Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.

This was such a wonderful read. It certainly was challenging and made me think. I will recommend it to anyone I can.

A beautifully written account of being the child of Mexican immigrants living in the US. The author, Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez's strength to be the greatest version of herself through adversity is admirable and highly motivating. This is such a vivid example of how broken our immigration policies and system in the US are. Highly recommend and fantastic on audio!

This is a memoir of a girl born in the U.S. from Mexican immigrants. Her parents are not allowed to renew their visas and she is left alone in Arizona at 15 years old. She knows how much her parents want her to get an education and be successful. This novel is such a timely look into the life of immigrants who just want to give their children a better life. I find myself wishing I could be in a discussion group, such as a book club, to discuss the different sides of the immigrant laws. I think that this should be required reading in high school in order to give students a look at immigration and how difficult it can be for them.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC in order for me to give a personal review.

In her memoir, Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez offers the reader a raw and powerful look into the lives of Mexican immigrant families in Tucson, Arizona.
Gutierrez was born an American citizen, a choice that her Mexican immigrants parents made so that she could have the security and opportunities of American citizenship. They then settled on the south of the Rillito River, a river that “seemed particularly useless apart from the fact that is divides the city of Tucson in nearly half, politely segregating the immigrant households south of it from the pristine white manicured homes of the north.”

From an early age, the author had a keen awareness of her surroundings — social, political, and environmental. The prologue of the book is nearly poetic as Gutierrez sets the scene for life in Tucson.

In many ways, the river taught me about life: that wealth and poverty are in proximity, but always separated; that people don’t like what they can’t control, preferring instead to reward you only when you fulfill their narrative about who you are supposed to be; that there are seasons of lack and plenty, of drought and flooding.


Photo of the Tucson, Arizona skyline. Credit Manny Pacheco on Unsplash.
Gutierrez’s story is remarkable. As I read about her growing up, I was reminded of so many privileges that I take for granted. My heart broke for young Elizabeth and the choices she had to make. After the U.S. government denies her parents’ visas, Gutierrez (a 15-year-old at the time) faces the decision to stay in Mexico with her family or continue her education in Arizona. Knowing that education was her pathway to get her family out of poverty, she chooses to return alone. While living on someone’s couch for over a year and a half, she is hungry and neglected. It wasn’t until some teachers and guidance counselors at her high school noticed her grades slipping and behavior change that she gets help.

For the first time since coming back to the States without my family, I felt like I had people watching out for me, paying attention, noticing what I had forgotten: that despite convincing myself that I was a young adult, I was still a child who needed sustenance; a child who, like all humans, deserved to have her hunger satiated.

The majority of the book shows Gutierrez’s endless determination to succeed academically and professionally. She admits “through sacrifice, I had made sure that I was [the best]. I stood out, beat systems, and cracked codes. I was an exceptional daughter, and exceptional example of immigrant success.” I could feel her drive and understand how what she did never seemed like “enough.” Her writing hummed with a palpable resentment toward the injustices she faces daily, the systemic racism that denies her family so much, and the unmet expectations she had of what an Ivy League education would gain her. I appreciate her invitation to the reader to glimpse into what is broken and who is left vulnerable.

Through her writing, Gutierrez dives into a lot of detail about her endless study hours, college applications, extracurricular activities, budding political interests, scholarship and internship pursuits, and finally her first job in corporate America. Toward the end of the book, I could feel the exhaustion that she felt.

Admittedly, it was at times difficult to read what seemed like a very long list of goals and achievements. There were moments of self-reflection throughout but, in my opinion, not enough to provide variety in the narrative. The latter half of the book felt hurried. Her storytelling became less careful and included more profanity. As a reader, I started to disengage at this point. There is some redemption at the end when she leaves her job and travels to Mexico for a reunion with her family; however, it left me feeling a bit wanting.

Gutierrez’s memoir is a conversational and candid read. I recommend it for anyone who is interested in stories of immigrant families in general and the experiences of Latino immigrants in the U.S. in particular.

It's hard to review memoirs because I thought her story was very meaningful but she didn't do the best job drawing out meaning in her writing. It felt more like a retelling of what happened than pushing it the step further required in memoir-writing.

MY SIDE OF THE RIVER by Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez offers a unique, although sad at times, perspective on being the child of immigrants. Gutierrez is a talented writer quite capable of evoking emotion. For example, it was difficult to read about the nights her parents worked as janitors at a movie theater and brought her (then a young toddler) and her infant brother to that work so the children could sleep and be safe. She chronicles her adventures through grade school and high school – including the absence of her parents for much of that time due to visa restrictions. While sharing her efforts to help a younger brother, this entire story poignantly highlights taking privilege for granted. MY SIDE OF THE RIVER deserves wide readership and discussion, perhaps even as a one library-one book or one school-one book program. I also hope that efforts will be made to advocate that this title (a painful "mirror" for first generation Americans and an informative "window" for others) be included in high school state reading award programs. The publisher has made a series of discussion questions available. Highly recommended.

This is a memoir by a young girl who was born in the US to undocumented parents from Mexico.

I really looked forward to her story. We spent 15 winters in the Rio Grande Valley in south Texas. We got to meet some of these people. We could see that most of them are very hard workers, we understood their plight. Many of their children were born in the US, making the children citizens. They wanted education for their children, they wanted a better life for their children. They wanted to escape the poverty of Mexico, the threat of danger from gang wars over drugs. Family was of the utmost importance to them. We learned not to ask many questions, but just to listen.

Elizabeth is a very strong and smart girl. We watch her grow into a young lady and through much work and hardship, she gets a scholarship to university. Her dream and her parents' dream.

Elizabeth’s story is compelling. Her story reflects much of what I learned while in Texas but on a more personal level. But, the writing style falls flat. I feel that emotion and passion are missing from the retelling. She writes about the facts. But, it feels distant.

In the early part of the story, Elizabeth is in the fourth grade, which would make her about 9 years old. Her family co-habits a trailer with an aunt and uncle. Her uncle is a violent alcoholic. As a child, she psychoanalyzes him as to why he acts that way. Her analysis of him is probably right but I think she came up with it as an adult, not a 9 year old girl. There are a couple of other examples of this in the book.

A memoir is always from the author's perspective. The author writes the truth as he remembers it. It is not up to the reader to question the writer's memory or perspective.

I'm glad I read the book. Elizabeth is only in her 20s. Perhaps if she had waited a few years to write the story of her life, struggles and success, it could have been written with a bit more feeling.

I'm glad that others have given more glowing reviews. Awareness of the plight of undocumented people needs to be known.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

(𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 @𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘯.𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘥 @𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 #𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘥) 𝗠𝗬 𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥 is a riveting memoir by American born, American citizen Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez. For many years, Elizabeth lived with her parents and much younger brother in Arizona, but when she was only 15, her parents’ visas were not renewed and they were forced back to Mexico. Elizabeth and her brother stayed in the U.S. to continue with school, though soon her brother joined their parents.⁣
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This is Elizabeth’s story of the commitment she and her parents shared for education and her struggle living away from them in order to get that education. It’s the story of how she faced college and eventually became her brother’s guardian, so he too could get the education he was entitled to.⁣
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This very personal account was powerful in that the author didn’t hold back. She made clear how difficult and unfair it felt for her to be denied her parents in order to get the education that was her right. Many times, she questioned if all she had to do was worth it, yet she persevered. This really came across on audio, as Gutierrez narrates and her emotions stand front and center. There are so many young Americans in Gutierrez’s position, and I can’t help but wonder how many have the determination and support to make it as far as she has. This is a memoir that leaves you with much to think about! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A touching memoir about an immigrant family trying to create a life of opportunity and the daughter who carried the weight of their dreams.

The author shares a thoughtful reflection on her experience of growing up in America with an understanding that seems well beyond her years. An honest and engaging read that I think will appeal to many readers - highly recommend.

Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez is driven, but she's also pushed--as the American-born daughter of Mexican immigrants, she had always worked hard to succeed, always known she had to be the best. Her family had always gotten by through hard work and cautious steps. But when her parents' visas were unexpectedly not renewed, she finds herself as a young high school student suddenly caring for her eight-year-old brother and then suddenly coping by herself in the United States. The stakes for her education were always high, but now she not only has to survive on her own but also succeed for the sake of her family's future. This honest memoir is affecting reading for Americans of all ages, and I think would be especially interesting to high school and college students.

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my free earc. My opinions are all my own.

3.5 stars Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read and give my unbiased review of this book. Published Feb 13, 2024

I find it so hard to rate memoirs and autobiographies. I have read many that I really liked, some I didn't care for and others I wondered how they made it through the publishing process, but I find all of them very hard to rate. Reading how one describes their own existence is so subjective.

However, with all that said, I found this story quite interesting and moving. Gutierrez was able to do, at a very young age, what many people are never equipped to tackle. Basically going out on her own, away from family, in a different country, while still in high school was commendable. Most youth going into college could not take on the responsibility that Gutierrez did. Her determination and drive for her education was paramount and she took the reigns and never looked back.

Then to top that off with helping to raise her younger brother, as she struggled at a job she didn't like, meeting the medical bills of her parents, and silently praying for family accompaniment. Her life was not easy, but she was such an asset to her family. She should be so proud of herself.

I enjoyed this memoir. As someone with an immigrant parent in my own life, I felt close to this story. She put into words many of the conflicting emotions immigrant families feel. There were a lot of beautiful metaphors and imagery used throughout the book. The memoir was also a solid blend of sweet memories and serious ones. It was also interesting to hear about her experiences navigating academia as a first generation college student, as that is something I can deeply relate to. Especially a desire to achieve and be resilient. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC opportunity, this memoir resonated with me and I appreciate it!

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

This memoir brought back so many memories for me! Growing up in Tucson, as a daughter of immigrants, I literally felt so much of what this author went through. I remember never fitting in, always feeling the need to prove myself as an "American," never having the nice clothes my "friends" at school had. I vividly remember shopping at a store called Pic 'n' Save for necessities and "slightly imperfect" clothes. I also remember never wanting anyone to know that my Dad took on a second job at Burger King just to make ends meet.

Despite it all, I also knew that my family always had my back, I recognized how much they had given up for a better life for me, and I respected their incredible work ethic. Success in school was of utmost importance for me to attend college and secure a good job.

However, Elizabeth had it so much worse than I did. The rising anti-immigrant sentiment in this country has been at an all-time high during her youth. My experiences in Tucson occurred 2 decades prior to hers, so the stigma back then was much less prevalent. Also, my parents were able to obtain their green cards under an immigration system that seemed to favor Western European immigrants. Eventually, they were naturalized, so we never lived with the fear of them being deported.

Elizabeth's reality was much more indicative of what immigrants go through every single day in this country today. The path to citizenship is much more obscure, making it difficult for families to remain together in the US despite their children having been born in this country. Her story is incredibly important, and one that must be taken into account as immigration reform takes center stage.

Many thanks to partners, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this gifted review copy. And thanks a ton Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez for the insight, the Tucson memories (the Rillito River analogy was 🔥🔥🔥), and the truth.

An interesting memoir about a young woman who had to rear herself after her parents weren’t allowed back in the US.
The author experienced a fraught filled childhood as her parents struggled to pay the bills.
She was left to her own devices after her parents weren’t allowed to return when she was a freshman in high school.
Gutierrez is plucky and resourceful and persevered because she had a Will to succeed.
I had the impression that her brother was left with her, but that didn’t happen until she was out of college.
A timely read.

This memoir is a captivating, emotional, and honest view into the seemingly insurmountable obstacles Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez faced as a first generation Mexican American. Now in her 20s, she was born in the U.S. to Mexican citizens, who chose her place of birth because being an American citizen and obtaining an American education could offer Elizabeth opportunities she would never have otherwise. Yet, Elizabeth never had a stable home, as her family bounced from one temporary living arrangement to another, fought a losing battle against immigration policies, and lived in fear of deportation. At 15, she ultimately was forced to choose between an American education and going back to Mexico with her family. Elizabeth exhibited maturity, resilience, perseverance, and courage at such a young and vulnerable age. I cried as I read her story, of the challenges and heartbreak she endured as an unaccompanied homeless youth, while trying to achieve the American dream. This memoir will stick with me, much like Educated and The Sound of Gravel have.

My Side of the River was just released on Feb. 13. Buy it. Read it. You won’t be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advance digital review copy.

#MySideoftheRiver #StMartinsPress

REVIEW ||

Happy Pub Day to this heart-wrenching memoir, MY SIDE OF THE RIVER by Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez @lizzycancu

She is the US born, eldest daughter of Mexican immigrants who, against incredible odds, stays in the US alone when her parents' visas are not renewed. Stripped of the security of a family, she finds strength and determination to continue excelling in school, graduating with honors and gaining admittance to a prestigious university.

Effectively homeless, and only 15 years old, my heart cried when reading about all the difficulties she faced initially. As if being a woman of color in the US isn't hard enough, she had the added burden of her family's expectations, the pressure of pulling her little brother up, and on some days, just getting food in her stomach. I think the author does a great job of showing the reader the effect of current immigration laws and generational trauma. So many feelings come up, as a first gen eldest daughter myself but also as a parent of a 15 year old - anger, sadness, frustration. impotence.

Highly recommend. This would make an excellent book club read.

Thank you @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

#mysideoftheriver #elizabethcamarillogutierrez
#immigrantstories #firstgen #generationaltrauma #bipocstories #wocstories #netgalley #stmartinspress #minotaurbooks

One thing I love about books is when they give you a window into somebody else's perspective and world. This one definitely did that.

Elizabeth was born in America to hard-working parents who had crossed the border to the U.S. from Mexico to give her a better life. When she was 15, her parent's visa expired, and they were unable to stay in the United States. Confronted with being on her own and continuing an education here or going back to Mexico, where she was unfamiliar with writing the language and the culture, she chose to stay as an unaccompanied minor in the United States.

Her struggle was long and hard, but she persevered not only for herself, but also for her younger brother. She wanted him to also have a chance in America.

I gave this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Her story is so real and sheds light on the complexity of immigration issues. It was very thought-provoking and made me think about immigration not only from a political perspective, but also from the perspective of people living through it. When we put faces to political problems, it changes the way we think about them. I think it was courageous of Elizabeth to tell her story.

Thank you to @netgalley, @stmartinspress, @macmillan.audio and @librofm for an advanced copy and audio of this.

We here in America hear a lot about immigration and imigrants coming from Mexico. The sides couldn't be more polar opposite. What neither side does well is show each life is a life and that most people that come to our country want to work hard and make their families life better. Elizabeth Camarilli Gutierrez gives us a memoir about her growing up as an immigrant in America. You see her struggles of being seperated from her family, poverty struggles, danger and finally a story that will give you hope when she peserveres and gets into an Ivy League college and makes her parents proud. Most parents want what's best for their kids. We who live in this country take it for granted that we have the privilege to work hard and often times are rewared for our hard work. Immigrants want the same. In essence all Americans were one time immigrants. I think this is the perfect book for this country to read to understand one person who refelcts a lot of people in the immigrant population. You have no idea what the person on the train, sitting in a restaurant, working at one etc. got to be where they are. This is a great book club pick because you ould literally discuss it for hours. So many talking points. It should be read far and wide and a perfect book for high school kids to red and learn. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the read.

A beautiful memoir by a very brave young left on her own to survive in America when her parents are deported back to Mexico.An eye opening look at the life of a very young unaccompanied minor in. America.The author studies accomplishes so much and is accepted to an Ivy League university.Highly recommend.an important read.#netgalley #st.Martins