In the country we love : my family divided / Diane Guerrero with Michelle Burford.

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The star of Orange is the New Black and Jane the Virgin presents her personal story of the real plight of undocumented immigrants in this country

Diane Guerrero, the television actress from the megahit Orange is the New Black and Jane the Virgin , was just fourteen years old on the day her parents were detained and deported while she was at school. Born in the U.S., Guerrero was able to remain in the country and continue her education, depending on the kindness of family friends who took her in and helped her build a life and a successful acting career for herself, without the support system of her family.

In the Country We Love is a moving, heartbreaking story of one woman's extraordinary resilience in the face of the nightmarish struggles of undocumented residents in this country. There are over 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the US, many of whom have citizen children, whose lives here are just as precarious, and whose stories haven't been told. Written with bestselling author Michelle Burford, this memoir is a tale of personal triumph that also casts a much-needed light on the fears that haunt the daily existence of families likes the author's and on a system that fails them over and over.

Author Notes

Diane Guerrero is an actress on the hit shows Orange is the New Black and Jane the Virgin . She volunteers with the nonprofit Immigrant Legal Resource Center, as well as with Mi Familia Vota, an organization that promotes civic involvement. She has been named an Ambassador for Citizenship and Naturalization by the White House. She lives in New York City.

Michelle Burford is a founding editor of O, The Oprah Magazine and writer of many best-selling books including memoirs by Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas, singer Toni Braxton, and Cleveland kidnap survivor Michelle Knight.

Reviews (3)

School Library Journal Review

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. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publisher's Weekly Review

Guerro, 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. Guerro, 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. Guerro, 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. Guerro 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. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Booklist Review

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, who despite their desperate attempts to gain citizenship were 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 world challenges 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.--Smith, Julia Copyright 2016 Booklist

Introduction	p. 1
1 The Silver Key	p. 5
2 Mi Familia	p. 11
3 Underground	p. 27
4 The Good Girl	p. 43
5 The Plan	p. 63
6 Ground Shift	p. 73
7 Taken	p. 83
8 Left Behind	p. 97
9 Second Family	p. 105
10 Butterfly	p. 119
11 New World	p. 131
12 The Edge	p. 147
13 Turnabout	p. 157
14 Stage Right	p. 169
15 New York City	p. 183
16 Orange	p. 203
17 Into Daylight	p. 225
Call to Action	p. 237
Acknowledgments	p. 251

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