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I loved Xiomara (X), and truth be told I really loved Twin. She’s got so much fire and passion inside her, while still being so vulnerable and soft. I think the best thing about coming of age stories that don’t match our own is we can connect and learn from them. You can find yourself mirrored in the stories, and yet still find understanding in things you may not relate to. Written in prose that rolls between a strong intensity and a vulnerable softness. I could feel the teenage conflict and internal confusion I had at that age. It was so well written. I loved listening to these battles between religion, family, culture, sexuality, self, and community. The audio was amazing and I would highly HIGHLY recommend that if you can listen to it to do it!

There are only 670 ratings and 180 reviews of this impactful book on Goodreads. Which is shameful. After the hype over “The Book that shall not be named” I really want this book to receive that level of hype and promotion. @booksteanhenny has been hyping this book up for weeks now! Listen!!!! This is the type of book that needs to be read, reviewed and shared. True stories of illegal immigrants in America. True detailed accounts of what it’s like to live in a land where you’re either a “dreamer”, “worker” or a “bad hombre”, depending on which mainstream media you’re watching. The Undocumented Americans tears down those stereotypes and shows you the simple humanity of the people. Mothers and fathers. Children. Lovers. Friends. All of their happiness and sadness, Fear, hope, frustrations, disappointments, love, challenges, determination... I cannot do this book justice. It was so matter of fact, honest and raw. Karla uses journalistic style as well as auto biographical accounts to tell the stories.
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I think it’s important to get the real stories. The stories that mainstream media will not tell you. Movies, television and white authors cannot and will not tell you. Stories from neighbours, co workers, friends, fellow bookstagrammers... to deny them their humanity and human rights for policies and laws that strip them of both is deplorable

EDIT:
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I will not be deleting my review. This is how I felt when I read it and I think it is important to acknowledge how an opinion can shift and change with new perspectives and new information. I loved this book. I felt it was beautiful and like nothing I’ve ever read. Blame it on my book snob past. I enjoyed the story and it made me want to read more migrant stories because I truly believe they are treated bad and I do not understand how humans can be so ugly to one another. However. With that being said I want to acknowledged that the stereotypes and ways Mexican people were depicted in this book were hurtful. The publishers who PUSHED this book ahead of own voice authors stories are greatly missing the mark. The marketing that created the illusion that this story is “The” story is unfair. Staying ignorant when you have the entire world at your fingers is a choice. The migrant crisis is real. It is a relevant story because it is happening now. There are still people in cages, families being torn apart and people dying. People are being dehumanized because of which side of an invisible line they were born on. These stories need to be told. But they need to be told with transparency and honesty and compassion. They need to be told by own voices because those voices deserve to be heard.
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You are not being censored. Or shamed. Or need to defend yourself if you read this. But I do ask that you open your mind and listen to the voices who are saying this book is hurtful and harmful. Ignoring them or ignoring the issue is only allowing a problem to persist. Empathy and understanding are necessary to create change. Your personal growth should be a life long journey. Don’t stop now.
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I can barely find the words to say how this book made me feel. The characters and events are fiction but they represent the “migrant crisis” and bring to light so many injustices and corruption done to humans by other humans.

Luca and Lydia’s relationship was beautiful. This strong and incredibly fierce mother who would go to any length to save her son was constantly softened and forced to think in a more compassionate way due to her sons childlike naïveté and hopefulness.

I cannot even begin to imagine how it feels to be forced out of your home, your country and away from your family due to corrupt governments, wars, famine, poor water supply, poor health conditions, violence, and lack of opportunities... I seriously can’t and while this book focuses in a small way on one small area of the world and one set of issues it definitely makes you question what makes a person go to any length to leave their home for more opportunities and a better chance at a better life.

I have so much to say and would talk about this book for days but I will only say, read this book. Keep your mind open and treat your fellow humans with kindness and compassion.

CW; rape, murder