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vikkismallz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
danicapage's review against another edition
4.0
Content: sexual assault/rape, instances of strong language
This book is gutting and heartbreaking. It starts heavy and it is heavy.
I’m glad I read this one. Having volunteered as an attorney in a “residential center” to help asylees, I couldn’t help but think of those I met there.
A heavy read.
This book is gutting and heartbreaking. It starts heavy and it is heavy.
I’m glad I read this one. Having volunteered as an attorney in a “residential center” to help asylees, I couldn’t help but think of those I met there.
A heavy read.
juanitamfm's review against another edition
5.0
I really liked “Once I Was You” by Maria Hinojosa. It really opened my eyes to a lot of the laws and policies against Latinx immigrants. I’m ashamed to say I have learned a lot more about the Black experience in America than I have about the Mexican experience. This book was a good starting point because she was able to give all the facts and details, but it is also her memoir so you got to take breaks from the facts to process it while you learned about her personal story and then back to the facts. So I now I have the personal goal to learn more and start being an agent of change to help undo some of the bad things that are happening right now.
rubysbiblioteca's review against another edition
5.0
Maria’s memoir is an absolute must read! Usually memoirs aren’t my choice of books to read, but Maria’s writing captures readers after every page. Not only do we get to know Maria personally, but we also learn the history of the stories that shaped her career and herself.
jmendiola1214's review against another edition
5.0
One of my idols perfectly blends her life story with contemporary topics and history. Love love love.
queencolleen630's review against another edition
4.0
When I Was You was offered the raw and personal story of a woman, immigrant, Mexican American (among other identities) in her building of a career in journalism that exposes the truth about our country’s narratives/rhetoric, policies about, and treatment of immigrants. Maria offers both decades of historical politics and first hand accounts of men, women, and children seeking a better life in this country. I listened to the audiobook version, which Maria narrates and I would recommend.
zinelib's review against another edition
3.0
I couldn't get into it, but I bet in non-Covid times I'd be able to. Hinojosa provides more political context than I wanted because I'm shallow. I'd like to have seen the facts sourced, but less entrenched in the narrative.