Immigration to the US has been sought out for many years. This country once prided itself as a melting pot that embraced those who wanted to emigrate here for the opportunity to escape violence, poverty, secure work or educational opportunities or mostly freedom to live a life that is safe and good for their family. Sadly, with that optimism many have faced discrimination depending on their choice of pursuance, legally or illegally.

As people are entitled to and have the right to their opinion, it’s also important to see and hear the voices of the people who get silenced by stereotypes or the actions of some that affect the perception of the group as a whole. My Side of the River is a beautiful memoir that represents an experience of a woman of immigrant parents, including their deportation back to Mexico and the sacrifice, determination and perseverance of trying to live the American dream.

Based on the life experience of Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez, she was born in the US from immigrant parents. Her parents wanted her to have a better opportunity than they had and made the sacrifice to come to the US to plant the seed for her to blossom. Knowing the risks but determined, her parents came here and worked hard to be able to have a life that every immigrant dreams of. Sadly, beginning the most important journey of a young person’s life, her parents got deported and it changed the physical trajectory of their family but never the love and hope that they planted to keep going.

Since she was a US citizen, she was left to take care of herself and brother. Going to Mexico was not an option. Her parents wanted her to be somebody and her determination defied any obstacles that she met succeeding past expectations and societal perceptions. Her journey was tough, met with setbacks but she pushed back and fought so that her sacrifices nor her parents were in vain.

For people out there who have strong opinions about immigration that involve those who are illegal, I know it’s hard because our headline news only focuses on the people who have committed crimes. You never hear the perspective and experiences such as hers that have parents who love and will do anything for their children to be able to be somebody and have an opportunity to have a good life. The love of a family, the weight of the world on the shoulders of the children who have illegal parents, the pain of being separated all with the inspired fight for the American dream make this an inspired read that will hopefully open and capture your heart.

Buy on Amazon Kindle | Audible | Hardcover | Bookshop.org