We Heard It When We Were Young

by Chuy Renteria

Most agree that West Liberty is a special place. The first majority Hispanic town in Iowa, it has been covered by media giants such as Reuters, Telemundo, NBC, and ESPN. But Chuy Renteria and his friends grew up in the space between these news stories, where a more complicated West Liberty awaits. We Heard It When We Were Young tells the story of a young boy, first-generation Mexican American, who is torn between between immigrant parents trying to acclimate to midwestern life and a town that is, by turns, supportive and disturbingly antagonistic.Renteria looks past the public celebrations of diversity to dive into the private tensions of a community reflecting the changing American landscape. There are culture clashes, breakdancing battles, fistfights, quinceañeras, vandalism, adventures on bicycles, and souped-up lowriders, all set to an early 2000s soundtrack. Renteria and his friends struggle to find their identities and reckon with intergenerational trauma and racism in a town trying to do the same. A humorous and poignant reflection on coming of age, We Heard It When We Were Young puts its finger on a particular cultural moment at the turn of the millennium. 

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Book Club, Social Issues

214 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2021

Reviews

[Cyrus Colah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really nice read. Especially if you have any connections to the areas discussed. The book details recent events and uses real names; as the author mentions, not all of these stories were “his” alone to tell; I wonder how it has been received in West Liberty.

[cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book about growing up Mexican in West Liberty, IA was written by a b-boy/break dancer (though that term is shunned by the folks who compete), writer, engagement coordinator at our local arts center whose choice to share their growing up life is enriching all of us. Chuy Renteria's book was high on my to-read list and I am so glad that the library had a copy! The book is his own childhood stories and those of his primarily Mexican and Laotian friends in this small Hispanic-majority Iowa town. His writing is straight from the heart and at times that made it hard to follow because the chronology was all over the place, but the occasional confusion was well worth the story he shared. In the final pages of the book, he shares that, "The whole process of telling these stories has been an unburdening, . I want to tell the truth of our childhood. It was like walking a tightrope. Lots of bad things happened to us. We did lots of bad things to other people. Shit, we did lots of bad things to ourselves. There are two questions I ruminate on in my passing age. One is whether I had a "good" childhood. Which is such a complicated question for anyone, but for us growing up in West Lib(erty), it's all compounded. We had a unique, celebratory, maddening, surreal, horrific childhood- often all at once."

[Maddy Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

During my time working at the University of Iowa I have had the opportunity to learn from Chuy and meet many others from West Liberty. This story is an incredibly raw and passionate example of what I’ve learned about this town and the experiences of those growing up Mexican in a predominantly White state. I would highly recommend this book!!

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a raw coming of age story that will stay with me for a very long time. Living through adolescence is always a challenge and I appreciate this book’s true honesty of living through these defining years in a Mexican American community. I will highly recommend this powerful book.

[Jairo Munoz · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you really believe that other humans are as valuable as you are, this is a very hard book to read.
I read the first 6 pages and could not go any further. I could not comprehend how the nice people of Iowa could be so cruel, so mean, so hypocritical claiming that they welcome immigrants with open arms but acting so callously with young, innocent Mexican American children.
After letting my feelings cool down for a few weeks and realizing that discrimination is not just a white Iowan behavior, but a human nature of rejecting the unknown threats of other groups and cultures, I was able to pick up the book and read it through. I am glad I did. And I am glad I read it during the so-called Hispanic Heritage Month of 2023. A month during which the American people “allegedly” celebrate my Hispanic culture (what does that mean, anyway?).
And I say I’m glad about the timing of my reading because it made me realize what a different universe, just 20 miles away from me, the author grew up in. A universe where being poor and immigrant meant you did not belong outside of your little town. A universe that I had visited and admired for the "Hispanidad" of the town.
Renteria's universe was not the one that I encountered as a Hispanic immigrant. I was privileged. I was “educated” and had graduated as an engineer. In the first decade of this century, I went four or five times to West Liberty schools to give presentations on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) to motivate students to get interested in technical careers and to show them that Hispanics can get ahead. Were the author and his friends in one of my presentations? I do not know. But what I know is that they were influenced (and traumatized) by an entirely different set of forces. The social and discriminatory forces that permeate our society to keep the poor and the “you-don’t-look-like-me” immigrants in their place, away from the opportunities to advance.
Thank you, Chuy Renteria, for your courage to tell your story. The story of your town. The struggles and the demons that torment(ed) you. And congratulations for overcoming the roadblocks that the white establishment has put in front of you. You are an example of how successful we all can be. SIEMPRE ADELANTE!

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was odd and exciting to hear of “home” in a book. Pride and also a little embarrassment. Especially from a different perspective. More so when you know the people involved.
I sped through this book, audio book actually. I had bought the physical book and never got around to reading it but listening made it even better.

Really proud of this work.

[Deanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Renteria talks about his childhood marked by quiet violences. The style is conversational with lots of sentence fragments. Renteria's book ends with him entering young adulthood, coming to terms with his past, and finding a healthier path. I was glad to learn he teaches dance at the University of Iowa today.

[Kamryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is, quite likely, the most honest and well-rounded portrait of life in small-town Iowa I’ve ever read. I’m stunned at the maturity and careful thought that Rentería put into this memoir, and I wish everyone would read this for perspective.

[Kylie Gunti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this for work and it was interesting! I’m not an autobiography girly, but I did enjoy reading Chuy’s story and his experiences of growing up Mexican American in small town Iowa

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is stunning. Renteria's writing is mesmerizing. He gives a balanced view--some good, some bad. The effects others have had on him, from friends to adults, and the good and bad decisions he made himself. I knew nothing about b-boys and break dancing but his descriptions create a need to explore. The title, I believe, points to the experience that most of us have had--an adult tells us something about ourselves when we are children that stays with us forever. I was told I wasn't a good singer by someone whose opinions I don't even respect. To this day I have never sung in front of anyone. Now imagine that what you were told is racial or cultural slur--something that affects every aspect of your life. Read this book!

[Sergio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Books like this are hard to find. Latinos make up 18.7% of the U.S. population, but we remain grossly underrepresented in popular culture. Our story is rarely told, & when it is told, it's often misrepresented. That's not the case with this book. It's a glimpse into what it's like to grow up in a small Midwestern town from a uniquely Latino American perspective.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, chilling, wrenching. So honest and so very hard to read, a town only a few miles away from where I live, the author of the same age, growing up at the same time, as my children. His experiences of Spanish language and Mexican American culture are vastly different from their experiences of Spanish language and Colombian American culture.

There is also a profound study of US American life to be found in those differences. Would it be one of race and racism, though? Those are much the centerpiece of his experience and of his story. Just as powerful and maybe more insidious, because there is less available vision and vocabulary for it (although there are comments here and there) is the difference that social class makes in identity, relationships, and how people perceive and treat one another. US Americans, with their acute sensitivity to race, often lose sight of the violence done by class. But this is memoir, not sociology, and it is unforgettably and exquisitely rendered.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5. It was a little slow in the beginning but picked up in the second half. I did my student teaching and 3 months of long term subbing in West Liberty, so I feel a small personal connection to it. I really enjoyed hearing about the life of someone who grew up in WL. I enjoyed his introspection and reflection. It was told in a way that brought it all back to the town and was very honest of its telling. At times the writing felt a little simple, but not in a bad way.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author himself talks about the how hyper-local the culture of a place is - it's not just found in a country or a region - but among a particular group of people in a particular town. He paints a vivid picture of West Liberty culture that fills in the gaps in knowledge and stereotypical assumptions fed to me by my own small Iowa town not far away. I was filled with pride to recognize elements of small town Iowa life in his descriptions while simultaneously feeling deep empathy for the characters and shame at recognition of comments West Liberty athletes faced from opposing teams. The swell of emotion I had throughout the entire book is the basis of the five star rating.

That said, the B-Boy chapter, while understandably relevant to Chuy's story, lost me a bit in the lengthy descriptions of breakdancing moves, music, and battles, though it is admittedly not my world and was necessary for my understanding. Had I not had personal recognition of the town and been so engrossed in the story and characters, the incomplete sentences (understandably a stylistic choice) might have bothered me a bit more. In the last chapter I worried initially that too many new themes (Family struggles, an eating disorder, and drinking) were being raised in a relatively short section, but ultimately I think he concluded the chapter and book well in discussing the complexities of the characters being both victims and perpetrators of the trauma they collectively experienced.

I was able to meet Chuy at a discussion of this book as part of the Community Foundation's Nonprofit Book Club, and found him thoughtful, approachable, honest and receptive to our questions. He's an asset to our Eastern Iowa community, and I think his insight is incredibly valuable to nonprofit professionals serving multicultural communities. I certainly would love to see all staff at the former refugee resettlement agency I worked for read this book, as many refugee clients find their first jobs in West Liberty.

I checked this book out from the library but might consider purchasing it to have permanently on my shelves and to loan out to family and friends, as this is a must-read for anyone in Eastern Iowa.

[Kurami Rocket · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's always hard to rate an autobiography and a book where a person shares there personal experiences and literal life experiences. However, this book was a bit hard to read, not because it's poorly written or anything like that, quite the contrary, but because the personal stories are quite depressing and even feels bleak at times. It's just the sad reality of life and the complex and real struggles people deal with as well as long time lingering trauma and trying to heal from everything they experienced throughout their life.

This book definitely highlighted the real racism and prejudices people like Chuy and myself face as those of us of Mexican descent.

But again, the low rating is because of how hard a read it is as it is afterall, someone's personal real life experiences and the very real painful struggles. You probably have to have a strong mind and heart to get through the book and remember to take care of yourself when reading difficult subjects!

It was very brave of the author to pour out their experiences and personal life journey and despite my thoughts and ratings, I am grateful for having read it as these are such important stories to tell.

[Mary Davidsaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the opportunity to sit in on a memoir writing workshop Renteria was teaching as part of the 2022 DRC Writers' Conference, in Davenport, and was extremely impressed. He encouraged his students to draw a picture of their home towns. To layout the streets and the familiar businesses of their youth. He reminded everyone that when remembering past events there were good times as well as bad. That focusing on the positive was a productive way to go about recounting the life experiences of one's own memoir.

Hearing that, I had to read this book and learn more of his story. First of all because it was about growing up in a small Iowa town. Did that. It was about family conflict. Knew that. And about coming to terms with complex issues as an adult. Still working on that one, not unlike the author.

I found my favorite quote near the end of Part Three: "How quickly our history can vanish if we are not there to tell it." This resonated with me as the perfect reason to try to articulate and document a life that wasn't perfect. To try to make sense of it all before we disappear.

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I would have found this fascinating even if I didn't live near where he grew up, but of course that was part of my interest in reading it. Some parts are difficult to read because of the harsh realities he writes about. I had expected that to be the racism he encountered, but instead it was the violence - some of it physical - that he experienced and that he committed, the vandalism, and then the eating disorder. I found myself wondering what the people I know who live in West Liberty think of his story, whether they remember specific events he mentions. We tend to avoid making those kinds of stories public; what is it like for people to have those stories published for the world to read? Is it freeing for people, or does it make them just want to double down on keeping those kinds of things private? There are things from my past (long before I moved to Iowa) that I can talk about if they come up in conversation but I don't know what I'd think if I found them mentioned in someone else's book.

[Sean Flack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this as a birthday present from my partner and it's quickly become a treasured title on my shelf. Sometimes it's hard to think of Iowa as a place with a distinct culture outside of corn and chain restaurants. But reading this was a reminder that Iowa, my home state, is much more complex and robust than the country at large (or even me) gives it credit for. Chuy's prose is compulsively readable, and I would have been happy reading 300+ more pages about any or all Iowa minutia. (Seriously, you have no idea how happy all the Casey's pizza references make me.)

This isn't a comedic work, though. Racism, toxic masculinity, Mexican culture, communal trauma, eating disorders, and more are all on the table here. I admire autobiographies like this so much because all of it is based on real events, real people. And Chuy is unwavering in peeling away the thorny layers of his past for reflection. Thank god writers like him exist.

[Jennifer Buckley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was able to snag an advance copy of this book, and I am so glad I did. The stories Renteria tells here in such lively prose would be compelling for any reader, but people who know small towns anywhere -- but especially towns in the US Midwest -- will be captivated. The childhood and adolescent experiences related here will resonate with anyone. I think that is *because* they are culturally specific. A good writer knows how to show that one's particular culture -- in this case, a Mexican-American family living in an ethnically mixed town -- has a universal appeal. Renteria does not shy away from telling the reader about the hurtful and harmful aspects of his own, his family's, and his friends' and neighbors' histories. That makes the story feel big, and widely significant, even though it is a very personal set of stories.

[Corinne Buffo · Rating 5 out of 5]

We Heard It When We Were Young is more than an education on what it was like to grow up as a first-generation Mexican American in small town Iowa. This book felt like an ongoing conversation in a developing friendship, beginning with lighthearted adventures and evolving into revelations one can imagine hearing late at night in a hushed tone from a close friend. Renteria's storytelling has the ability to transport the reader into the present scene to make you feel as though you are alongside him throughout the various escapades, heartbreaks, and internal struggles detailed within the book. I laughed out loud with the mailbox story, cried with empathy, and my heart broke with sympathy all throughout Renteria's engaging solo literary debut.

[Courtney O'Connell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book - it was well written and I enjoyed the presentation of the dialogue in the audio book, but I just couldn’t get into the material. I related a lot to the stories of youthful mischievousness and rebellion, delicate relationships with siblings and parents, and navigating social hierarchy. I appreciated the author’s honesty and self reflection about racism toward themselves and to others. I think I was looking for a unique/fresh perspective and to take away a larger lesson, but I don’t feel that I did. Part Two was my favorite section, but the other parts I struggled to get through.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading this book. It was hard to put down, but it's so powerful that one needs to also reflect on it and give it the time it deserves. It's powerful, running the gamut of emotions! The honesty of Chuy's reflections gives us pause to think about our own denials/delusions of traumas we may have been a witness or participant to or experienced as we grew from childhood to adulthood. It certainly helps us realize that perceptions of what may have been were not necessarily the realities. The prose and use of words is delightful. I highly recommend "We Heard It When We Were Young".

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wh Heard It When We Were Young provides a much different perspective on growing up in middle America than most of us are used to. Chuy grew up as a first generation Mexican American in Iowa. The stories he tells of family and community relationships are, at once, unique AND universal. Loved the stories about the role that Dance played in Chuy’s life. This book will make you take pause, laugh and cry. Highly recommend.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was interesting to learn about the Mexican (and Laotian) influence in this small Iowa town I had never heard of. Stories like these are prevalent among our nation, and so few are known. It must have been gut-wrenching for the author to wring out his life and emotions in order to write this book. I praise him for his honesty and ability to emerge from all the adversity he experienced to find at peace with himself and passion in dance. Dance on, b-boy!

[Catherine Woodman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a memoir about growing up in a predominantly immigrant town in Iowa. West Liberty has both Mexican and Laotian populations dating back to a time when there were very few immigrants in Iowa, and while there have been changes, the nature of the town hasn't much changed in the author's lifetime. He describes open racism, cultural clashes, challenges that first generation Americans face with their parents, their families, and the cultural clashes, and the fallout that he experienced.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very relatable. I grew up in second generation Mexican-American in Iowa too. Great book. only 4 stars instead of 5 because the break dancing chapter went on a little too long, even tho I do realize that is a big part of who the author is and shaped his life. When I posted I was reading this on FB, some people I know knew him. Small world.

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reveals the diversity of Hispanic experiences in the United States. The author describes the challenges of growing up as a minority in a town finding its new identity. The individuals in this book at times exasperate you as they struggle to understand their environment, but they slowly rise to the challenge of fulfilling their potential.

[Dana Dominguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chuy Renteria takes his readers down memory lane as he recalls the trials and tribulations of being a first-generation Mexican American growing up in the unique rural town of West liberty and as a part of Iowa's very first majority-minority population.

Renteria beautifully describes his internal and external experience as a young teen in the late 90's and early 2'000s, trying to find his purpose in life. He narrates a complicated internal fight as he tries to discover "his place" within a growing community of immigrants located in the middle of white America.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I became more and more invested in Chuy's story as the book went on. I appreciated the ability to look into another's experience different than my own. My mind keeps going back to the themes he shared and the stories are sticking with me.

[Jacinta · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a current Iowan who moved from Arizona where there is a lot of Mexican culture, it was interesting to read about a non-white upbringing in Iowa. Though it wasn't a page turner, it was a great story. I'd recommend this book for the exposure into a different world and upbringing than mine.