In the Country We Love: My Family Divided

Diane Guerrero · Michelle Burford

May 2016 · Sold by Henry Holt and Company

About this ebook

The star of Orange is the New Black and Jane the Virgin presents her personal story of the real plight of undocumented immigrants in this country

Diane Guerrero, the television actress from the megahit Orange is the New Black and Jane the Virgin, was just fourteen years old on the day her parents were detained and deported while she was at school. Born in the U.S., Guerrero was able to remain in the country and continue her education, depending on the kindness of family friends who took her in and helped her build a life and a successful acting career for herself, without the support system of her family.

In the Country We Love is a moving, heartbreaking story of one woman's extraordinary resilience in the face of the nightmarish struggles of undocumented residents in this country. There are over 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the US, many of whom have citizen children, whose lives here are just as precarious, and whose stories haven't been told. Written with bestselling author Michelle Burford, this memoir is a tale of personal triumph that also casts a much-needed light on the fears that haunt the daily existence of families likes the author's and on a system that fails them over and over.

Ratings and reviews

As an immigrant this book should mean more to me. However I must say I truly connected with Diane during her college and post college depression years. In different ways I've lost everything and I know what it's like to want to just give up. I'm glad to see someone who's just 2 years older survive such pain and made it out alive.. I have hope...

I loved this book and am truly happy I decided to read it. I cried,laugh,was a little upset to read how she cut her self, but I enjoyed it all. I felt as though I was right there next to her feeling every emotion she did when she experienced her parents being taken away. This book has been a n eye opener to what I truly have always wanted to do as a career. Helping undocumented families, helping others as she does to this day. I would absolutely recommend this book.

Excellent book. It's so devasting to read Diane's story and truly see how broken our immigration system is. Thank you, for illuminating the truth, Diane, and for inspiring me to be a voice for reform.

About the author

Diane Guerrero is an actress on the hit shows Orange is the New Black and Jane the Virgin. She volunteers with the nonprofit Immigrant Legal Resource Center, as well as with Mi Familia Vota, an organization that promotes civic involvement. She has been named an Ambassador for Citizenship and Naturalization by the White House. She lives in New York City.

Michelle Burford is a founding editor of O, The Oprah Magazine and writer of many best-selling books including memoirs by Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas, singer Toni Braxton, and Cleveland kidnap survivor Michelle Knight.