In the Country We Love: My Family Divided

This was a good book. I love depressing memoirs and this fit the bill for 80% of the book. I didn't really like that it gave a weird 1/2 foreshadowing at the very beginning then goes all the back so then you know exactly when her parents get deported so you're not really getting into the full shock of it all for her. It wasn't like everyone didn't know, it says it on the book jacket but you otherwise it would have been more in keeping with the trauma of the story. She works hard to achieve her dreams and I really admire that about her. It gets a little preachy at the end which might be good to open someone up to the ideas that immigration is a good thing for America but I honestly don't know who would read this book that didn't already believe that? I had the Kindle version and I wish the formatting was better for the pictures because I'd get the description later which was awkward. All in all I'm glad I read it.

Diane Guerrero is not just the sassy pretty face you might think she is. She grew up a hard life and in this book, you will read how effed up the immigration system can be. It definitley opened my eyes to this situation and made me admire her more for becoming the successful star she always dreamt up. Diane, you are amazing.

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Diane Guerrero wrote a very genuine, heartfelt description of the saga she and her immediate family (parents and brother) endured as a result of being illegal aliens (she was not, though, she is a natural-born U.S. citizen).

For those unfamiliar with U.S. immigration law, most persons here illegally did not sneak across the border. Rather, like Guerrero's parents and brother, they arrived legally, but stayed beyond their allotted time. In their case, the author somewhat misleadingly describes their having arrived "on a four-year visitor's visa," because there is really no such thing. The visa is typically granted for 90 days, but may be used at any point within four years; it does not allow a person to visit the United States legally for a four-year span.

Guerrero effectively depicts her family's life. Her parents were not drug dealers, not gunrunners, not terrorists. They were loving parents who just wanted to put food on the table for themselves and their children.

But what Guerrero's book also does is underscore the problem: it's easy to enter or remain illegally, but doing so can result in an existence of constant anguish - lurking in the shadows, fearing the inevitable deportation at any time.

The answer, then, is not the wave of a magic wand that - POOF! - makes all persons here illegally now legal. Rather, it is the understanding of a very hard but basic fact of life: the United States of America is private property. Granted, those allowed to be here can travel within it, but they need legal permission to be here in the first place.This is not a "promised land" that is a "safe haven" from the cruel injustices that take place on much of the rest of the planet. Yes, it would be wonderful if such a place existed - but it doesn't, and it can't.

Terminology is important to understanding the immigration problem, as I point out extensively in my own book GRUMPY OLD PARTY. Guererro's parents were not "immigrants." They were not "undocumented immigrants," "illegal immigrants," or any other type of "immigrants." By definition, a U.S. "immigrant" is a person who has formally gone through the immigration process to become a legal permanent resident, and who may then have opted to become a naturalized citizen. That's it. Everyone else here, legally or illegally, is not an immigrant.

Not the illegal aliens who snuck across the border or in the case of Guerrero's family, overstayed their allotted time. Not the person studying at an American university, or the one here for her cousin's wedding. Or the one here to change planes, or to perform in an opera.

Diane Guerrero and her family deserve happiness as much as any other people. They deserve to enjoy one another's love and companionship, to earn a living through honest work, and to walk around freely in a place they can call "home."

In her case, she can do that in the United States. They can't. They never should have come here in the first place, but we can't blame them. Our porous borders made it easy, and who wouldn't want a better life for themselves and their family?

I felt compassion for the Guerreros while reading this book, but I also caught myself saying aloud: "you never should have come here in the first place." Not because of hate or xenophobia, but because of concern. Like telling a kid not to ice skate on a frozen lake, because the ice may be too thin and he might fall in. "It's just not worth it. Stay home."

Ms Guerrero's journey into adulthood is just another of many "object lessons" that prove a couple of important oft repeated adages: all families are dysfunctional in their own way; and all personal journeys are unique in their own dysfunction. And, finally of course is the most important of them all: we do not get to chose our parents.

Following her Psychologist's most important piece of advice, parents too are human beings who have the right to exist in this world despite their shortcomings. The most important of which, is that they always take credit for the success and good in their children, and never for the failures or the bad in them. And if they happen to be divorced, the bad is always attributed to the genes of the other parent.

The corollary to this "shifting the blame game" is that parents are like the US government: They never say "I am sorry." Mostly they come up with the lamest excuse of all: "I did the best I could under the circumstances." But Diane should be grateful that her parents never "copped a cheap plea" such as that. They did what they had to do, until time ran out and they couldn't. The chances are good that they got deported because they got "ratted-out" to ICE. Stuff happens.

So, I must say that with loving parents like those Ms. Guerrero had, puts her way ahead of the curve. If you don't believe it, just ask her half brother, Eric. Who certainly must have had a very different picture of "mami" and "papi." I say this because both of Diane's parents repeatedly said (to her) that they were sorry, and it was heartfelt every time. There was no question but that they meant it every time, and that they at least loved HER unconditionally.

Being able to relate more to her half-brother Eric, I frankly was envious of how much they loved her and expressed it in every way they could and did so every day, but left Eric out in the cold. Until I read this book, I did not know that there were parents who would ever say that they were sorry?

Yes, Diane was dropped off the proverbial cliff at fourteen, even before she had her first period. But that too, unsurprisingly is par for the course. I defy her to find a single friend who did not feel like they too were "turned out" by their parents, and "baptized in fire" as their "coming out" rite of passage?"

But more importantly, being pushed off the cliff for Ms Guerrero, apparently was a blessing in disguise, as she began to spread her wings early, repeatedly landed safely feet first, and survived quite well on the ground on her own. What a way to begin one's own self-construction project!

Her problems came later when she started creating her own "internal distortion field" by lying to herself; allowing her unreasonable fantasies to take over her life. Her nine lives got used up very quickly doing that. By then, she of course willfully had cut her parents out of her life and was flying solo. Her parents were not even allowed to be spectators because she was too embarrassed to tell them how thoroughly she was screwing up her life, all on her own. Once she got into College, she kept getting in her own way; biting her own tail and cutting herself, drinking too excess and using drugs, etc.-- failing to prioritize the things on her agenda, constantly getting ahead of the facts in her life; leaning more and more towards the glitter, and further and further away from herself, continuing to deny that with her grades falling, and her loans getting unmanageable, her life was spinning out of control.

And despite the fact that her mother got blamed for bringing ICE down on them, my sympathies lie with "mami." Something had to give -- living in "limbo" somewhere on the outskirts of New Jersey was no way to live. Momi wanted to move the ball down the field, while papi was content to just continue living in a "holding pattern" forever. Which is why he got burned by the immigration lawyer: Jesus, who in their right mind, in any country, would be so trusting of a lawyer as to fork over thousands of dollars to them for two years with no results? Mami, saw the handwriting on the wall and smelled a rat way before papi's antenna came online. I suspect he is yet trying to figure out how that lawyer got the best of him?

I did find it more than just a bit ironic, when I saw that Diane had worked on Mr. Obama's campaign and thus had included in the book, a picture with him. Was she unaware that even more than Bush Jr., BHO had doubled-down on deporting illegal immigrants like her parents? Three stars

People always mention how brave an actor is for altering their weight for a role or playing a sexual orientation different from than their own but I don’t think that’s brave in the least. I think putting your life down on paper as honest and raw as Diane Guerrero has done is brave.

Imagine being 14 years old when your family is deported and you fall through the cracks of the system so no one from social services or any agency come to check on you, to make sure you’re okay and cared for. This is what happened to Guerrero: an American born child whose brother and parents were undocumented immigrants. While you probably know her for her roles on OITNB and Jane the Virgin her memoir isn’t about her acting career (although it does touch on her pursuit of her dreams) it’s about the reality of undocumented life in the U.S. that never seems to be discussed while people are too busy shouting about building walls, deportation, and the terrible term “anchor baby.”

From her childhood, through her teen years struggling to live without her family, the years of resentment, her serious bout with mental illness, Guerrero bares her life showing her faults, her heart, her humor, that the saying kids are resilient is not so, and most importantly her fight to thrive and succeed.

I could not recommend this book enough, especially if you liked The Book of Unknown Americans.

In this book Diane Guerrero, actress in the popular Jane the Virgin and Orange is the New Black TV shows, details her experiences as the daughter of undocumented residents who, at the age of 14, suddenly finds herself alone in the US when her parents are deported. Readers will be shocked at how easily Diane slipped through the US system with no government agency contacting Diane, an American citizen, to make sure she was okay after her parents were deported. Instead she relied on the help of her community in Boston, her own sheer determination and the generosity of family friends to take her in. But even with their support, Diane feel quite alone and is forced to become an adult at too early an age.

The issues of undocumented residents has been in the news quite a lot lately making this book relevant and timely. Guerrero gives a personal look into what life is like for undocumented residents - the constant fear of being caught, struggling to make ends meet and being victims of fraudsters out to take advantage of people who desperately want to become legal citizens. She also shows the strength, love and support of her local community and how they come together to help whenever they can.

Her account is, at times, heart-breaking, maddening and shocking but always with a real honesty. She doesn't sugar coat her problems and faults with her readers as she struggles to remain connected with her parents, deal with her feelings of abandonment as well as confront alcohol abuse and mental health issues.

She has a very causal and conversational feel to her writing with some contemporary slang (complete with occasional hashtags) thrown in. Sometimes this writing style can backfire and this book felt more like chatting with a girlfriend most of the time. But I think, for the most part, it works for this book and I couldn't help but imagine her saying some of these lines in a Maritza Ramos style. For those who aren't Orange is the New Black fans, Maritza is the character that Diane plays on the hit show. Diane talks a bit about her OITNB experiences and cast mates - their banter and connection is just as solid on and off set as you'd imagine.

Now when I watch Orange is the New Black I have a much better understanding of this relatively new actress. You really cannot understand a person until you've walked a mile in their shoes. As a Canadian citizen, I have had a very different experience growing up but I appreciate how thoroughly she described her feelings and struggles to her readers to enable us to get a glimpse into her life and help us to sympathize with people in similar situations.

While she has started on a successful career as an actress and has become an advocate for immigrants, readers witness how the loss of her parents, at such an important juncture of her life, influences her positive and negative life experiences in such a dramatic way. While Diane accounts her own struggles in this book she has become the voice of many who continue to fight for the opportunity to be American citizens. She is a force to be reckoned with and I applaud her for sharing her painful upbringing, humanizing immigration and shedding the light on America's need for inclusivity.

Wanting a better life for their young son, and unable to make a living in Colombia, Diane's parents obtained a four-year visitor visa and left for the United States. A few years later, Diane was born. Knowing they'd overstayed their visas her parents worked hard at various menial labor jobs, paying people who promised to help with citizenship papers but who ran off with their hard earned money.

Though Diane's older brother became increasingly disillusioned at the lack of job prospects due to his immigration status, her parents were hopeful. They were sure that if they didn't get into trouble, stayed below the radar, and kept paying the "lawyer" who'd promised to help, that they'd become legal citizens.

When Diane was fourteen years old, her parents were arrested by ICE for being in the country illegally and deported to Colombia. Left alone, and forgotten by the government, Diane had to figure out how to live without her family. "In the country we love" is the story of people who helped her survive, and the long road of pain and sorrow she endured on her way to becoming a famous television star.

According to the Migration Policy Institute 2016 study, "5 million children under the age 18 have at least one parent who is in the United States illegally. Out of that number, 79 percent are U.S. citizens." Guerrero puts a face to one of those children. Her story is a must read.

Highly recommended for Adults.

ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!

Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin's Griffin for sending me a copy of this book. This in no way affects my thoughts about it.

This was the first memoir I've ever read, and I'm so glad I did.

This follows the life of the amazing Diane Guerrero and not only how her parents were deported, but also, how she became the woman she is today.

I was so interested in this memoir because it's about immigration and how some people value the little things more than anything. I'm puerto rican and even though we are part of the United States, immigration is a topic that hits me really hard. Diane Guerrero's life is an eye opener for all of us. This memoir inspired me to never give up even when life isn't working in my favor. We are capable of doing anything if we really wish to do so. It's really sad to realize how not a lot of people know about how big immigration is, and how often kids are left alone in the United States while their parents are deported back to their country.

I've been always afraid to read memoirs because I think they're going to have a complex writing style. This memoir wasn't like that; the writing style was really easy to follow and it wasn't monotonous. Every chapter had a little bit of information and details about her parents, and about Diane's personal life and deep thoughts.

As I said, I really enjoyed this memoir. It does have its sad chapters, but in a way some chapters make you happy because Diane accomplished a lot of things even though she only had herself, and that inspire you to become the best version of yourself.

I do recommend this to everyone who wants to know a little bit more about immigration, and wants to feel inspire to do big things. It was absolutely amazing!

Again, thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy.

Diane Guerrero, known for her roles on Orange Is The New Black and Jane The Virgin, bares her entire soul with this memoir about how utterly broken the immigration system in the United States is. She came home from school at 14 and both of her Colombian parents had been taken for deportation, leaving her on her own.

She talks a bit about her path to acting, but it's a small part. Most of the book is about her family. Guerrero's shining personality glitters on every page, but she doesn't shy away from the pain of losing her parents or any of the demons she fought as a young adult (alcohol abuse, self-harm, near suicide attempts).

The book goes into detail of the hardships and struggles immigrants go through, and no punches are pulled. It ends on a passionate plea for American voters to go to the ballots and demand change.

If you don't know how troubled America's backyard is, read this.

I found this very interesting, reading about immigration from the viewpoint of the daughter of illegal immigrants who were deported. After reading this, I can see things much more clearly. At 14 years of age, the author came home from school and found that her parents were taken and would be deported. She was left more or less to fend for herself, but luckily she had friends whose parents took her in. She finished high school and college and went on to become a successful actress in Orange is The New Black as well as starring in Jane The Virgin. I definitely recommend this book. 4 to 4.5 stars on Goodreads.

I love memoirs, especially memoirs by engaging, funny and awesome famous ladies (Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Mindy Kaling are all favorites of mine). So I already knew I would like Guerrero's book, but I didn't realize how much it would educate and touch me. I'm a life long feminist, but I am white and sheltered when it comes to immigration issues. It was so great to hear Guerrero's story and start to have an understanding of how devastating and important immigration issues are. She spoke of her family's struggle with poverty, what it was like to get left behind after her parents were deported, her brutal fight with depression, and what its like to come from all of these challenges and still become an actress. Especially in today's political climate, this is the memoir we should all be reading right now. You won't regret it.

Diane's story was beautifully told. Like she said, she wishes that she could have read her own story when she was dealing with her heartbreaking ordeal. I can almost picture her hiding under her bed when her parents were ripped from her life, reading her own book like a manual to see what she should be doing next. Diane's story needed to be shared with the world, for the people who can relate but also for the people who have no idea that stories like this exist in this country; The Country We Love. My heart breaks for her as her life seems to fall apart and my heart soars as she finds a way to rise from the ashes. She not only contributed to society with the telling of her story but she is also doing her part now with her influence and immigration reform. What an inspirational book. Highly recommend it.

I love memoirs, especially memoirs by engaging, funny and awesome famous ladies (Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Mindy Kaling are all favorites of mine). So I already knew I would like Guerrero's book, but I didn't realize how much it would educate and touch me. I'm a life long feminist, but I am white and sheltered when it comes to immigration issues. It was so great to hear Guerrero's story and start to have an understanding of how devastating and important immigration issues are. She spoke of her family's struggle with poverty, what it was like to get left behind after her parents were deported, her brutal fight with depression, and what its like to come from all of these challenges and still become an actress. Especially in today's political climate, this is the memoir we should all be reading right now. You won't regret it.

Diane's story was beautifully told. Like she said, she wishes that she could have read her own story when she was dealing with her heartbreaking ordeal. I can almost picture her hiding under her bed when her parents were ripped from her life, reading her own book like a manual to see what she should be doing next. Diane's story needed to be shared with the world, for the people who can relate but also for the people who have no idea that stories like this exist in this country; The Country We Love. My heart breaks for her as her life seems to fall apart and my heart soars as she finds a way to rise from the ashes. She not only contributed to society with the telling of her story but she is also doing her part now with her influence and immigration reform. What an inspirational book. Highly recommend it.

Diane Guerreo's parents were two of the 11 million undocumented aliens when they we deported back to Columbia. She was just fourteen-years-old when this happened. The book deals with her devastation and depression and her eventual success as she went through this horrible tragedy. There is lots of good information about the plight of the undocumented aliens. In 2013 there were over 70,000 children whose parents were arrested and deported.

Not too long, not too short, emotional and not self-indulgent ... I really loved this story about Diane and her family, and I felt that Diane and her co-author were able to portray herself in an earnest, imperfect, and realistic way, which made the story and the celebrity happy ending even better. I admire Diane's commitment to her cause.

I loved this audiobook! Diane Guerrero’s narration and story kept me on the edge of my seat while driving across Texas. Her story of heartbreak, loneliness and perseverance was truly inspiring. To listen to a human being’s experience of her parents deportation leaving her to fend for herself at such a young age put a face to the headlines we read every day and really allow you to understand how devestating the immigration and naturalization process is in the United States. Diane is doing great work and I am so happy to know she is thriving after such a difficult start in life.

I laughed, cried, and got very angry....
Diane Guerrero is just one of millions impacted by a broken immigration system, and yet she has 'made it'. Surviving the destruction of her family to become the embodiment of schoolgirl dreams did not protect her from the scars or exempt her from the hard work required to remain alive and living. I have the utmost respect for her experience, and the millions just like her who deserve to have a chance. Thanks, Diane! <3

Diane Guerrero is one of those actresses who so often seem to come out of nowhere to claim a recurring roll in what turns out to be an important television series (in Guerrero’s case, the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black). But as is usually the case, nothing could be farther from the truth about Guerrero’s rise to stardom than how quickly she seems to have achieved it. Her story is all the more remarkable because when Guerrero was just fourteen years old, she came home from school one afternoon to find that her Colombian parents, both of whom were in the country illegally, had been arrested and were being held for deportation back to Colombia. Rather astonishingly, the fourteen-year-old American born citizen slipped through the bureaucratic cracks of immigration officials, and was forced to turn to family and friends for immediate survival. Guerrero’s new memoir, In the Country We Love: My Family Divided, tells her story.

Diane Guerrero spent her childhood in Boston along with a brother ten years older than her and their parents. But there was a big difference between the little girl and the rest of her family: she was a natural-born United States citizen and the others (all born in Colombia) were in this country illegally. By the afternoon on which her parents were snatched from her, her brother had already been deported, and Diane was no stranger to the possibility that the same could happen to her parents. Still, when it finally did happen, neither Diane nor her parents were emotionally prepared for what they were about to face.

Because she was such a bright and musically talented high school student, Guerrero was accepted into one of Boston’s prestigious high schools for the performing arts where she prepared herself for a stage and film career. It was not easy, but despite setbacks and the poor personal decisions she sometimes made, Guerrero managed to maintain contact with her parents (they split after being deported) and was finally able to overcome her feelings of having been abandoned by them. She still dreams of finding a way to return them legally to the United States, “the country they love.”

In the Country We Love puts faces and names to three of the supposedly eleven million illegal immigrants currently living in the United States. As such, it packs a strong emotional punch. Unfortunately, the extremely one-sided pro-immigration argument presented in the book’s final twenty or so pages somewhat blunts that impact by ignoring the broader picture of an open border policy that allows almost unlimited illegal immigration into this country. Guerrero’s approach comes across as both heavy-handed and close-minded, making it way too easy for her critics to counter her pro-immigration arguments – and that’s a shame.

Born in America to illegal immigrants, the author writes of being effectively orphaned at age 14 when both her parents were detained and deported to Columbia. Well-written and engaging, her story covers a tragic aspect of current immigration policies.

This book is a simultaneously easy and hard read. It was well written in a uniquely personal and honest voice. It was mortifying to hear of the trauma of these experiences that happened in the United States to a citizen and her family. I am grateful for the author's bravery, candor, strength, passion, and yes, even happiness and success. Terrific read. Glad it is being promoted by my town just outside of Boston.

"Orange Is the New Black" actress, Diane Guerrero, has written a memoir. She circles us into her intimate group and tells us, quietly - without shame, about her heartache and loss, growing up In the Country We Love as the child of illegal immigrants. At the tender age of 14, she comes home to find her parents are deported. Young Diane is left alone to finish her high school career and create a new life - as an orphan.

This is an intriguing tale about a small-time girl who hits it big. It is also the story of abandonment and loneliness. It is a piece about immigration and children's rights - but do not fear! The call to action is saved until the end. And this way of organizing affords Ms. Guerrero the opportunity to share her experience, to reach out and connect with us, to allow our hearts to break with hers - to make people listen and care... to let others in a similar situation know that they are not alone.

The tone of the book is conversational, and though it deals with some heavy ideas and emotions, it is highly accessible. There were times when I could feel a discrepancy in voices (the ghostwriter on this book is the talented Michelle Burford), but the story was absorbing and I could ignore it.

A quick read, and a thought-provoking story - I recommend this to be on a summer book list.

(I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.)

Heartbreakingly tragic, raw, and filled with emotion. This book brings to light an major issue facing America today. No matter what your stance on immigration is this book will make you think. This book is incredible. I can't say enough about this book. It was a wild ride. I can't remember the last time I read a memoir cover to cover in two days.

Diane Guerrero, who you may recognize from the popular TV shows like Orange is the New Black and Jane the Virgin. She tells the story of her parents' deportation and the effect it had on all of their lives. My heart broke for Diane over and over again as she opened her soul up to her readers.

She was only fourteen years old her parents were deported, at an age where you should be more concerned about friends than immigration. She is left to try and survive on her own, when the government forgets about her. It is important to remember that she was born in America, and is a United States citizen. That is just mind boggling.

Thankfully she had incredible friends that were willing to take her in, ensure that she continued her education. She never would see her parents in the United States again. After years of hiding, she had the courage to tell her story

Another thing I loved about this book was that every chapter had a personal photo from her life, it made it feel more real seeing her grow up. The book is written in a very casual tone. This might be a problem for some readers but I really enjoyed the casual voice and occasional text speak.

Overall this book is a must read. I recommend this to anyone. I would also like to thank Henry Holt for sending me this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

While the deportation of Diane's parents and injustice that her and her family suffered was a major detail of this story, I think the real story here is being able to see someone pick herself up after hitting rock bottom and having the strength to share such a powerful story, I couldn't be more inspired! Female Pride-Colombiana Pride!

Diane, I am a lawyer practicing solely in the field of immigration. Reading your book brought me to tears for your deep pain caused by a broken immigration system. Thank you for opening your heart and sharing with others so they can have a better understanding of the human pain in our current laws and the way they are enforced. I encourage everyone to buy this and another copy to give to a friend!

Graciously written to both educate and tell Diane's story. The authors broke my heart with truth, yet liberated me with knowledge on how I can help another never have to endure a tragedy of this magnitude. Incredible read!

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.

The first part about how her family came and what made them illegal and how they had to live was very interesting. I did not enjoy her career stories as much. I ordered this as a resident of Tucson, hoping to better understand the immigrants.

Thank you, Diane for sharing your story! She is truly an inspiration. She is such a strong, beautiful person. She was born in the same City I was raised in. I love how she was able to share her story. It was such a tragic story with an amazing outcome. Will be buying her other book!

I laughed, cried, and got very angry....
Diane Guerrero is just one of millions impacted by a broken immigration system, and yet she has 'made it'. Surviving the destruction of her family to become the embodiment of schoolgirl dreams did not protect her from the scars or exempt her from the hard work required to remain alive and living. I have the utmost respect for her experience, and the millions just like her who deserve to have a chance. Thanks, Diane! <3