BOOK REVIEW: 'In the Country We Love: My Family Divided' by Diane Guerrero

‘In The Country We Love: My Family Divided’ is a relatively new book written by actress Diane Guerrero about her experience when her parents were deported when she was only age 14. When purchasing this book, I knew I wasn’t the biggest fan of autobiographies so it came as a total surprise when I became completely hooked (I swear the minute I finished it, I went through and messaged nearly everyone I knew telling them they HAD to read it).

For those who don’t know, Diane Guerrero is an actress, best known for being in ‘Jane The Virgin’ and ‘Orange Is The New Black’. Her parents, who were originally from Colombia, immigrated to America before Guerrero was born, therefore meaning that as she was originally from the US, she was able to stay in the country throughout the deportation progress. However, what appears unique to Guerrero’s case (though she explains that this happens to many children who are simply unaccounted for) is that whilst every day, 17 children are placed in state care as their parents are detained and deported, she was not acknowledged or checked on by any government official; at fourteen, she was left to fend for herself and relied simply on the goodwill of others in similar precarious positions to support her throughout those years where teenagers need someone to depend upon the most.

As I stated before, I personally am not the biggest fan of autobiographies but yet this one captured me. I cannot necessarily relate in any way to what happened to Guerrero as a young girl, yet there is something that is so relatable about the different experiences she describes and the emotions she feels. The idea of a teenage girl feeling the many extremes of emotion whilst trying to discover who they are and who they want to be, is something that I, being not too much older, can draw parallels with.

There is no possible way I can explain how truly brilliant this book is and how much I wish for people to read it. In an age where the issue of immigration plagues political rhetoric, it is important to look at it from more than just the view of a privileged citizen who will most likely never have to face such trauma. Guerrero explains that “the Berlin Wall should serve as proof to all humanity that walls do not work. Building bridges that foster communication between countries does”; and that truly highlights the essence of this book. If we want to tackle this issue, we need to not look at it from an outside perspective with nationalism forming the basis of our views, we need to take a humanitarian response and look at the issue in its wider context and the impact is has upon the people that these bills and acts are effecting.

Buy 'In the Country We Love: My Family Divided' here