage. And you can't wait until you're feeling bold to act; if we did, most of us would never move a toe. You have a step out in spite of the fact that you feel like the world's biggest scaredy-cat. And I often do.
The short "Call to Action" chapter at the end is the only part of the book that is overtly political and it applies her individual story to the national scale. She discusses the contributions that immigrants make to society, as well as the impracticalities of building walls at the border and mass deportations. She emphasizes the importance of voting and writing elected officials.
We don't do all of our growing up between birth and adolescence or even our twenties. If we're fortunate, we never stop.
This is one woman's story, but it is a story shared by many. I really admired Diane's strength, determination, and honesty. Even if a person disagrees with Diane's conclusions, an open-minded reading of her book could go a long way towards toning down the dehumanizing rhetoric directed towards immigrants. It is one of my favorite celebrity memoirs and I'm definitely a fan for life now! I recommend it, especially those interested in reading about the human side of immigration issues. This book deals with some difficult issues, but I think it could be inspiring and informative for older teens as well. If the topic of this book interests you, I recommend the fictional book The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez.
I received this book from the LibraryThing's Early Reviewer's program, in exchange for an honest review. show less
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.I loved everything about this book. From the frank, honest writing style to the sprinkles of humor throughout, the author has such a strong voice and natural writing style, she made me laugh and broke my heart. Often on the same page. Bonus that I also love her in OITNB, so it was nice to read about the process of landing that role and how it developed.
I started reading this on the bus on the way to work one morning, and almost ugly cried before I arrived at my stop. This story is so touching and especially poignant during this time when immigration is such a hotly debated subject. For some reason, it s a topic that many people seem to be able to emotionally separate themselves from, to engage with in an abstract way. There's nothing abstract about Guerrero's experiences. It was heartbreak after heartbreak, even when things seemed to be going pretty well. And supreme kudos to Guerrero for not only sharing her family's story, but also about her own struggle with depression.
I think the narrative was a bit unorganized at times, and I'm sure there will be some more editing that happens show more between this proof version that I read and the published version, but there was some name confusion where her brother, her niece, and one other person were referred to by different names at different points.
It doesn't even matter, though, because the book is so touching and she clearly poured everything she had into it. show less
I think the narrative was a bit unorganized at times, and I'm sure there will be some more editing that happens show more between this proof version that I read and the published version, but there was some name confusion where her brother, her niece, and one other person were referred to by different names at different points.
It doesn't even matter, though, because the book is so touching and she clearly poured everything she had into it. show less
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.This autobiography successfully educates and intrigues without seeming preachy or polarizing. Diane is very open about the low points in her life, including depression and alcohol abuse, and how consuming they can be. Her challenges feel real, and her redeeming life choices inspire her readers to try to do the same. Immigration Reform weaves through her narrative and makes her story poignant and very current to today's impending social crisis.
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.Members
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Awards
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- Canonical title
- In the Country We Love: My Family Divided
- Original title
- In the Country We Love: My Family Divided
- Original publication date
- 2016-05
- People/Characters
- Diane; Hector "Papi"; Maria "Mami"; Eric; Gloria; Elisa (show all 13); Gabriela; Sabrina; Amelia; Eva; Brian; Lorraine; Jesse
- Important places
- Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Palmira, Colombia; Madrid, Spain; New York, New York, USA; Hoboken, New Jersey, USA
- Dedication
- To my Papi and Mami--- Whether we be near or far, hand in hand or divided by continents, may our love remain forever whole.
To Toni Ferrera--- Your memory lives on in the hearts of all those you touched. - First words
- One moment---that's all it takes for your entire world to split apart.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)For the sake of all those who come to our shores, I hope you'll join me in that cause.
Classifications
- Genres
- Biography & Memoir, Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 791.4302 — Arts & recreation Recreation, sports, and performing arts Public performances Motion pictures, radio, television, podcasting Motion pictures Standard subdivisions
- LCC
- PN2287 .G7455 .A3 — Language and Literature Literature (General) Literature (General) Drama Dramatic representation. The theater Special regions or countries
- BISAC
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- 351
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- Reviews
- 30
- Rating
- (3.85)
- Languages
- English, Spanish
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
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- ASINs
- 4
