photo by K. Reyes 2/2021
Bibliographic information
- Title: Don't Ask Me Where I'm From
- Author: Jennifer De Leon
- ISBN: 978-1-5344-3824-8
- Publisher: Atheneum, an imprint of Simon & Schuster's Children's Publishing Division
- Copyright Date: 2020
Genre / Format of the Title: Realistic fiction [book/ebook/audiobook]
Reading Level/Interest Level:
Lexile level: 590L; grade level: 7-12; age range: 14-18 (Lexile.com, 2020)
- Subjects: family trauma, socio-economic issues, immigration, racism, classism, education inequity, coming of age, pride in one's heritage
Reading Level/Interest Level:
Lexile level: 590L; grade level: 7-12; age range: 14-18 (Lexile.com, 2020)
Plot Summary:
Liliana Cruz is a typical teenage kid who gets the chance, through a lottery system, to attend an elite suburban school that’s predominantly white. Here she discovers a different academic and socioeconomic environment. Here she is one of a handful of non-white students most of whom were part of the METCO students who get bussed to Westburg High School. Liliana finds that she must navigate two separate worlds, which she does not want to ever intersect. She ends up with her first boyfriend, does well in her new school despite a rocky start, and makes friends. But at home she must help her get her mother out of her depressed state as her father has been missing for several months and she and her brothers are left to fend for themselves. When racial tensions erupt in her new school, she must face the reality of her own family’s existence in this country as her identities and her two worlds collide.
Author Background:
Jennifer De Leon is a first generation Latinx writer, university professor and former public school teacher. Her parents are from Guatemala and their immigrant experience is reflected in her writing. Besides this YA novel, Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From, she has also written a collection of essays which will be published in the spring entitled: White Space: Essays on Culture, Race & Writing. She also edited the book Wise Latinas Writers on Higher Education which is a collection of essays written by Latinx people on their experiences in higher education (De Leon, J. n.d.).
Critical Evaluation:
This book will speak strongly to students of immigrant families, especially those who are first generation, first ones to attend college, possibly even first ones to graduate from high school. The experiences Liliana faces when she attends her new “elite” school is a reinvention of self that many first generation students face. They change their names, “Americanize” it by removing any scent and sound of “ethnic” in their names. Often they are the translators for their parents and the bridge between family and their school.
The title of this book is taken from a 6-word memoir writing prompt that was popular several years ago and said to have been inspired by Hemingway. I recall assigning this to my students and having fun with the weight that each word carried and teaching the value of paucity in word but power in meaning. De Leon, who is a writing teacher, was likely inspired by this. The students also congregate in a space called 826 which most young readers may not know is an actual place and organization (826valencia.org, 2021). This book seems autobiographical as the protagonist loves to write (and becomes a very good writer in the end), is a child of immigrant parents from Latin America (in this case, the Dad is from Guatemala like the author’s parents, and the mom from El Salvador), and located in Boston where the author lives.
I read this in full in its hardcover version. The story is very realistic, the dialogue flows quite well in print, however, I decided to also pick up the audio version and listening to this book is even better for appreciating the cadence of a teenager’s speech. When I read “Whaaat?” in print, it differed from what I heard and it changed the interpretation of the scene in sometimes not so subtle ways. "Whaaat?" was something Liliana would say at the end of several of her thoughts and I interpreted it as adversarial and belligerent when I read it. But when I heard it, I realized it was more confused and puzzled. This tone did not register with me while I was reading the book, but the audiobook narrator really captured the personality and voice of the protagonist. However, be forewarned that the mispronunciation of “pho,” the Vietnamese dish, may annoy the listener who cares. It’s her mom’s favorite dish so it was mentioned quite a few times. And no, it is not pronounced “foe.”
Creative Use for a Library Program:
This is going to be added to my collection of books that will be recommended for history class discussion on immigration. Also, inspired by the wall that is built in the book, I plan to have a wall of kind words and inspiration or maybe something thematic depending on the month that I decide to build this wall.
Speed-Round Book Talk or Short Book Trailer:
What would you do if someone decided to create a meme of you that’s racist and seriously disturbing? Will you let that slide? Do you think doing something about this will actually work? What if you find out that your dad disappeared yet again? Would you just let that go and move on? Find out what Liliana and her friends do in this book, Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From, by Jennifer De Leon. And don’t ask me what else it’s about because this is a fast read and you’ll find out soon enough when you borrow this.
Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation:
This is a new book so no historical challenges yet. But I can see someone argue that this book condones illegal immigration and that it’s too immigrant-centric. I can also see the xenophobes cheer for the school assembly that goes awry courtesy of the racist taunts hurled at the presenters. But I would argue that this book looks at both sides of the issue of immigration and doesn’t actually resolve anything. It brings up the tough issues of racism and bullying and does not offer a solution but rather leaves it up to the reader to decide and make the judgement.
Reason for Inclusion:
I picked up this book because of the title. I wanted to see where the author would take this story. Yes, I have been asked that question so many times that when I was annoyed, I would reply with snark. “No, really, where are you from, from?” they’d ask again. “Oh, you don’t believe I’m from California? Oh, you want to know where I was born? Where my parents were born?” How far back do we have to go here? And, can I ask you this same question? While most people mean well, and it’s mostly older people (the 65+) who still ask me this, it is exasperating to never be American enough because one isn’t part of the dominant culture.
Liliana Cruz is a typical teenage kid who gets the chance, through a lottery system, to attend an elite suburban school that’s predominantly white. Here she discovers a different academic and socioeconomic environment. Here she is one of a handful of non-white students most of whom were part of the METCO students who get bussed to Westburg High School. Liliana finds that she must navigate two separate worlds, which she does not want to ever intersect. She ends up with her first boyfriend, does well in her new school despite a rocky start, and makes friends. But at home she must help her get her mother out of her depressed state as her father has been missing for several months and she and her brothers are left to fend for themselves. When racial tensions erupt in her new school, she must face the reality of her own family’s existence in this country as her identities and her two worlds collide.
Author Background:
Jennifer De Leon is a first generation Latinx writer, university professor and former public school teacher. Her parents are from Guatemala and their immigrant experience is reflected in her writing. Besides this YA novel, Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From, she has also written a collection of essays which will be published in the spring entitled: White Space: Essays on Culture, Race & Writing. She also edited the book Wise Latinas Writers on Higher Education which is a collection of essays written by Latinx people on their experiences in higher education (De Leon, J. n.d.).
Critical Evaluation:
This book will speak strongly to students of immigrant families, especially those who are first generation, first ones to attend college, possibly even first ones to graduate from high school. The experiences Liliana faces when she attends her new “elite” school is a reinvention of self that many first generation students face. They change their names, “Americanize” it by removing any scent and sound of “ethnic” in their names. Often they are the translators for their parents and the bridge between family and their school.
The title of this book is taken from a 6-word memoir writing prompt that was popular several years ago and said to have been inspired by Hemingway. I recall assigning this to my students and having fun with the weight that each word carried and teaching the value of paucity in word but power in meaning. De Leon, who is a writing teacher, was likely inspired by this. The students also congregate in a space called 826 which most young readers may not know is an actual place and organization (826valencia.org, 2021). This book seems autobiographical as the protagonist loves to write (and becomes a very good writer in the end), is a child of immigrant parents from Latin America (in this case, the Dad is from Guatemala like the author’s parents, and the mom from El Salvador), and located in Boston where the author lives.
I read this in full in its hardcover version. The story is very realistic, the dialogue flows quite well in print, however, I decided to also pick up the audio version and listening to this book is even better for appreciating the cadence of a teenager’s speech. When I read “Whaaat?” in print, it differed from what I heard and it changed the interpretation of the scene in sometimes not so subtle ways. "Whaaat?" was something Liliana would say at the end of several of her thoughts and I interpreted it as adversarial and belligerent when I read it. But when I heard it, I realized it was more confused and puzzled. This tone did not register with me while I was reading the book, but the audiobook narrator really captured the personality and voice of the protagonist. However, be forewarned that the mispronunciation of “pho,” the Vietnamese dish, may annoy the listener who cares. It’s her mom’s favorite dish so it was mentioned quite a few times. And no, it is not pronounced “foe.”
Creative Use for a Library Program:
This is going to be added to my collection of books that will be recommended for history class discussion on immigration. Also, inspired by the wall that is built in the book, I plan to have a wall of kind words and inspiration or maybe something thematic depending on the month that I decide to build this wall.
Speed-Round Book Talk or Short Book Trailer:
What would you do if someone decided to create a meme of you that’s racist and seriously disturbing? Will you let that slide? Do you think doing something about this will actually work? What if you find out that your dad disappeared yet again? Would you just let that go and move on? Find out what Liliana and her friends do in this book, Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From, by Jennifer De Leon. And don’t ask me what else it’s about because this is a fast read and you’ll find out soon enough when you borrow this.
Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation:
This is a new book so no historical challenges yet. But I can see someone argue that this book condones illegal immigration and that it’s too immigrant-centric. I can also see the xenophobes cheer for the school assembly that goes awry courtesy of the racist taunts hurled at the presenters. But I would argue that this book looks at both sides of the issue of immigration and doesn’t actually resolve anything. It brings up the tough issues of racism and bullying and does not offer a solution but rather leaves it up to the reader to decide and make the judgement.
Reason for Inclusion:
I picked up this book because of the title. I wanted to see where the author would take this story. Yes, I have been asked that question so many times that when I was annoyed, I would reply with snark. “No, really, where are you from, from?” they’d ask again. “Oh, you don’t believe I’m from California? Oh, you want to know where I was born? Where my parents were born?” How far back do we have to go here? And, can I ask you this same question? While most people mean well, and it’s mostly older people (the 65+) who still ask me this, it is exasperating to never be American enough because one isn’t part of the dominant culture.
Check out 826 Valencia -- this is the actual program mentioned in the novel REFERENCES
826valencia.org. (2021). Welcome 826 Valencia. 826 Valencia. https://826valencia.org/history/.
De Leon, J. (n.d). [web log]. https://jenniferdeleonauthor.com/about/
Lexile.com. (2020, September 18). Find books at the right level. Lexile Framework for Reading. https://hub.lexile.com/find-a-book/book-details/9781534438248
De Leon, J. (n.d). [web log]. https://jenniferdeleonauthor.com/about/
Lexile.com. (2020, September 18). Find books at the right level. Lexile Framework for Reading. https://hub.lexile.com/find-a-book/book-details/9781534438248
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