Someone Like Me: How One Undocumented Girl Fought for Her American Dream

by Julissa Arce

Overview

A remarkable true story from social justice advocate and national bestselling author Julissa Arce about her journey to belong in America while growing up undocumented in Texas.

Born in the picturesque town of Taxco, Mexico, Julissa Arce was left behind for months at a time with her two sisters, a nanny, and her grandma while her parents worked tirelessly in America in hopes of building a home and providing a better life for their children. That is, until her parents brought Julissa to Texas to live with them. From then on, Julissa secretly lived as an undocumented immigrant, went on to become a scholarship winner and an honors college graduate, and climbed the ladder to become a vice president at Goldman Sachs.

This moving, at times heartbreaking, but always inspiring story will show young readers that anything is possible. Julissa's story provides a deep look into the little-understood world of a new generation of undocumented immigrants in the United States today—kids who live next door, sit next to you in class, or may even be one of your best friends.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316481748
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	09/18/2018
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	1,007,746
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 7.70(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	10 - 18 Years

About the Author

Julissa Arce is a CNBC and Crooked media contributor, writer, speaker, and social justice advocate. She is the cofounder and chairman of the Ascend Educational Fund, a college scholarship and mentorship program that assists immigrant students, regardless of their immigration status, ethnicity, or national origin. Julissa is also a board member for the National Immigration Law Center and for College Spring. Prior to becoming an advocate, she built a successful career on Wall Street, working at Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch.

Editorial Reviews

2018-09-30

Arce, whose My (Underground) American Dream (2017) recounted for adults her story of hope and hard work in the face of obstacles, turns to a younger audience in an adaptation for young readers.

When Julissa was born in Taxco, Mexico, she was a miracle baby for her parents, many years younger than her older sisters. Her entrepreneurial and ambitious parents wanted the best life for their girls, so they sent them to the best private school in the area. In order to pay for tuition, Julissa's parents were frequently absent as they pursued their business ventures. Eventually her parents stayed in the United States to work almost full-time, and their absence was most keenly felt. When Julissa started getting in trouble back in Taxco, her parents sent for her to come live with them in San Antonio, Texas, arriving on a tourist visa. Though technically not allowed, she started school without a social security number, but when her tourist visa expired she became undocumented and lived in fear of deportation and removal from her family. Julissa recalls facing racism and abuse but also making true lifelong friends along the way. In her first-person account, Julissa and her family are presented compassionately but with acknowledgement of their many flaws. Above all it is evident how highly valued hard work and education are to the Arce family, values that push Julissa toward success despite her circumstances.

An honest and heartfelt story of survival. (Memoir. 8-14)

Kirkus Reviews

"One doesn't often think that a harrowing immigration story will end with an undocumented girl becoming a vice president at a U.S. multinational investment bank. And yet, Arce's story paints a picture of an ambitious child willing to do anything to live the American Dream, even in a country that may not initially want her."—The Los Angeles Times

"Someone Like Me is a brave and important story that shows the beautiful resilience of immigrants forging a home in an unfamiliar land. Julissa's honest, assertive voice is both refreshing and inspirational, a gift for young women of color everywhere. This book should be required reading."—Erika L. Sánchez, New York Times Bestselling Author of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

"Brilliant! In a captivating fashion Julissa shows us that when we believe in something with all our heart and prepare for success, opportunity will find us."—Diane Guerrero, actor and author of In the Country We Love: My Family Divided

"Someone Like Me is a beautiful tale of love, perseverance, and survival. Arce gives readers a poignant and heart-wrenching window into the pain and anxiety endured by immigrant families separated by the border in a time when we desperately need it. She's an inspiration to all Americans."—Sara Saedi, author of Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card

"As a young girl desperate for inspiration, I wish this book had existed when my dreams felt beyond my reach. Young people are lucky they can read Julissa's story and know without a doubt that the impossible is possible."—Reyna Grande, Nationally bestselling author of The Distance Between Us

* "Like today's "DREAMers," Julissa makes her appreciation of her heritage clear, along with her gratitude for all of the advantages in the U.S. Offering young people a clear autobiographical viewpoint of a controversial issue, this is a must for all collections."—Booklist, starred review

"An honest and heartfelt story of survival."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

In this YA memoir, Julissa Arce tells the story of her childhood in Mexico and her teen years as an undocumented immigrant in the U.S. Her heartfelt delivery makes the audiobook sound like a friend revealing her hidden tragic past. Before she became a vice president at Goldman Sachs, she was the youngest daughter in a family that prized education. Her parents worked tirelessly at selling silver at trade shows while she stayed with nannies in Mexico. In middle school, she joined her parents in Texas, but after her tourist visa expired, she lived in fear of discovery. Despite enduring abuse and trauma, she earned stellar grades and SAT scores, only to find more barriers to the American dream. Arce shows that immigrant teens deserve more opportunities. S.T.C. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

FEBRUARY 2022 - AudioFile

In this YA memoir, Julissa Arce tells the story of her childhood in Mexico and her teen years as an undocumented immigrant in the U.S. Her heartfelt delivery makes the audiobook sound like a friend revealing her hidden tragic past. Before she became a vice president at Goldman Sachs, she was the youngest daughter in a family that prized education. Her parents worked tirelessly at selling silver at trade shows while she stayed with nannies in Mexico. In middle school, she joined her parents in Texas, but after her tourist visa expired, she lived in fear of discovery. Despite enduring abuse and trauma, she earned stellar grades and SAT scores, only to find more barriers to the American dream. Arce shows that immigrant teens deserve more opportunities. S.T.C. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

FEBRUARY 2022 - AudioFile