#NetGalley Audio Book Review: Until Someone Listens by Estela Juarez

This is sad but I appreciate the determination this young woman describes in light of a frustrating failure of government officials.

Until Someone Listens
A Story About Borders, Family, and One Girl's Mission
by Estela Juarez; Lissette Norman
Narrated by Estela Juarez

Listening Length: 11 minutes
Release date: 09-13-22
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Children’s Audiobook, Immigration, Latin American, Politics
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

When Estela Juarez's mom is deported to Mexico, Estela knows she has to speak up for her family. Told in Estela's own words, Until Someone Listens is a true story about a young girl finding her voice and using it to make change.
Estela’s family lives together in a happy home full of love. Or, at least, they used to… until their home was torn apart.
My mom had to go back,
to the other side of the river,
because she wasn’t born in this country.
For years her family fought and fought for permission for her to stay in the U.S. But no one listened. When Estela was eight, her mother was deported to Mexico.
Estela knew she had to do something. So she wrote letters: to local newspapers, Congress, the President, and anyone else who could help. She wrote and wrote and wrote until, finally… someone listened.
In this heart wrenching, autobiographical story, Estela Juarez's letters take her from the local news all the way to the national stage, where she discovers the power in her words and pledges to keep using her voice until her family―and others like hers― are together again.

Review:
This is a bittersweet, sad story of separation. Eight-year-old Estela has her family torn apart when her mother is deported to Mexico as an undocumented person living in the U.S. for years. Estela’s mother came to the states illegally and later married an American serviceman. After fifteen years in America, Estela’s mother was told she had to leave.

This young lady is brave to share her feelings and struggles to get help for her family. I enjoyed the sweet, evocative prose of the work. This short book highlights the impact of deportation on families who are trying to make a good life in America.

Sadly, there is no solution forthcoming from Congress where immigration reform has been ignored or avoided (by both political parties) for years and years when some plan is desperately needed. There is little that young Estela can do but keep making her voice heard until Congress takes action. I would recommend this book for schools and families to share the struggle and talk about potential solutions.

Audio Notes: The author, Estela Juarez, narrates her own work, giving it genuine flavor. Although the reading is clear, it does not flow as smoothly as it might. Still, I am glad that I listened to her heartfelt pleas.

Source: NetGalley August 2022. This qualifies for 2022Audiobook goal.