Reviews

Once I Was You: A Memoir of Love and Hate in a Torn America by María Hinojosa

katreadsalot's review against another edition

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4.0

This was a well-written overview of immigration policy in the United States punctuated throughout with Hinojosa's experiences growing up as an immigrant. I loved Hinojosa's perspective on events past and future and seeing her career blossom as she lifted up Immigrant perspectives and voices.

CW for Sexual Assault, 9/11.

fkshg8465's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

5.0

Her heart is all over those book, and there’s so much to learn. Am immigrant myself, I was shocked throughout the book and kept my gratitude front and center for having gotten into the country legally through my mother (as a nurse, she had a highly sought out skill in the 70s.) This is a book every US citizen should read. 

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brim010's review against another edition

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emotional informative medium-paced

4.5

libra_libros's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.0

pamiverson's review against another edition

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4.0

The journalist tells her story, beginning as an immigrant who almost allowed into the country. The title refers to how she sees her story in the faces of those immigrants she has seen at the U.S./Mexico border who have been so demonized over the last few years. She has an interesting story, looking at how she can use her power and visibility while so many have denied her the opportunities and recognition she has earned. A different story of the racism in our country.

datinaid's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective slow-paced

5.0

librarianaaryn's review against another edition

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informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

petrock28's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.0

i_am_canadia's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

nancysbookvida's review against another edition

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5.0

Maria is many things: Mexican immigrant, journalist, producer, activist, wife, mom, and major chingona!

The book not only follows her life, but also gives a history of immigration in this country. It was really powerful to read and learn more about immigration policies and what influenced them. I did know some facts, but I still learned so much. To see the motivation behind the laws as well as who was impacted is important for every American to know. She talks about how US involvement has also impacted immigration. We see Maria grow up traveling across the border to visit family in Mexico and we see her kick ass as a journalist and see her in her professional journey. She is courageous. She reports on issues, but gives them a face and truly personalizes her stories. It’s clear that the stories she tells impact her by how she tells them.

Reading her memoir felt like she was telling me her story over a cup of coffee. I cried when she experienced hardships or when she shared someone’s heartbreaking story. I cheered and said, “YASS girl!” various times. I could relate to her constant feeling of imposter syndrome and her struggles with mental health. Overall, she inspired me more than I can say. Just seeing her, a fellow Latina, go after what she wants and succeeding at it truly motivated me to keep working on my dreams! Seriously, if you need some inspiration, this is absolutely a must read!! If you want to see the humanity in stories regarding immigration, Katrina, 9/11, political activists, READ THIS! She also is bipartisan in talking about immigration policies and she calls out anyone who needs to be called out. It’s a memoir, a history lesson, an inspiration ❤️Thanks for telling us your story and the stories we need to hear

Thank you to Atria Books for my ARC