by Estela Juarez with Lissette Norman
Illustrated by Teresa Martínez
5 stars
A heartfelt story with a powerful message of hope, resilience, and using your voice to demand change.
Estela lives happily with her family… until the government tells her mother she must return to the country she was born in. As part of coping with her mother’s deportation, Estela begins writing, first in her diary, then to newspapers, Congress, and the president. Using the power of her voice, Estela works to bring her family back together.
Well-told. An emotional and powerful story that highlights the pain, fear, and heartbreak of deportation and separating families. This is paired with the continued efforts to bring widespread attention to the family’s separation and to reunite them, providing glimpses of hope.
Gorgeous illustrations. They perfectly capture the emotions presented in the story. From the joy of a family spending time together to the fear of their separation.
I loved the emphasis on Estela using her voice, while also recognizing the time it took for things to happen. A wonderful emphasis on Estela’s persistence in her efforts to reunite her family.
Includes an Author’s Note at the back giving more detail on the story of Estela and her family.
Empowering and hopeful, this beautiful book showcases the power of young voices to make change. A great encouragement for young readers to make their voices heard when they see something wrong.