I enjoyed this story that is very relevant to today. Both sides of the issue of immigrants and refugees was represented I believe fairly. A well written book that every adult and teenager should read.

When Liliana Cruz finds out she’s been accepted into the METCO program and will have to switch from her inner-city high school to a wealthy suburban one she doesn’t want to go. Who would? But Liliana decides to make her recently missing dad proud and she rises to the challenge. Jennifer De Leon’s debut YA novel, Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From, takes on a lot of difficult but timely themes--race, class, bussing and undocumented immigrants. De Leon handles it all with realistic characters, a sense of humor and a clear style that keeps the reader eager to see what happens next. If certain plot points seem a bit contrived and others strangely skimmed over, the entire story is still compelling and well done. Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From tells a strong story about life as an outsider trying to fit in, and manages to show many views in a very real way. De Leon’s story will resonate with a lot of students and give others something to think about. A definite must-read in the vein of Angie Thomas, Ibi Zoboi and Elizabeth Acevedo.

As a teacher, I found this novel to be exceptionally gripping. Lilliana Cruz is a student who is accepted into the METCO program at a suburban high school, leaving her old school and the world behind in Jamaica Plains, Boston. Lili and the other students in the METCO program are adding diversity to the white upper-middle-class high school. Lili's father has been missing for the last few months and when the reader discovers where he is it very timely for this current climate. Lili needs to navigate her relationship with her mom, her new school and classmates who are increasingly rude and racist. Her teachers make assumptions about her because she is Hispanic and does not seem to realize and/or care how their remarks affect her. I can not recommend this novel more and would definitely recommend it to my students.

I enjoyed reading this book. I definitely feel this book should be required reading. The thought put into it, helping you understand the plight of immigrant families.
The empathy you feel for this family and the realization hits that these are struggles people face everyday. We all have a choice in how we deal with people who maybe in a similar situation. Highlights the importance of learning about people and not judging. The importance of family and coming together in difficult times. So much can be taken from this wonderfully written novel. This book felt comfortable to me because I know these people, diffrent names, immigrated from diffrent countries, but I understand and empathize with this family. It is one I would recommend. Truly enjoyed this one. Thank You #Netgalley for the opportunity to check it out early.

Liliana Cruz, a first-gen American Latinx living in Boston, is just trying to navigate being 15, with annoying little brothers, a dad who is MIA, and a mom who is depressed. Suddenly, she’s told she will be going to a nearly all-white school an hour away in Westburg.
While Liliana is trying to navigate this new world, she learns that her dad has been gone for over a month not because he wants to, but because he can’t come back. In an effort to do what she thinks will make her dad proud, Liliana decides to use her voice and speak her truth.

I enjoyed this book, as I found Liliana’s teenage voice very real. I could personally relate to Liliana struggling with fitting in with the (handful of) other students of color, as well as dealing with the racist actions of many of the white students around her.
I also really liked that things didn’t end perfectly at her school, but it was like a seed had been planted to actually open honest dialogue about how racism affects everyone.
I would definitely recommend this as a YA book to others.

Very enjoyable YA novel narrated by Lili (Liliana Cruz) as she navigates being bused to a suburban, majority white, high school as part of a diversity program. While she struggles with keeping touch with her life-long friends, grades, making new friends, and the long hours of commuting, she worries over her father's absense and mother's depression. Very topical, with some predictability, but not at all trite.

This book is well written and should be required reading for anyone growing up in this crazy period of history. In fact, it should be required reading for anyone. This book teaches empathy in a way that only truly honest books can. I highly recommend it and will be sharing it with all the educators I know.

When I saw the gorgeous book cover and read the email subject line from NetGalley “The Hate U Give meets I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter”, I knew I had to read it. I couldn’t put it down until I finished.

Lilliana’s story covers so many current events from immigration to the US from Central America to the fact that most schools are still segregated nearly 70 years after Brown V. Board of Education. The discussions started by Lilliana in class and by the group of students bussed into this wealthy suburb of Boston are conversations we should all be having in classes and in school board meetings. I hope to share this with as many teachers and students as I can!