This was a rough read. Diane Guerrero came home at age 14 to an empty house because her mother and father had been arrested by ICE. At age 14, she's at the mercy of her friend's mothers because her family is thousands of miles away. I'm 25 years old, and I don't think I could handle having my parents forcibly removed from the country. How Diane deals with it is truly awe inspiring. It's not easy, and she doesn't shy away from how the trauma affected her. She's open about her self-harm and suicidal ideation, as well as her dependence on alcohol and partying. She goes through some real shit, and to see her successful now and using her platform to help immigrants is fucking incredible. Despite discussing some terrible topics, the book is still laced with a light-hearted tone as she goes through her coming of age and find her path to acting. It's clear to see why she's so perfect as Maritza and Lina, because she possesses a fun style and big heart. I could see how her writing might not be everyone's cup of tea since she uses quite a bit of slang and a familiar tone. However, I find it made my connection to the story so much more real. She's not a scholar on immigration, she's just a girl whose family was taken from her.

The truth is Diane's story isn't unique, as her call to action and afterward make very clear. So many kids face the same terror of your parents being taken away all because our immigration enforcement is so wrapped up in xenophobia, racism, and classism. Reading Diane's story definitely inspires me to do what I can to help immigrants in this country.