2023-06-15
For Campoverdi, a women’s health care advocate and policy adviser, breaking a multigenerational cycle of poverty, domestic abuse, and limited education was “a radical act of healing.” In this memoir, she aims to correct the “sugar-coated, stereotypical narrative about social mobility and the American Dream.” After years of therapy for trauma-induced anxiety, panic attacks, and suicidal thoughts, the author has learned to recognize symptoms and syndromes that she could not identify when she was growing up. Campoverdi maps out some of the emotional relationships in her family, especially the experiences of the women. “Three generations of women in my family had primarily been single mothers,” she writes. “Three generations of women in my family struggled to make ends meet….Three generations of women in my family had been in emotionally tumultuous relationships with chaotic men.” When she was younger, the author was drawn to rough, charismatic gang members, and she also bore significant emotional burdens for other family members, becoming “Parentified”—i.e., “enlisted into the role of family caretaker.” However, “acknowledging my own experience as a Parentified Child was never about pointing fingers or assigning blame,” she writes. “Parentification is rarely done with malicious intent, and in my case, I truly believe that everyone was doing the best they could with what they knew and had.” Campoverdi was a high achiever, and she earned degrees at USC and Harvard’s Kennedy School. Despite enormous debt, she was sure that her big-name education was “the single most powerful professional ‘validator’ I could earn.” Ultimately, the “breakaway guilt” of succeeding where her family did not humbled her, and she went on to great success in politics, health care activism, and documentary production. In this psychologically astute work, the author calls out her difficult childhood experiences in order to demonstrate how to overcome stigma and trauma.
An inspiring story and an invaluable resource for first-generation immigrant children striving for success in America.
"An invaluable resource for first-generation immigrant children striving for success in America."—Kirkus Shelf Awareness Booklist FIRST GEN is a gift to all of us—the children of immigrants who have longed to read a story like ours in books. With vulnerability and transparency, Campoverdi gives us special access to so many setbacks, triumphs, and hard-won lessons as a First and Only. Every Latina hoping to end cycles of generational trauma must read this immediately.” —Erika L. Sanchez, New York Times bestselling author of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter Junot Diaz, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of New York Times bestsellers The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao and This is How You Lose Her Jose Antonio Vargas, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of national bestseller Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen First Gen has made me feel seen and less alone." —Javier Zamora, New York Times bestselling author of Solito First Gen reveals the very real human and emotional costs to living the "American Dream." Alejandra Campoverdi shines a guiding light for fellow "First and Onlys" who struggle to overcome systemic barriers while detangling generational trauma. No discussion of America's supposed meritocracy is complete without consideration of this powerful book." —Qian Julie Wang, New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Country: A Memoir of An Undocumented Childhood Norma Kamali, Fashion Icon and Designer Mellody Hobson, Co-CEO and President of Ariel Investments Jorge Ramos, Emmy award-winning Senior Anchor of Univision News and bestselling author of The Latino Wave Valerie Jarrett, former Senior Adviser to President Barack Obama and New York Times bestselling author of Finding My Voice Monica Ramirez, Activist and Founder of Justice for Migrant Women FIRST GEN —from the conflict of achieving the impossible as a ‘first’ in your family while constantly being pulled back into the drama of dysfunction, to the paradox of having magical breakthroughs on the worst days of your life. Every young person should read this book to understand how to fulfill their dreams while cleaning up generational baggage, to ultimately heal and finally find their true selves.”—Nely Galan, New York Times Bestselling Author of Self Made, Becoming Empowered, Self - Reliant and Rich in Every Way Cecilia Munoz, former Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council and author of More Than Ready
Alejandra Campoverdi, with piercing insight and unflinching candor, has written a book for our times––capturing the American dream as experienced by immigrants and their children who are remaking America. Her story may be one-of-a-kind, but the lessons she learned and imparts are universal.
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of na Jose Antonio Vargas
So much resonates in FIRST GEN —from the conflict of achieving the impossible as a ‘first’ in your family while constantly being pulled back into the drama of dysfunction, to the paradox of having magical breakthroughs on the worst days of your life. Every young person should read this book to understand how to fulfill their dreams while cleaning up generational baggage, to ultimately heal and finally find their true selves.
FIRST GEN captures the emotional and physical agility required to break generational glass ceilings. Alejandra’s captivating memoir reminds us to be bold and brave on race relations be it in the boardroom or the Oval Office.
Co-CEO and President of Ariel Investments Mellody Hobson
FIRST GEN is a luminous achievement, one of the most moving debuts in memory… Campoverdi transforms the furies, hypocrisies and disappointments of the American dream into a survivor’s song of surpassing poignancy… this is literary love medicine, a book you will not soon forget.
Pulitzer Prize-winning author of New York Times be Junot Diaz
FIRST GEN lays out the challenges and contradictions of being a 'first and only
former Director of the White House Domestic Policy may others walking a similar path find hope and inspiration in her story." —Cecilia Muno
Alejandra is the definitive voice for first generation young people who maintain their heritage while achieving their ambitions.
Fashion Icon and Designer Norma Kamali
A profoundly moving story of how one woman grew to appreciate that the painful challenges and self doubt inherent in being the first and only, were also the source of her extraordinary superpowers. First Gen will inspire countless readers to follow in the path she blazed.
former Senior Adviser to President Barack Obama an Valerie Jarrett
This is a beautiful and powerful book. But, more than anything, it is a truthful one. Campoverdi's life is, in a way, a reflection of everybody's dream in America. She could have told us about all she has achieved—and then suggest that, if she did it, you can too. Instead, courageously, she tells us how difficult it was: that there is a price to be paid when you are the 'First and Only'.
Emmy award-winning Senior Anchor of Univision News Jorge Ramos
I felt like I found home when I read Alejandra Campoverdi's book. First Gen was written for the person who is looking for connection, understanding and inspiration. I laughed, I cried and I felt understood. Being a "First and Only" can often be isolating but reading this book affirmed that we are not alone on this journey. Let this book be a calling to all of us who have been the one and only in the room, at the table, in the class and at the podium to come together to form the community that we are often missing but so badly need.
Activist and Founder of Justice for Migrant Women Monica Ramirez
