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An American Immigrant
A Colombian American journalist tries to save her career by taking an assignment somewhere she never thought she’d go—Colombia—in this heartwarming debut novel about rediscovering our family stories.
Twenty-five-year-old Melanie Carvajal, a hardworking but struggling journalist for a Miami newspaper, loves her Colombian mother but regularly ignores her phone calls, frustrated that she never quite takes the time to understand Melanie’s life. When the opportunity arises for a big assignment that might save her flagging career, Melanie follows the story to the land of her mother’s birth. She soon realizes Colombia has the potential to connect her, after all these years, to something she’s long her heritage, the love of her mother, her family, and the richest parts of herself.
Colombia offers more than a chance to make a name for herself as a writer. It is a place of untold stories.
Inspired by real-life events, An American Immigrant is a story of culture and community, of abiding commitment to family, and of embracing our culture and the generations that have come before.
Twenty-five-year-old Melanie Carvajal, a hardworking but struggling journalist for a Miami newspaper, loves her Colombian mother but regularly ignores her phone calls, frustrated that she never quite takes the time to understand Melanie’s life. When the opportunity arises for a big assignment that might save her flagging career, Melanie follows the story to the land of her mother’s birth. She soon realizes Colombia has the potential to connect her, after all these years, to something she’s long her heritage, the love of her mother, her family, and the richest parts of herself.
Colombia offers more than a chance to make a name for herself as a writer. It is a place of untold stories.
Inspired by real-life events, An American Immigrant is a story of culture and community, of abiding commitment to family, and of embracing our culture and the generations that have come before.
352 pages, Paperback
Published August 15, 2023
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6535 people want to read
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December 4, 2023
2.5 stars, personally. Clean and no romance, those who are invested in the topics of this book would probably enjoy it more. :)
About this book:
“A Colombian American journalist tries to save her career by taking an assignment somewhere she never thought she’d go—Colombia—in this heartwarming debut novel about rediscovering our family stories.
Twenty-five-year-old Melanie Carvajal, a hardworking but struggling journalist for a Miami newspaper, loves her Colombian mother but regularly ignores her phone calls, frustrated that she never quite takes the time to understand Melanie’s life. When the opportunity arises for a big assignment that might save her flagging career, Melanie follows the story to the land of her mother’s birth. She soon realizes Colombia has the potential to connect her, after all these years, to something she’s long her heritage, the love of her mother, her family, and the richest parts of herself.
Colombia offers more than a chance to make a name for herself as a writer. It is a place of untold stories.”
Series: As of now, no. A stand-alone novel.
Spiritual Content- Anita wonders where God is at a low point; Melanie sees the statue of Christ in Colombia (Cristo Rey); Mentions of God (also called the Divine and the Most High); Mentions of prayers & praying; A few mentions of thanking God; A few mentions of churches & church going; A few mentions of being Blessed; A mention of a man possibly being an angel (because he was helpful); A mention of a woman in a head covering & long skirt; A mention of a place not being fully of saints;
*Note: The phrase “Only God knows” is used in the author’s note; A couple mentions of a painting that is a spoof on da Vinci’s The Last Supper; A couple mentions of another’s lecture being called a “sermon” (twice); A mention of a notebook being like a shrine to other writers; A mention of the demon inside of someone; A mention of everyone having a demon to fight; A mention of Santa Claus.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb’, a ‘thank God’ (by a side character that used God’s name in vain in Spanish), a stinkin’, a ‘sucks’, two forms of ‘screw up’, two ‘sheesh’s, two ‘shut up’s, two ‘witch’s (calling a woman that), and five ‘stupid’s; Spanish versions: two ‘ay Dios mio’ (Oh my God), and two ‘Dios mio’ (my God), and three ‘por Dios’ (for God’s sake); A few mentions of curses (said, not written, including one by Anita); Eye rolling & Sarcasm; In a flashback/journal entry, Anita tells someone about her father being drunk, (implied) trying to drown his infant son, grabbing her hair, and shooting off a gun to scare them (Anita believes he meant to kill her, up to semi-detailed); Melanie goes to a salsa club (there is a bar there and while she doesn’t drink there are mentions of others drinking); Anita doesn’t drink because of her father & Melanie doesn’t drink anything at a club because of her fear of getting sick (she later thinks that her fear is silly); Melanie has a near panic attack (hyperventilating and anxiety symptoms, borderline barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Melanie lies a couple times and feels guilty about it; Melanie reads her mother’s journals without her permission and eventually confesses her (she feels uneasy about reading them, but gets absorbed into it); Many mentions of cartels/gangs, drugs, drug trafficking, drug smuggling, crimes, violence, & deaths; Mentions of prisons; Mentions of poverty & not feeling safe in a country (Melanie with Colombia; her mother tells her just to avoid the sketchy areas); Mentions of alcohol, drinking, bars, & an abusive drunk; Mentions of divorce (Melanie’s parents divorced when she was young and it didn’t sound like her father stayed in the picture); Mentions of envy (including when Melanie wished she had blond hair and blue eyes when she was in school); A few mentions of deaths of family members; A few mentions of kidnappings & child soldiers; A few mentions of robberies & muggings; A few mentions of money laundering; A few mentions of injuries & a heart attack; A few mentions of lies, lying, & liars; A few mentions of gossip & rumors; A couple mentions of plagiarism; A couple mentions of being teased at school growing up; A mention of assassinations; A mention of terrorism; A mention of graffiti;
*Note: The phrase “illegal alien” is never used, instead “undocumented immigrant” and “illegal immigrant” are used; Before going to there, Anita felt disgusted by America, the American government taking her country’s resources for cheap, (her brother tries to talk to her about it and see the other side, but she’s very against America for some time; including her making a comment on Americans stealing their land from indigenous people); Anita (and Melanie) comment on the rest of the world viewing Colombia with hatred and not realizing that the Colombian people are hurting as well; We see Anita traveling through Mexico (including lying about who she is and being subject to a strip search) and then with a coyote through to America (later said that she wasn’t the drug criminal that the governments were looking for, but a woman who “was sneaking into a country that promised a better life”); Anita works in a factory setting for little money with a mean boss when she’s first in America; Anita was concerned about her children not being interested in their Colombia culture or speaking Spanish (she feels as if she’s failing them); At the beginning, Melanie is frustrated with her mom (because she doesn’t understand Melanie, being embarrassed by her growing up, not wanting to eat their cultural food growing up, and often feeling resentful of her mother’s heritage and being unable to fit in) & Melanie deals with guilt over cutting their conversations short; Melanie has the goal to be able to “buy the same things that everyone else has” (referring to the lack of things when she was growing up); Melanie views her mom as a doormat because she doesn’t stand up for herself (even thinking about how she’s supposed to respect her; she learns there’s much more to her mother’s story by reading her journals); *Spoiler* ; She also thinks about how her family and family in Colombia are doing better than others is because of the few members who decided to move to the States; Melanie thinks that her mother “kicked down the door” (instead of waiting for a door to open) about her not leaving home until she was married and also not having to have a visa to go to America; It’s said that Anita’s story is similar to a lot of other women’s story of how they followed their hearts “despite the roadblocks”; Anita’s mother didn’t force her daughters to help her in the kitchen and so Anita didn’t force Melanie or her sister either (telling them to go play or focus on school); Melanie recalls a guidance counselor at school telling her not to be in creative writing and that journalism to better because “you’ll be respected. People respect journalists”; Mentions of Starbucks (*Spoiler* ); Mentions of FaceTime & social media sites (Twitter, Facebook, & Instagram); Mentions of celebrities (Frida Kahlo, Carlos Vives, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, & Justin Bieber); Mentions of brand names & items (J. Crew Factory, Keurig, Coke, Word document, & iPad); A few mentions of a young woman’s father being upset that she didn’t follow in his footsteps (career); A few mentions of car brands; A couple mentions of someone looking like a zombie; A couple mentions of a book (“Love in the Time of Cholera”); A mention of communist teachings the schools in Colombia were prone to share; A mention of a woman wanting to make sure a man doesn’t get the credit for something a woman did; A mention of a woman being “a boss” for going up against her drunk father; A mention of yoga; A mention of a smell of food calming Melanie’s nerves more than any prescription; A mention of a nose piercing; A mention of winning an Emmy; A mention of Covid.
Sexual Content- Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); A few Blushes; Dancing & Nearness (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of dating, boys, boyfriends, & breakups; A few mentions of a handsome man & potential predators; A few mentions of staying temporarily with a boyfriend (does not happen); A couple mentions of flirting; A mention of girls gossiping about boys;
*Note: Anita is subject to a strip search where she has to take off all clothing and underwear and move around to make sure she isn’t hiding anything (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed).
-Melanie Carvajal, age 25
-Anita
P.O.V. switches between them
Melanie in 2018 & 2019, Anita in 1987 & 2009
352 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars (and a half)
{ Add up to a full star for those who have a connection to Colombia and/or may relate to this story. }
This story feels personal—like the author based many elements on her own life and experiences—which makes this a harder book to rate.
As someone who knows the importance of speaking more than one language, it really hurt my heart to see Melanie be so ashamed of her Colombian heritage and speaking Spanish. That’s why it was really nice to see her character development just in that regard. I was a little shocked by the pacing of this book because major character development and conversations happen at about halfway in. It almost felt like the book was going to end there but I still had 50% to go. I do think it book was about 50 pages too long, but it never felt like it was completely dragging to me.
It definitely highlighted the side of Colombia most do not see or even know. I have no connection to Colombia, but have friends who do and are second-generation immigrants, so I thought I would try out this book. I found it interesting, even if a bit uncomfortable at times because of being a Texan and knowing other kinds of stories of those crossing the border illegally. This book definitely highlighted those who mean well and only do it to provide for their families. It’s definitely a touchy topic, though, and something I have to mention.
One more thing that didn’t settle the best with me were the phrases "Por Dios", “Dios mio”, and "Ay Dios Mio" being used. Which I've learned in the past mean phrases that take God's name in vain. I’ve checked with a handful of reader book friends (some who Spanish is their first language, another who grew up speaking it at home, and a couple who are nearly fluent in Spanish) and the general thought is that those phrases are used in frustration or desperation and are not praising God’s name—some adding that they’ve been told that as Christians they shouldn’t say those phrases. (Thank you to those that reached out to confirm this for me!) Because of this and a few other comments, my personal rating continued to drop as I did this review.
I do wish there had been more faith content, because it was very light and while apparent that characters have faiths, we don’t see much of it, which was a disappointing. I did appreciate that there really wasn’t any romance in this book—only slightly hinted towards at the very end.
Overall, this book gave me a lot to think about. It was also overall clean, so I could see High School Aged Girls reading this one if they have an interest in Colombia and/or are “American Immigrants” themselves.
Link to reviews:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Revell) for this honest review.
About this book:
“A Colombian American journalist tries to save her career by taking an assignment somewhere she never thought she’d go—Colombia—in this heartwarming debut novel about rediscovering our family stories.
Twenty-five-year-old Melanie Carvajal, a hardworking but struggling journalist for a Miami newspaper, loves her Colombian mother but regularly ignores her phone calls, frustrated that she never quite takes the time to understand Melanie’s life. When the opportunity arises for a big assignment that might save her flagging career, Melanie follows the story to the land of her mother’s birth. She soon realizes Colombia has the potential to connect her, after all these years, to something she’s long her heritage, the love of her mother, her family, and the richest parts of herself.
Colombia offers more than a chance to make a name for herself as a writer. It is a place of untold stories.”
Series: As of now, no. A stand-alone novel.
Spiritual Content- Anita wonders where God is at a low point; Melanie sees the statue of Christ in Colombia (Cristo Rey); Mentions of God (also called the Divine and the Most High); Mentions of prayers & praying; A few mentions of thanking God; A few mentions of churches & church going; A few mentions of being Blessed; A mention of a man possibly being an angel (because he was helpful); A mention of a woman in a head covering & long skirt; A mention of a place not being fully of saints;
*Note: The phrase “Only God knows” is used in the author’s note; A couple mentions of a painting that is a spoof on da Vinci’s The Last Supper; A couple mentions of another’s lecture being called a “sermon” (twice); A mention of a notebook being like a shrine to other writers; A mention of the demon inside of someone; A mention of everyone having a demon to fight; A mention of Santa Claus.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb’, a ‘thank God’ (by a side character that used God’s name in vain in Spanish), a stinkin’, a ‘sucks’, two forms of ‘screw up’, two ‘sheesh’s, two ‘shut up’s, two ‘witch’s (calling a woman that), and five ‘stupid’s; Spanish versions: two ‘ay Dios mio’ (Oh my God), and two ‘Dios mio’ (my God), and three ‘por Dios’ (for God’s sake); A few mentions of curses (said, not written, including one by Anita); Eye rolling & Sarcasm; In a flashback/journal entry, Anita tells someone about her father being drunk, (implied) trying to drown his infant son, grabbing her hair, and shooting off a gun to scare them (Anita believes he meant to kill her, up to semi-detailed); Melanie goes to a salsa club (there is a bar there and while she doesn’t drink there are mentions of others drinking); Anita doesn’t drink because of her father & Melanie doesn’t drink anything at a club because of her fear of getting sick (she later thinks that her fear is silly); Melanie has a near panic attack (hyperventilating and anxiety symptoms, borderline barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Melanie lies a couple times and feels guilty about it; Melanie reads her mother’s journals without her permission and eventually confesses her (she feels uneasy about reading them, but gets absorbed into it); Many mentions of cartels/gangs, drugs, drug trafficking, drug smuggling, crimes, violence, & deaths; Mentions of prisons; Mentions of poverty & not feeling safe in a country (Melanie with Colombia; her mother tells her just to avoid the sketchy areas); Mentions of alcohol, drinking, bars, & an abusive drunk; Mentions of divorce (Melanie’s parents divorced when she was young and it didn’t sound like her father stayed in the picture); Mentions of envy (including when Melanie wished she had blond hair and blue eyes when she was in school); A few mentions of deaths of family members; A few mentions of kidnappings & child soldiers; A few mentions of robberies & muggings; A few mentions of money laundering; A few mentions of injuries & a heart attack; A few mentions of lies, lying, & liars; A few mentions of gossip & rumors; A couple mentions of plagiarism; A couple mentions of being teased at school growing up; A mention of assassinations; A mention of terrorism; A mention of graffiti;
*Note: The phrase “illegal alien” is never used, instead “undocumented immigrant” and “illegal immigrant” are used; Before going to there, Anita felt disgusted by America, the American government taking her country’s resources for cheap, (her brother tries to talk to her about it and see the other side, but she’s very against America for some time; including her making a comment on Americans stealing their land from indigenous people); Anita (and Melanie) comment on the rest of the world viewing Colombia with hatred and not realizing that the Colombian people are hurting as well; We see Anita traveling through Mexico (including lying about who she is and being subject to a strip search) and then with a coyote through to America (later said that she wasn’t the drug criminal that the governments were looking for, but a woman who “was sneaking into a country that promised a better life”); Anita works in a factory setting for little money with a mean boss when she’s first in America; Anita was concerned about her children not being interested in their Colombia culture or speaking Spanish (she feels as if she’s failing them); At the beginning, Melanie is frustrated with her mom (because she doesn’t understand Melanie, being embarrassed by her growing up, not wanting to eat their cultural food growing up, and often feeling resentful of her mother’s heritage and being unable to fit in) & Melanie deals with guilt over cutting their conversations short; Melanie has the goal to be able to “buy the same things that everyone else has” (referring to the lack of things when she was growing up); Melanie views her mom as a doormat because she doesn’t stand up for herself (even thinking about how she’s supposed to respect her; she learns there’s much more to her mother’s story by reading her journals); *Spoiler* ; She also thinks about how her family and family in Colombia are doing better than others is because of the few members who decided to move to the States; Melanie thinks that her mother “kicked down the door” (instead of waiting for a door to open) about her not leaving home until she was married and also not having to have a visa to go to America; It’s said that Anita’s story is similar to a lot of other women’s story of how they followed their hearts “despite the roadblocks”; Anita’s mother didn’t force her daughters to help her in the kitchen and so Anita didn’t force Melanie or her sister either (telling them to go play or focus on school); Melanie recalls a guidance counselor at school telling her not to be in creative writing and that journalism to better because “you’ll be respected. People respect journalists”; Mentions of Starbucks (*Spoiler* ); Mentions of FaceTime & social media sites (Twitter, Facebook, & Instagram); Mentions of celebrities (Frida Kahlo, Carlos Vives, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, & Justin Bieber); Mentions of brand names & items (J. Crew Factory, Keurig, Coke, Word document, & iPad); A few mentions of a young woman’s father being upset that she didn’t follow in his footsteps (career); A few mentions of car brands; A couple mentions of someone looking like a zombie; A couple mentions of a book (“Love in the Time of Cholera”); A mention of communist teachings the schools in Colombia were prone to share; A mention of a woman wanting to make sure a man doesn’t get the credit for something a woman did; A mention of a woman being “a boss” for going up against her drunk father; A mention of yoga; A mention of a smell of food calming Melanie’s nerves more than any prescription; A mention of a nose piercing; A mention of winning an Emmy; A mention of Covid.
Sexual Content- Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); A few Blushes; Dancing & Nearness (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of dating, boys, boyfriends, & breakups; A few mentions of a handsome man & potential predators; A few mentions of staying temporarily with a boyfriend (does not happen); A couple mentions of flirting; A mention of girls gossiping about boys;
*Note: Anita is subject to a strip search where she has to take off all clothing and underwear and move around to make sure she isn’t hiding anything (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed).
-Melanie Carvajal, age 25
-Anita
P.O.V. switches between them
Melanie in 2018 & 2019, Anita in 1987 & 2009
352 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars (and a half)
{ Add up to a full star for those who have a connection to Colombia and/or may relate to this story. }
This story feels personal—like the author based many elements on her own life and experiences—which makes this a harder book to rate.
As someone who knows the importance of speaking more than one language, it really hurt my heart to see Melanie be so ashamed of her Colombian heritage and speaking Spanish. That’s why it was really nice to see her character development just in that regard. I was a little shocked by the pacing of this book because major character development and conversations happen at about halfway in. It almost felt like the book was going to end there but I still had 50% to go. I do think it book was about 50 pages too long, but it never felt like it was completely dragging to me.
It definitely highlighted the side of Colombia most do not see or even know. I have no connection to Colombia, but have friends who do and are second-generation immigrants, so I thought I would try out this book. I found it interesting, even if a bit uncomfortable at times because of being a Texan and knowing other kinds of stories of those crossing the border illegally. This book definitely highlighted those who mean well and only do it to provide for their families. It’s definitely a touchy topic, though, and something I have to mention.
One more thing that didn’t settle the best with me were the phrases "Por Dios", “Dios mio”, and "Ay Dios Mio" being used. Which I've learned in the past mean phrases that take God's name in vain. I’ve checked with a handful of reader book friends (some who Spanish is their first language, another who grew up speaking it at home, and a couple who are nearly fluent in Spanish) and the general thought is that those phrases are used in frustration or desperation and are not praising God’s name—some adding that they’ve been told that as Christians they shouldn’t say those phrases. (Thank you to those that reached out to confirm this for me!) Because of this and a few other comments, my personal rating continued to drop as I did this review.
I do wish there had been more faith content, because it was very light and while apparent that characters have faiths, we don’t see much of it, which was a disappointing. I did appreciate that there really wasn’t any romance in this book—only slightly hinted towards at the very end.
Overall, this book gave me a lot to think about. It was also overall clean, so I could see High School Aged Girls reading this one if they have an interest in Colombia and/or are “American Immigrants” themselves.
Link to reviews:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Revell) for this honest review.
September 9, 2023
In An American Immigrant we meet Melanie Carvajal, she’s a Colombian American living in Miami as a journalist. At twenty-five-years old Melanie is trying to make a name for herself at the Miami newspaper but she just cannot seem to get her own by-line. With her company being less profitable the pressure is on to perform and write a strong piece. Her opportunity arises that requires her to travel to Colombia for a piece.
While Melanie’s Mom is from Colombia, she does not know much about the country except for what the media tells her. Her Mom did not fill her in while growing up and if she’s being honest, she didn’t ask or wanted to know more about her heritage. She finally gets to visit Colombia with her mother and learn about the culture and her heritage. While there, she found a journal from her mother where she wrote about life in Colombia before she left and why she left. Melanie learns so much about her mother, her life before going to America. While in Colombia they connect so deeply that Melanie cant help to fall more in love with her culture.
I am always up for an Immigrant story and I loved the premise of this one. I enjoyed reading the mother’s journal entry and what it was for like living in Colombia and why she decided to move to America and the journey that took her there. The author did a great job of exploring the mother-daughter relationship and both of them having an immigrant experience. We see the arc of Melanie not embracing her culture to learning a lot more coming to an appreciation for her mother and what she went through.
The parts that I loved, I really loved. The mother and grandmother scenes really were top tier. The one part that kinda annoyed me or pissed me off is Melanie, a 25 year old Colombian, who is a writer didn’t know that Garbriel Marquez is Colombian… I mean…. LET’S BE FOR REAL!!!! I get that she didn’t embrace her culture but BFFR.
Outside of that, I did enjoy this read.
While Melanie’s Mom is from Colombia, she does not know much about the country except for what the media tells her. Her Mom did not fill her in while growing up and if she’s being honest, she didn’t ask or wanted to know more about her heritage. She finally gets to visit Colombia with her mother and learn about the culture and her heritage. While there, she found a journal from her mother where she wrote about life in Colombia before she left and why she left. Melanie learns so much about her mother, her life before going to America. While in Colombia they connect so deeply that Melanie cant help to fall more in love with her culture.
I am always up for an Immigrant story and I loved the premise of this one. I enjoyed reading the mother’s journal entry and what it was for like living in Colombia and why she decided to move to America and the journey that took her there. The author did a great job of exploring the mother-daughter relationship and both of them having an immigrant experience. We see the arc of Melanie not embracing her culture to learning a lot more coming to an appreciation for her mother and what she went through.
The parts that I loved, I really loved. The mother and grandmother scenes really were top tier. The one part that kinda annoyed me or pissed me off is Melanie, a 25 year old Colombian, who is a writer didn’t know that Garbriel Marquez is Colombian… I mean…. LET’S BE FOR REAL!!!! I get that she didn’t embrace her culture but BFFR.
Outside of that, I did enjoy this read.
August 18, 2023
What a FABULOUS debut about mothers and daughters, a complicated Columbian American family and the lengths mothers will go to for their children to have better lives.
Melanie Carvajal is a struggling Miami journalist who stumbles on her mother’s old journal on a trip to visit her in Columbia. As she reads she discovers family secrets and just how much her mother endured to give her and her sister the opportunities she never had.
Great on audio and HIGHLY recommended for fans of authors like Patricia Engel and Chantel Cleeton. I especially loved the poems sprinkled throughout and that they were written in both languages. It was lovely to listen to the Spanish first and the English version second.
Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review! I was drawn in by the beautiful cover but the writing was equally compelling and wonderful! I can’t wait for more by this author!!
Melanie Carvajal is a struggling Miami journalist who stumbles on her mother’s old journal on a trip to visit her in Columbia. As she reads she discovers family secrets and just how much her mother endured to give her and her sister the opportunities she never had.
Great on audio and HIGHLY recommended for fans of authors like Patricia Engel and Chantel Cleeton. I especially loved the poems sprinkled throughout and that they were written in both languages. It was lovely to listen to the Spanish first and the English version second.
Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review! I was drawn in by the beautiful cover but the writing was equally compelling and wonderful! I can’t wait for more by this author!!
November 27, 2024
Beautifully written debut about coming of age and appreciating family heritage.
"...sometimes it's difficult to see the world from someone else's point of view. But if we ever get the chance to catch even a glimpse from their shoes, it can change not just how we see them but how we see the world."
"...sometimes it's difficult to see the world from someone else's point of view. But if we ever get the chance to catch even a glimpse from their shoes, it can change not just how we see them but how we see the world."
August 26, 2023
“Who would have known that in just one generation, with one simple decision, everything could change?”
There are some books that make you happier for reading them, lifting your heart while you’re in those pages and maybe lingering with you because of a story or characters well-told. And then there are some books that do all of the above but also change something in you, for the better, words that will shape you from this point forward. An American Immigrant is one such book.
This is a difficult review to write because I have so many feelings fighting for dominance and it’s hard to sort out what I want to say and what I want to let you discover for yourself. But, in short, this is a beautifully-written story of choices that had ripple effects, of missteps that weren’t wasted, and of family roots. Vann’s writing voice draws you in from the very beginning, easily getting you invested in Melanie’s career and her trip to Colombia – and then shifting the spotlight to one that’s shared with her mother’s past experiences as a young immigrant to America many years before. And tucked away in this poignant look at a mother and daughter’s respective journeys is a most profound message – What stories have we been missing because we don’t take the time to ask, to research, to dig, to listen? Stories about where we come from, about where the person next to us comes from… stories with the power to change the trajectory of our lives (as the author mentions in her note at the end of the book). I needed that reminder to look for and listen to the stories of the people in my path. How about you?
Alba (aka Melanie’s Abuela / grandmother) deserves her own full review (lol) but I’ll force myself to stop at this: I loved her so very much. She made me laugh, she made me teary, and she quite simply delighted me. Her vibrant spirit, her stubborn will, her resilience, and even the twinkle in her eye reminded me not only of my maternal grandmother (as American as they come) but also of the ‘bonus’ grandmothers God blessed me with as I taught beginner English to immigrants and refugees from all over the world for over ten years in Kentucky. Including precious Olga from Peru who became my abuela in every way but genetics (in fact, my social media handle is a nod to my querida Olga and what she always called me, with an Alba-like twinkle in her eye and the sweetest smile on her face ♥).
Bottom Line: An American Immigrant by Johanna Rojas Vann is fresh and compelling, with layered characters and a vitality that leaps off the pages in bursts of vivid color, lively music and tantalizing aromas. Melanie’s journey to see Colombia through her family’s eyes, to learn her mother’s immigrant story, to find her own purpose, and to somehow share those perspectives with the world touched me deeply, in large part because of my own work with immigrants and refugees. It really resonated with my heart. But even if you don’t have experience or roots in other cultures, there is much to be gleaned from this engaging novel. It’s a story of finding yourself, of finding your roots, and of finding where the two connect. A beautiful novel that you can enjoy just as an entertaining story or let it go deeper and maybe change your own story.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
There are some books that make you happier for reading them, lifting your heart while you’re in those pages and maybe lingering with you because of a story or characters well-told. And then there are some books that do all of the above but also change something in you, for the better, words that will shape you from this point forward. An American Immigrant is one such book.
This is a difficult review to write because I have so many feelings fighting for dominance and it’s hard to sort out what I want to say and what I want to let you discover for yourself. But, in short, this is a beautifully-written story of choices that had ripple effects, of missteps that weren’t wasted, and of family roots. Vann’s writing voice draws you in from the very beginning, easily getting you invested in Melanie’s career and her trip to Colombia – and then shifting the spotlight to one that’s shared with her mother’s past experiences as a young immigrant to America many years before. And tucked away in this poignant look at a mother and daughter’s respective journeys is a most profound message – What stories have we been missing because we don’t take the time to ask, to research, to dig, to listen? Stories about where we come from, about where the person next to us comes from… stories with the power to change the trajectory of our lives (as the author mentions in her note at the end of the book). I needed that reminder to look for and listen to the stories of the people in my path. How about you?
Alba (aka Melanie’s Abuela / grandmother) deserves her own full review (lol) but I’ll force myself to stop at this: I loved her so very much. She made me laugh, she made me teary, and she quite simply delighted me. Her vibrant spirit, her stubborn will, her resilience, and even the twinkle in her eye reminded me not only of my maternal grandmother (as American as they come) but also of the ‘bonus’ grandmothers God blessed me with as I taught beginner English to immigrants and refugees from all over the world for over ten years in Kentucky. Including precious Olga from Peru who became my abuela in every way but genetics (in fact, my social media handle is a nod to my querida Olga and what she always called me, with an Alba-like twinkle in her eye and the sweetest smile on her face ♥).
Bottom Line: An American Immigrant by Johanna Rojas Vann is fresh and compelling, with layered characters and a vitality that leaps off the pages in bursts of vivid color, lively music and tantalizing aromas. Melanie’s journey to see Colombia through her family’s eyes, to learn her mother’s immigrant story, to find her own purpose, and to somehow share those perspectives with the world touched me deeply, in large part because of my own work with immigrants and refugees. It really resonated with my heart. But even if you don’t have experience or roots in other cultures, there is much to be gleaned from this engaging novel. It’s a story of finding yourself, of finding your roots, and of finding where the two connect. A beautiful novel that you can enjoy just as an entertaining story or let it go deeper and maybe change your own story.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
February 28, 2024
“For now I see. I see how far God has brought me and I’m grateful.
…
I can be an American without sacrificing anything that makes me Colombian.
I hope that one day my kids will see that too… they don’t have to be any less Colombian to be more American.
We can have both” (p. 472 on Libby)
🥹🥹 🇨🇴 🇺🇸
—————————-
I had never read a book that talked about my country and the immigrant experience in this way. My own story doesn’t match up exactly with either Anita or Melanie but the feelings of leaving home behind and then not being American enough in the U.S or Colombian enough in Colombia resonated with me.
What a beautiful thought that I can hold both parts of me equally close to my heart.
This is a book I hope to share with my kids when they get older. Maybe they’ll be able relate to it as well ❤️
…
I can be an American without sacrificing anything that makes me Colombian.
I hope that one day my kids will see that too… they don’t have to be any less Colombian to be more American.
We can have both” (p. 472 on Libby)
🥹🥹 🇨🇴 🇺🇸
—————————-
I had never read a book that talked about my country and the immigrant experience in this way. My own story doesn’t match up exactly with either Anita or Melanie but the feelings of leaving home behind and then not being American enough in the U.S or Colombian enough in Colombia resonated with me.
What a beautiful thought that I can hold both parts of me equally close to my heart.
This is a book I hope to share with my kids when they get older. Maybe they’ll be able relate to it as well ❤️
January 15, 2025
Sooo many things I relate to in this- being a writer, journalism, Colombia haha. All the details were spot on. This felt like more of a YA level but it was a wholesome and enjoyable read that touches deeper themes like belonging, success, and embracing where you come from.
April 27, 2024
A little bit slow but an overall good story.
Pre read ~ of course I want to read this book. the author & i have the same first name 🤭 and i'm half hispanic, perfect match heh
Pre read ~ of course I want to read this book. the author & i have the same first name 🤭 and i'm half hispanic, perfect match heh
May 4, 2024
Very good read. Saw a different perspective. Learned a lot.
May 5, 2023
*Thank you Netgalley and WaterBrook Multnomah for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!*
Posted to: NetGalley, Goodreads, and The StoryGraph
Posted on: 5 May 2023
4.4 (rounded down to 4) out of 5 stars
Beautifully moving. ‘An American Immigrant’ shares a few personal experiences and tidbits with added fictional storytelling to capture Melanie Carvajal’s story of living in the inbetween.
What Johanna Rojas Vann does so amazingly is depict the life of children of immigrants. Like Melanie, I always felt too Mexican for America yet too American for Mexico. I went so long without knowing my parents’ full story, and I also resented some part of my life for *being* stuck in that inbetween and for not feeling confident in my culture like other Mexican-Americans were.
Like Melanie, I had grieved a part of myself whenever I *did* finally find my roots again and started to find myself in this middle ground a lot of first and second generation people find themselves in. I grieved all the time I lost resenting and wishing I was either Mexican or American, not Mexican-American with the - in between. I think the story of watching Melanie get to this point was also wonderfully painted too, including descriptions of Columbia and Colombian food and music. Any Hispanic and/or Latine person knows how important food and music are for our culture too, so this extra touch about Melanie’s experiences and connections with this in Columbia was also close to home.
The characters were lovable in of themselves too, each one important to Melanie’s discovery of her home and culture. There were a few times where Melanie’s old mindset of Columbia (and thus her actions to her mother and about Columbia) grew a bit irritating. She changed with the reading of the journals, but I think those bitter actions are also something many first and second generation kids experience at least once if they never found solid footing in where they stand with themselves and their culture.
The writing fell a little short in some areas too, but overall the book was an enjoyable read. Around the middle and the end, I found myself relating to Melanie again and wanting to read more of the journals to find out what happened next.
‘An American Immigrant’ grants a look into the life of those children born in between two spaces. Johanna Rojas Vann does an *amazing* job in incorporating personal pieces to make this book come to life more and make it all the more bingable. I loved feeling seen with a novel like this and feeling that acceptance as a fellow daughter stuck in that middle space. I highly recommend this book for others who find themselves neither one side nor the other of their heritage, and discover the sense of belonging to both alongside Melanie Carvajal.
Posted to: NetGalley, Goodreads, and The StoryGraph
Posted on: 5 May 2023
4.4 (rounded down to 4) out of 5 stars
Beautifully moving. ‘An American Immigrant’ shares a few personal experiences and tidbits with added fictional storytelling to capture Melanie Carvajal’s story of living in the inbetween.
What Johanna Rojas Vann does so amazingly is depict the life of children of immigrants. Like Melanie, I always felt too Mexican for America yet too American for Mexico. I went so long without knowing my parents’ full story, and I also resented some part of my life for *being* stuck in that inbetween and for not feeling confident in my culture like other Mexican-Americans were.
Like Melanie, I had grieved a part of myself whenever I *did* finally find my roots again and started to find myself in this middle ground a lot of first and second generation people find themselves in. I grieved all the time I lost resenting and wishing I was either Mexican or American, not Mexican-American with the - in between. I think the story of watching Melanie get to this point was also wonderfully painted too, including descriptions of Columbia and Colombian food and music. Any Hispanic and/or Latine person knows how important food and music are for our culture too, so this extra touch about Melanie’s experiences and connections with this in Columbia was also close to home.
The characters were lovable in of themselves too, each one important to Melanie’s discovery of her home and culture. There were a few times where Melanie’s old mindset of Columbia (and thus her actions to her mother and about Columbia) grew a bit irritating. She changed with the reading of the journals, but I think those bitter actions are also something many first and second generation kids experience at least once if they never found solid footing in where they stand with themselves and their culture.
The writing fell a little short in some areas too, but overall the book was an enjoyable read. Around the middle and the end, I found myself relating to Melanie again and wanting to read more of the journals to find out what happened next.
‘An American Immigrant’ grants a look into the life of those children born in between two spaces. Johanna Rojas Vann does an *amazing* job in incorporating personal pieces to make this book come to life more and make it all the more bingable. I loved feeling seen with a novel like this and feeling that acceptance as a fellow daughter stuck in that middle space. I highly recommend this book for others who find themselves neither one side nor the other of their heritage, and discover the sense of belonging to both alongside Melanie Carvajal.
April 20, 2024
I wanna go back home to Colombia 💔
This book was 50/50 for me tbh. On one hand, I enjoyed this discussions about immigration and how Colombians were treated during the 80s. Also Gabriel García Márquez, the goat, mentioned? I was also so happy to see that Colombian slang was used properly in this book. On the other hand, I got so excruciatingly frustrated with the main character's ignorance at the beginning, like I get that that's the whole point, but to the point that she never bothered to type "Colombia" on Google?? At her grown age of 25? Nah that's not gonna cut it for me lol.
3.5 stars 🌟🌟🌟
This book was 50/50 for me tbh. On one hand, I enjoyed this discussions about immigration and how Colombians were treated during the 80s. Also Gabriel García Márquez, the goat, mentioned? I was also so happy to see that Colombian slang was used properly in this book. On the other hand, I got so excruciatingly frustrated with the main character's ignorance at the beginning, like I get that that's the whole point, but to the point that she never bothered to type "Colombia" on Google?? At her grown age of 25? Nah that's not gonna cut it for me lol.
3.5 stars 🌟🌟🌟
January 12, 2024
This one gladdened my Spanish teacher heart. It really touches on the importance of honoring one’s roots and knowing where you truly come from. It was also nice to read a book that was set largely in Colombia, a place I have not read much about in any books. Also, I liked that romance was not a driving point of the story and allowed the story to be totally about Melanie getting in touch with her roots and just happening to meet a nice man along the way. It also touches on the power of friendship and how friends can hold you up and sometimes, in the right circumstances, push you forward.
November 22, 2023
This was super sweet and straightforward- a journalist is tasked with a piece involving Colombia where her mother is from, place she realizes she doesn’t know much about. My favorite thing about this book is that journal entries were utilized but you didn’t have to read the actual entries, they would flash back to a dual timeline chapter back in time with her mom. It was a way more engaging way to tell the story and I loved it.
February 2, 2025
this was a good story but the writing took away two stars for me. very repetitive and it took me sooo long to finish. aside from the writing, i think the story was inspiring and meaningful ⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 30, 2024
(Review in Spanish at bottom/Reseña en español abajo)
I picked this book up because it dealt with Colombia, but little did I know it dealt specifically with the city I come from- Cali! It was a very nice surprise when starting this book that I was going to have even more in common when it came to the main character's background, but that's where the commonalities ended...
The novel deals with the protagonist, Melanie, who has little to no understanding of her Colombian heritage and begins to learn about it all after she tries to save her job by proposing she be the journalist to cover a specific story in Colombia. Unfortunately, Melanie is a straight up gringa. She has not one Colombian bone in her body and it's not because she's never visited Colombia, but because she never cared to know anything about where she comes from. From not ever asking her mom how she arrived in the states, to anything about her mother's childhood or extended family, Melanie doesn't know anything about anything. This is where the disconnect came in. I was born and raised in Queens, NY. I'm from Jackson Heights, my parents are both from Cali, and I do not identify as American in the slightest. A New Yorker, yes, but American? Absolutely the fuck not. There was too much Colombia in my life to ever consider embracing anything but.
That is my qualm about the novel, how the character isn't relatable to just me. I am 100% Colombian and this has never been up for debate. I know everything there is to know about my family, my country, and I have Colombians born in Colombia ask me when I immigrated to the US because I don't have an accent when speaking in Spanish and my cousins are confused as to why I'm not living in Colombia. I am a Colombian that was simply born in the states, so as you can see this is where Melanie was pissing me off at the beginning of the novel.
I'm a strong believer that if someone wants to be a part of their culture and know about their heritage they will ask questions and look for answers and actively take part in everything they can that involves their culture- if they wanted to, they would've. From speaking Spanish, to knowing what your family tree looks like, one has to want to know these things and participate and try. I don't care if your parents didn't teach you Spanish, you could've taken lessons elsewhere or if you don't know about your extended family, you could've looked to other family members for answers about your past. Melanie had no excuse, she simply didn't care and, on top of that, she was ashamed to be Colombian and a child of an immigrant. Unfortunately, I do actually know people like Melanie, they're siblings and cousins of mine which allowed me to get past her ignorance quicker than most may have.
Libel about this Melanie character aside, I could tell that this was a deeply personal book, so here's hoping the author doesn't take my critique personally. The reader can tell early on that this novel was cathartic for Rojas Vann to write and that's what makes this book special. I may have sounded harsh earlier, but I did really enjoy this book and loved it all! Because here's the thing, while I can't relate to Melanie, and at times would call her una culicagada aloud for not knowing what chontaduro was or how to dance salsa, the story the author was telling was touching and lovely to read.
I appreciated the back and forth between Melanie and her mother, the timeline/technique chosen allows for great pacing when piecing together everything and one learned about Melanie's family alongside her. I appreciated the character development Melanie went through too, because you bet your ass she was going to go back to Colombia after this first trip! And I also, of course, liked cousin Marcela.
Melanie learns so much about her mom from reading her journal and I'm glad that the relationship that was previously, in my opinion, quite ugly and distant, turned into something beautiful. My mother is my favorite person in the world and she crossed the border three times! Those are my favorite stories to tell and reading about a girl who didn't know anything about how her mom came to this country, Colombian or not, was quite sad.
At then end, Rojas Vann has a nice note wishing that this book propels people to embrace their culture and heritage more and I think that that's the most important take away from this novel. Because if you're someone like me who wears their flag loud and proud, you should serve as an example to those who don't by sharing your pride. And if you're someone like Melanie who hasn't realized how lucky she is to be the child of immigrants, that her parents are superheroes, and that having a culture is a blessing and not always a given, then this book is for you.
I consume all the books I can from Colombian authors, and it's always a pleasure to find a state-side Colombian author. I've been disappointed in the past because nine times out of ten the subject matter is the same as this one: being a child of immigrants and what it's like to be first generation American, but the authors and their protagonists don't ever come to the realization that Johanna Rojas Vann/Melanie do so those books are simply not good- this one, however, is a gem!
Lastly, I do have to call out that Goya products are NOT sold in Cali, blasphemous I know, but I am constantly shipping sazón and adobo there because my mom cannot cope without.
Glad to find more national talent in Johanna Rojas Vann!
---
Elegí este libro porque trataba sobre Colombia, pero no sabía que trataba específicamente sobre la ciudad de donde vengo: ¡Cali! Fue una sorpresa muy agradable al comenzar este libro que iba a tener aún más en común con el personaje principal, pero hasta ahí es donde cuadramos...
La novela se trata de Melanie, una tipa que no tiene conocimiento de su herencia colombiana y comienza a aprender de aquel después de que intenta salvar su trabajo proponiendo ser la periodista que cubra una historia específica en Colombia. Desafortunadamente, Melanie es una gringa. No tiene nada de colombiana y no es porque nunca haya visitado Colombia, sino porque nunca le importó saber nada sobre su cultura. Nunca se le ocurrió preguntarle a su madre cómo llegó a los Estados Unidos, ni sobre la infancia de su madre o su familia extendida, Melanie no sabe dónde está parada. Aquí es donde surgió la desconexión entre ella y yo. Nací y crecí en Queens, Nueva York. Soy de Jackson Heights, mis padres son de Cali y no me identifico como estadounidense en lo más mínimo. Neoyorquina, sí, pero ¿estadounidense? Jamás. Crecí con demasiado Colombia en mi vida como para considerar que fuera algo más que eso.
Esa es mi queja sobre la novela, cómo el personaje no es identificable pero se que eso es solo para mí. Soy 100% colombiana y esto nunca ha sido tema de debate. Sé todo lo que hay que saber sobre mi familia, mi país, y hay colombianos nacidos en Colombia que me preguntan cuándo emigré a los Estados Unidos porque no tengo acento cuando hablo en español y mis primos están confundidos sobre por qué no vivo en Colombia. Soy una colombiana que simplemente nació en los Estados Unidos, así que, como pueden ver, aquí es donde Melanie me estaba cayendo gorda al principio de la novela.
Creo firmemente que si alguien quiere ser parte de su cultura y conocer su herencia, hará preguntas, buscará respuestas y participará activamente en todo lo que pueda que involucre su cultura. Desde hablar español hasta saber cómo es tu árbol genealógico, uno tiene que querer saber estas cosas y participar fuertemente en su cultura. No me importa si tus padres no te enseñaron español, podrías haber tomado lecciones en otro lugar o si no sabes nada sobre tu familia, podrías haber buscado respuestas sobre tu pasado en otros miembros de tu familia. Melanie no tenía excusa, simplemente no le importaba y, además, se avergonzaba de ser colombiana e hija de un inmigrante. Desafortunadamente, conozco a personas como Melanie, son hermanos y primos míos, lo que me permitió superar su ignorancia más rápido que la mayoría.
Dejando de lado las difamaciones sobre este personaje de Melanie, me di cuenta de que este era un libro profundamente personal, así que espero que el autor no se tome mi crítica como algo personal. El lector puede darse cuenta desde el principio de que esta novela fue catártica para Rojas Vann y eso es lo que hace que este libro sea especial. Puede que haya sido un poco grosera contra Melanie antes, pero disfruté mucho de este libro y me encantó todo. Porque está es la cuestión, aunque no puedo identificarme con Melanie, y a veces la llamaba una culicagada en voz alta por no saber qué era el chontaduro o cómo bailar salsa, la historia que contaba la autora era conmovedora y encantadora de leer.
Aprecié el intercambio entre Melanie y su madre, la línea de tiempo permite un gran ritmo al unir todo y uno aprende sobre la familia de Melanie junto con ella. También aprecié el desarrollo del personaje por el que pasó Melanie, ¡porque más le vale a esa culimba que regrese a Colombia después de ese primer viaje! Y también, por supuesto, me gustó la prima Marcela.
Melanie aprende mucho sobre su madre al leer su diario y me alegra que la relación que antes era, en mi opinión, bastante fea y distante, se haya convertido en algo hermoso. Mi madre es mi persona favorita en todo el mundo y ella cruzó la frontera ¡tres veces! Esas son mis historias favoritas para contar y leer sobre una niña que no sabía nada sobre cómo su madre llegó a este país, colombiana o no, fue bastante triste.
Al final, Rojas Vann tiene una nota agradable en la que desea que este libro impulse a las personas a adorar más su cultura y patria y creo que esa es la lección más importante de esta novela. Porque si eres alguien como yo que lleva su bandera en alto y con todo el orgullo del mundo, deberías servir de ejemplo a quienes no lo hacen. Y si eres alguien como Melanie que no se ha dado cuenta de lo afortunada que es de ser hija de inmigrantes, de que sus padres son superhéroes y de que tener una cultura es una bendición y no siempre algo garantizado, entonces este libro es para ti.
Consumo todos los libros que puedo de autores colombianos, y siempre es un placer encontrar un autor colombiano de los Estados Unidos. En el pasado me he sentido decepcionada porque casi siempre en estos casos el tema de tal libro es el mismo que este: ser hijo de inmigrantes y lo que es ser americana-colombiana, pero los autores y sus protagonistas nunca llegan a la misma conclusion de que Johanna Rojas Vann/Melanie sí llega, así que esos libros no son nada del otro mundo; ¡este, sin embargo, es una joya!
Por último, tengo que decir que los productos Goya NO se venden en Cali, es una blasfemia, lo sé, pero envío sazón y adobo a toda hora a Cali porque mi madre no puede vivir sin ellos.
¡Johanna Rojas Vann tiene mi estampilla de talento nacional!
I picked this book up because it dealt with Colombia, but little did I know it dealt specifically with the city I come from- Cali! It was a very nice surprise when starting this book that I was going to have even more in common when it came to the main character's background, but that's where the commonalities ended...
The novel deals with the protagonist, Melanie, who has little to no understanding of her Colombian heritage and begins to learn about it all after she tries to save her job by proposing she be the journalist to cover a specific story in Colombia. Unfortunately, Melanie is a straight up gringa. She has not one Colombian bone in her body and it's not because she's never visited Colombia, but because she never cared to know anything about where she comes from. From not ever asking her mom how she arrived in the states, to anything about her mother's childhood or extended family, Melanie doesn't know anything about anything. This is where the disconnect came in. I was born and raised in Queens, NY. I'm from Jackson Heights, my parents are both from Cali, and I do not identify as American in the slightest. A New Yorker, yes, but American? Absolutely the fuck not. There was too much Colombia in my life to ever consider embracing anything but.
That is my qualm about the novel, how the character isn't relatable to just me. I am 100% Colombian and this has never been up for debate. I know everything there is to know about my family, my country, and I have Colombians born in Colombia ask me when I immigrated to the US because I don't have an accent when speaking in Spanish and my cousins are confused as to why I'm not living in Colombia. I am a Colombian that was simply born in the states, so as you can see this is where Melanie was pissing me off at the beginning of the novel.
I'm a strong believer that if someone wants to be a part of their culture and know about their heritage they will ask questions and look for answers and actively take part in everything they can that involves their culture- if they wanted to, they would've. From speaking Spanish, to knowing what your family tree looks like, one has to want to know these things and participate and try. I don't care if your parents didn't teach you Spanish, you could've taken lessons elsewhere or if you don't know about your extended family, you could've looked to other family members for answers about your past. Melanie had no excuse, she simply didn't care and, on top of that, she was ashamed to be Colombian and a child of an immigrant. Unfortunately, I do actually know people like Melanie, they're siblings and cousins of mine which allowed me to get past her ignorance quicker than most may have.
Libel about this Melanie character aside, I could tell that this was a deeply personal book, so here's hoping the author doesn't take my critique personally. The reader can tell early on that this novel was cathartic for Rojas Vann to write and that's what makes this book special. I may have sounded harsh earlier, but I did really enjoy this book and loved it all! Because here's the thing, while I can't relate to Melanie, and at times would call her una culicagada aloud for not knowing what chontaduro was or how to dance salsa, the story the author was telling was touching and lovely to read.
I appreciated the back and forth between Melanie and her mother, the timeline/technique chosen allows for great pacing when piecing together everything and one learned about Melanie's family alongside her. I appreciated the character development Melanie went through too, because you bet your ass she was going to go back to Colombia after this first trip! And I also, of course, liked cousin Marcela.
Melanie learns so much about her mom from reading her journal and I'm glad that the relationship that was previously, in my opinion, quite ugly and distant, turned into something beautiful. My mother is my favorite person in the world and she crossed the border three times! Those are my favorite stories to tell and reading about a girl who didn't know anything about how her mom came to this country, Colombian or not, was quite sad.
At then end, Rojas Vann has a nice note wishing that this book propels people to embrace their culture and heritage more and I think that that's the most important take away from this novel. Because if you're someone like me who wears their flag loud and proud, you should serve as an example to those who don't by sharing your pride. And if you're someone like Melanie who hasn't realized how lucky she is to be the child of immigrants, that her parents are superheroes, and that having a culture is a blessing and not always a given, then this book is for you.
I consume all the books I can from Colombian authors, and it's always a pleasure to find a state-side Colombian author. I've been disappointed in the past because nine times out of ten the subject matter is the same as this one: being a child of immigrants and what it's like to be first generation American, but the authors and their protagonists don't ever come to the realization that Johanna Rojas Vann/Melanie do so those books are simply not good- this one, however, is a gem!
Lastly, I do have to call out that Goya products are NOT sold in Cali, blasphemous I know, but I am constantly shipping sazón and adobo there because my mom cannot cope without.
Glad to find more national talent in Johanna Rojas Vann!
---
Elegí este libro porque trataba sobre Colombia, pero no sabía que trataba específicamente sobre la ciudad de donde vengo: ¡Cali! Fue una sorpresa muy agradable al comenzar este libro que iba a tener aún más en común con el personaje principal, pero hasta ahí es donde cuadramos...
La novela se trata de Melanie, una tipa que no tiene conocimiento de su herencia colombiana y comienza a aprender de aquel después de que intenta salvar su trabajo proponiendo ser la periodista que cubra una historia específica en Colombia. Desafortunadamente, Melanie es una gringa. No tiene nada de colombiana y no es porque nunca haya visitado Colombia, sino porque nunca le importó saber nada sobre su cultura. Nunca se le ocurrió preguntarle a su madre cómo llegó a los Estados Unidos, ni sobre la infancia de su madre o su familia extendida, Melanie no sabe dónde está parada. Aquí es donde surgió la desconexión entre ella y yo. Nací y crecí en Queens, Nueva York. Soy de Jackson Heights, mis padres son de Cali y no me identifico como estadounidense en lo más mínimo. Neoyorquina, sí, pero ¿estadounidense? Jamás. Crecí con demasiado Colombia en mi vida como para considerar que fuera algo más que eso.
Esa es mi queja sobre la novela, cómo el personaje no es identificable pero se que eso es solo para mí. Soy 100% colombiana y esto nunca ha sido tema de debate. Sé todo lo que hay que saber sobre mi familia, mi país, y hay colombianos nacidos en Colombia que me preguntan cuándo emigré a los Estados Unidos porque no tengo acento cuando hablo en español y mis primos están confundidos sobre por qué no vivo en Colombia. Soy una colombiana que simplemente nació en los Estados Unidos, así que, como pueden ver, aquí es donde Melanie me estaba cayendo gorda al principio de la novela.
Creo firmemente que si alguien quiere ser parte de su cultura y conocer su herencia, hará preguntas, buscará respuestas y participará activamente en todo lo que pueda que involucre su cultura. Desde hablar español hasta saber cómo es tu árbol genealógico, uno tiene que querer saber estas cosas y participar fuertemente en su cultura. No me importa si tus padres no te enseñaron español, podrías haber tomado lecciones en otro lugar o si no sabes nada sobre tu familia, podrías haber buscado respuestas sobre tu pasado en otros miembros de tu familia. Melanie no tenía excusa, simplemente no le importaba y, además, se avergonzaba de ser colombiana e hija de un inmigrante. Desafortunadamente, conozco a personas como Melanie, son hermanos y primos míos, lo que me permitió superar su ignorancia más rápido que la mayoría.
Dejando de lado las difamaciones sobre este personaje de Melanie, me di cuenta de que este era un libro profundamente personal, así que espero que el autor no se tome mi crítica como algo personal. El lector puede darse cuenta desde el principio de que esta novela fue catártica para Rojas Vann y eso es lo que hace que este libro sea especial. Puede que haya sido un poco grosera contra Melanie antes, pero disfruté mucho de este libro y me encantó todo. Porque está es la cuestión, aunque no puedo identificarme con Melanie, y a veces la llamaba una culicagada en voz alta por no saber qué era el chontaduro o cómo bailar salsa, la historia que contaba la autora era conmovedora y encantadora de leer.
Aprecié el intercambio entre Melanie y su madre, la línea de tiempo permite un gran ritmo al unir todo y uno aprende sobre la familia de Melanie junto con ella. También aprecié el desarrollo del personaje por el que pasó Melanie, ¡porque más le vale a esa culimba que regrese a Colombia después de ese primer viaje! Y también, por supuesto, me gustó la prima Marcela.
Melanie aprende mucho sobre su madre al leer su diario y me alegra que la relación que antes era, en mi opinión, bastante fea y distante, se haya convertido en algo hermoso. Mi madre es mi persona favorita en todo el mundo y ella cruzó la frontera ¡tres veces! Esas son mis historias favoritas para contar y leer sobre una niña que no sabía nada sobre cómo su madre llegó a este país, colombiana o no, fue bastante triste.
Al final, Rojas Vann tiene una nota agradable en la que desea que este libro impulse a las personas a adorar más su cultura y patria y creo que esa es la lección más importante de esta novela. Porque si eres alguien como yo que lleva su bandera en alto y con todo el orgullo del mundo, deberías servir de ejemplo a quienes no lo hacen. Y si eres alguien como Melanie que no se ha dado cuenta de lo afortunada que es de ser hija de inmigrantes, de que sus padres son superhéroes y de que tener una cultura es una bendición y no siempre algo garantizado, entonces este libro es para ti.
Consumo todos los libros que puedo de autores colombianos, y siempre es un placer encontrar un autor colombiano de los Estados Unidos. En el pasado me he sentido decepcionada porque casi siempre en estos casos el tema de tal libro es el mismo que este: ser hijo de inmigrantes y lo que es ser americana-colombiana, pero los autores y sus protagonistas nunca llegan a la misma conclusion de que Johanna Rojas Vann/Melanie sí llega, así que esos libros no son nada del otro mundo; ¡este, sin embargo, es una joya!
Por último, tengo que decir que los productos Goya NO se venden en Cali, es una blasfemia, lo sé, pero envío sazón y adobo a toda hora a Cali porque mi madre no puede vivir sin ellos.
¡Johanna Rojas Vann tiene mi estampilla de talento nacional!
September 8, 2023
A fabulous book. I was initially draw to this book because of the connection to Colombia - being married to a Colombian is probably the best gift I have ever gotten in my life - from the food, the family, the dancing (oh the dancing) to the rich culture and amazing and beautiful country. Side note: did you know Colombians are the happiest people in the world?!? I can tell you it’s true!
This book shows you two perspectives of what it took for Anita to leave Colombia in hopes of helping her family whom she left behind. It moves to the future and her daughter, Melanie, who didn’t know anything about her moms journey. Really breathtaking and something I will be thinking about for awhile. Strongly encourage you to read this debut novel!
So often people paint a poor picture of immigrants - we should all open our eyes and our hearts and listen to the stories they could share!
This book shows you two perspectives of what it took for Anita to leave Colombia in hopes of helping her family whom she left behind. It moves to the future and her daughter, Melanie, who didn’t know anything about her moms journey. Really breathtaking and something I will be thinking about for awhile. Strongly encourage you to read this debut novel!
So often people paint a poor picture of immigrants - we should all open our eyes and our hearts and listen to the stories they could share!
Read
August 31, 2023DNF AT 40%
What an insufferable FMC. She's giving Oreo. Ifykyk
What an insufferable FMC. She's giving Oreo. Ifykyk
April 13, 2024
《Maybe the missteps that brought her here hadn't been missteps after all.》
♡melanie: writer, fully columbian and fully american
♡anita: the carvajal women kick down doors
I'll admit I haven't read much about central and South American immigrants. But just like June Hur's books sparked my interest in Korean culture, An American Immigrant might just do that for central and South American culture, specifically Columbia. This novel was well written and fascinating- heartbreaking and hopeful. Looking forward to see what else Johanna Rojas Vann will write!
Content:
Physical abuse
Language (God's name in vain in Spanish)
A woman is strip searched by airport security
Ages 15+
♡melanie: writer, fully columbian and fully american
♡anita: the carvajal women kick down doors
I'll admit I haven't read much about central and South American immigrants. But just like June Hur's books sparked my interest in Korean culture, An American Immigrant might just do that for central and South American culture, specifically Columbia. This novel was well written and fascinating- heartbreaking and hopeful. Looking forward to see what else Johanna Rojas Vann will write!
Content:
Physical abuse
Language (God's name in vain in Spanish)
A woman is strip searched by airport security
Ages 15+
January 29, 2025
Really wanted to give this a three and a half. The literary quality and mastery is not there, but this story has a lot of heart and wants to communicate how worthwhile it is for daughters of immigrants to reconcile with their mothers and their countries. There was some pretty clumsy plot signaling/predictable plot turns, pero también tenía su encanto. Not a terrible read, and better than "Crying in H Mart" for how she recommends reconciling with your immigrant mother. If Crying in H Mart will be most appreciated by teenagers, An American Immigrant may be most appreciated by young professionals/women in low to mid twenties.
January 23, 2024
3.5 it was interesting to read about Columbia as well as Anita’s journey to America but the writing fell a little flat for me - it seemed simple or YA. I also didn’t really feel close to any of the characters even as I felt for their plight. This book might be good in a middle school classroom as a real look at immigration and its effects. Comparing it in my mind to American Dirt, it doesn’t come close. I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway for my honest opinion.
October 6, 2024
I absolutely devoured this book. I felt myself relating so much to Melanie being a latina woman who doesn’t fully speak spanish & didn’t have the best ties to my heritage growing up. This book made me feel like in a way I was reading about myself. I also relate so much to not being confident in my writing ability but being so fueled by the passion of writing. I think reading this book truly sparked a flame in me again.
September 20, 2023
I really enjoyed An American Immigrant. Author Johanna Rojas Vann weaved family stories together to highlight first and second generation immigrant experiences in a way that was truly beautiful and engaging. I loved the complex mom and daughter relationship, the peek into Colombian culture throughout, as well as the dual timeline structure.
December 2, 2024
Especially at the beginning the main character seemed to endlessly whine about her work troubles, and I considered abandoning the book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ at that point. But the part in Colombia and the multicultural aspect was ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and very strong. Uneven, but a first novel. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator was excellent.
September 30, 2023
Yay, Johanna! 💘 I love the message & heart of this story.
December 28, 2023
Captivating story that I had difficulty putting down!
January 21, 2024
fantastic book
This book was so good! It was beautifully written, and so captivating. I couldn’t put it down. I recommend this book to everyone. Bravo!
This book was so good! It was beautifully written, and so captivating. I couldn’t put it down. I recommend this book to everyone. Bravo!
March 9, 2024
Achei bem bonita a historia da Melanie aprendendo mais sobre a historia da sua mãe e a avó. E como ir entrando em contato com as suas raizes ajudou ela a descobrir quem ela é. Esse topico de não saber aonde pertencem é tao forte e tão comum entre imigrantes e a primeira geração de descendentes.
August 11, 2023
I really loved this story! The writing was fresh, and the characters especially Anita, Genesis, and Alba were incredible! I loved the theme of discovering your roots and identity. The journal entries helped the story be even more rich. Just so well-written for a debut novel. Highly recommend!
Thank you Netgalley and WaterBrook Multnomah for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you Netgalley and WaterBrook Multnomah for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
May 17, 2024
For the authors first book, this was great! I look forward to the next one. I was immersed in Anita’s journal and couldn’t wait to keep finding out more about her journey from Colombia to the US. I enjoyed that it had English and Spanish writing and could relate to so many parts of this book. The characters developed well throughout and I felt like I was part of their journey. Overall, well written!
I enjoyed that there were three generations (Melanie, her mother Anita and her abuela Alba) and each had a different POV but in the end, they all had similar perspectives as to why people immigrated (and continue to immigrate) to the US. While Melanie didn’t know about nor care about her mother’s sacrifices in her younger years, she grew a curiosity that taught her more about her roots and identity. Would definitely recommend for Hispanic heritage month (or any month). Seeing how the title and cover of the book developed into the book itself felt like it brought it all together and made me proud of Melanie. Bonus: there are questions at the end that can be discussed during book club!
I enjoyed that there were three generations (Melanie, her mother Anita and her abuela Alba) and each had a different POV but in the end, they all had similar perspectives as to why people immigrated (and continue to immigrate) to the US. While Melanie didn’t know about nor care about her mother’s sacrifices in her younger years, she grew a curiosity that taught her more about her roots and identity. Would definitely recommend for Hispanic heritage month (or any month). Seeing how the title and cover of the book developed into the book itself felt like it brought it all together and made me proud of Melanie. Bonus: there are questions at the end that can be discussed during book club!
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