In the Country We Love: My Family Divided

In the Country We Love tells the story of actress Diane Guerrero, who was fourteen when her undocumented parents and older brother were detained and deported to Colombia. The narrative follows her experience as a U.S. citizen left behind to fend for herself in Boston. Guerrero recounts her childhood growing up in a tight-knit immigrant family and her parents' efforts to gain legal status through the complex immigration system. She details the impact of living under constant threat of deportation and the trauma of sudden family separation. Through her personal journey from a struggling teenager to her success as an actress on shows like Orange Is the New Black, Guerrero illustrates the realities faced by mixed-status families in America. She describes finding her voice as an advocate for immigration reform while pursuing her dreams in entertainment. The memoir serves as both a testament to personal resilience and an examination of U.S. immigration policy through the lens of one family's experience. It raises questions about citizenship, belonging, and the human cost of current deportation practices.

Readers find the book provides a personal window into how immigration policies impact families, told through Guerrero's experience as a US-born child whose parents were deported. Positive feedback focuses on: - Clear, conversational writing style - Balance of emotional moments with factual immigration context - Authenticity in describing mental health struggles - Valuable perspective for teens and young adults Common criticisms: - Surface-level treatment of complex issues - Repetitive storytelling - Limited depth on policy solutions Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (8,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (1,100+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "Helped me understand what families go through in a way news stories never could" -Goodreads reviewer "Would have liked more details about the immigration system itself" -Amazon reviewer "Perfect for high school students learning about immigration" -Barnes & Noble reviewer

Just Like Us: The True Story of Four Mexican Girls Coming of Age in America by Helen Thorpe This narrative follows undocumented teenage girls navigating education, relationships, and identity between two cultures in Denver, Colorado.

Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Vargas A memoir chronicles a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist's life as an undocumented Filipino immigrant in the United States.

The Distance Between Us by Reyna Grande This memoir details a young girl's journey from Mexico to Los Angeles and the impact of family separation through immigration.

Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card by Sara Saedi An Iranian teen's memoir recounts growing up undocumented in California while dealing with typical teenage life and the fear of deportation.

The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez This story interweaves multiple voices of Latin American immigrants living in Delaware, focusing on family bonds and the pursuit of the American dream.

🌟 Author Diane Guerrero was just 14 when her parents were deported to Colombia, leaving her alone in the United States as a citizen. 📺 Guerrero went on to become a successful actress, starring in "Orange Is the New Black" and "Jane the Virgin," using her platform to advocate for immigration reform. 🏆 The book was named one of the Best Books of 2016 by the Chicago Public Library and received widespread critical acclaim for its honest portrayal of America's immigration system. 👥 Approximately 4.5 million U.S. citizen children live with at least one undocumented parent, facing similar risks of family separation as Guerrero did. 📝 The book was adapted into a young readers' edition titled "My Family Divided" in 2018, making this important story accessible to middle-grade students.