In the Country We Love

March 14, 2016
Guerrero, an actress best known for her roles on Orange Is the New Black and Jane the Virgin, was born in the U.S. to Colombian parents. They lived in the States while undocumented until they were deported in 2001. Guerrero, 14 at the time, was left on her own with no government oversight whatsoever, a harrowing situation that she recounts with honesty, pathos, and bravery. Like many of the more than 11 million undocumented immigrants in this country, her parents worked in countless low-paying menial jobs while in constant fear, knowing that they could be snatched away any time. They tried to obtain green cards and citizenship through legal channels, but were scammed by a con artist. Guerrero, writing with Oprah magazine founding editor Burford, could have been placed in state care, but she was one of the lucky ones: friends and family took her in and helped her get into the Boston Arts Academy. She still suffered in her parents’ absence, growing increasingly depressed with no one to confide in. The depression led to alcoholic blackouts, self-injury, and a near-suicide before she opened up to a therapist and got much-needed help. Guerrero transforms a truly terrible situation into something meaningful, using her story and her role as an Ambassador for Citizenship and Naturalization by the White House to try to help other immigrant families left in this terrible position.

April 15, 2016
Orange Is the New Black actress Guerrero delivers an affecting tale of a childhood lived in the margins.Born to undocumented Colombian immigrants upon their arrival stateside, the author quickly learned not to draw attention to herself or her parents. Mami and Papi, lovingly detailed in colloquial and well-paced prose, were hardworking and doting parents, deeply supportive of the author's interest in the arts. Growing older, Guerrero noticed the small differences that set her family apart--e.g., the way her father's personality shrunk in public or the terror inspired by an unexpected guest at the door. Mami and Papi struggled tirelessly to remedy their immigration status, but the family's worst fears were realized when the author was 14: she arrived home from school to an empty house, discovering her parents had been deported just hours earlier. In the book's strongest passages, Guerrero recounts the fear, shame, and instability that followed. Taken in by a family friend, she found solace in the performing arts while her relationship with her parents grew more fractured over time and distance. As she attempted to define herself and her future, Guerrero grappled with a number of serious financial obstacles and mental health issues, further deepening the rift in familial ties. The author's candor in chronicling the lowest moments of her life reads like an urgent confessional. Indeed, it wasn't until she shared her story that the healing--and her acting career--could finally begin. Readers looking for intricate details about Guerrero's time on set will be disappointed; the sections recounting her Hollywood experiences are rushed, often cluttered with unnecessary detail. The author's greatest strength lies in her ability to advocate for undocumented immigrants and others affected by immigration status: "I've written the book that I wish I could have read when I was that girl." A moving, humanizing portrait of the collateral damage caused by America's immigration policy.

COPYRIGHT(2016) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 1, 2016

Teens may recognize Guerrero from Orange Is the New Black, where she plays Maritza ("If you want more pizza, vote for Maritza!"), or Jane the Virgin, where she plays the title character's BFF Lina. In recent months, Guerrero has been speaking out about immigration reform, and this book explains why: when she was 14, she came home from school one day to find that her parents had been arrested; they were ultimately deported to Colombia. Guerrero, born in the United States, was more fortunate than most young people in this situation, in that her family had a strong contingent of friends who lived nearby and who took her in, allowing her to continue her schooling. But she describes how she never truly felt at home once her parents were gone: she tried to minimize the space she took up; she always asked permission, even to eat a snack; she did household chores whenever she could; and she spent her free time worrying about how to achieve financial independence. Guerrero hid her story from others for years but eventually realized it was time to start dealing with her past and sharing her experience, in the hopes of helping others in the same situation. Her acting career has given her the platform to do just that. VERDICT This touching memoir will resonate with teens who love acting as well as those who want to know more about of the lives of immigrants and refugees, or have experienced a similar situation to Guerrero's.-Sarah Flowers, formerly with Santa Clara County Library, CA

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2016
When actress Guerrero landed a role on the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black, it marked the first time in her life that she could breathe easy. While this memoir charts her road to success, it is, above all, an account of being born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants, whodespite their desperate attempts to gain citizenshipwere deported to Colombia when Guerrero was just 14. Hers is an all-too-common story, yet one that is rarely heard. Left to fend for herself, Guerrero relates her struggle to hold her life together, get through high school and college, and find her feet in the worldchallenges that will resonate with many readers, particularly young adults. She begins each chapter with a personal photo and writes with humor and heartbreaking honesty. Offering readers the story she needed to hear as a child, Guerrero shines a light on this country's flawed immigration system, eloquently calling for reform without diminishing her appreciation for the opportunities U.S. citizenship has afforded her. A timely and enlightening read.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)

December 1, 2015

When Guerrero was 14, she returned home from school to find that her parents and older brother had been deported as undocumented; because she was born here, Guerrero was able to remain. This memoir explains how she survived to become a familiar face for her standout roles (e.g., Orange Is the New Black; Jane the Virgin) while also painting a stark picture of the fearfulness of an undocumented immigrant's life.

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.