"Author/narrator Estella Juarez takes listeners on the heartrending journey of her family's immigration struggle....her message is powerful, heartbreaking, and hopeful."- AudioFile Magazine
This program is read by the author, Estela Juarez.
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.
A Macmillan Audio production from Roaring Brook Press.
Until Someone Listens
A Story About Borders, Family, and One Girl's Mission
2 of 2 copies available
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
September 13, 2022 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9781250865359
- File size: 5672 KB
- Duration: 00:11:48
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Languages
- English
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Levels
- Lexile® Measure: 640
- Text Difficulty: 2-3
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Reviews
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October 10, 2022
At eight years old, Estela Juarez wrote to the 45th U.S. president “about how his administration separated my military family instead of protecting it,” making national headlines. This moving autobiography by Juarez, written with Norman, offers a fuller context of the family’s story. Juarez grew up “in a house of full of love,” so apparent that “the palm trees outside leaned toward our home like they wanted to come inside.” When she was four, a government official threatened to deport Juarez’s mother to Mexico “because she wasn’t born in this country.” Then, “one August morning, that nightmare became real,” resulting in a family divided across borders and Estela taking up letter-writing “until someone listens.” Sun-dappled, tropical-colored digital artwork by Martínez illustrates family togetherness, while separations are indicated by scribbled shadows. Endnotes deliver final outcomes; a Spanish-language edition is also available. Ages 4–8. -
Author/narrator Estella Juarez takes listeners on the heartrending journey of her family's immigration struggle. Estella's mother arrived in the U.S. illegally when she was 18. When Estella was eight years old, her mother was deported back to Mexico. The family tried everything to get her back to the U.S. Estella wrote to newspapers, magazines, and even to the president of the United States in a desperate attempt to raise awareness. Now 13, Estella has a soft, feminine voice that reminds listeners of her youth. At times, her narration is stilted; nevertheless, her message is powerful, heartbreaking, and hopeful. The production is enhanced by soft music and sound effects. A note by the author delves into the details of the family's ordeal. A.M. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine -
January 1, 2023
PreS-Gr 3-Juarez, just 13, makes both her authorial and narration debut with her family's story of devastating separation. Juarez's mother left her native Mexico at 18, eventually married a U.S. Marine, had two daughters, and "live[d] together in a house full of love" in Florida. But Juarez's mother was undocumented and, when Juarez was four, government officials arrived to warn the family that "my mom had to go back-to the other side of the river-because she wasn't born in this country." Four years later, her mother was deported back to Mexico. Despite her youth, Juarez wrote to Congress, President Trump, newspapers, "anyone who could help...I discovered my words have power." Juarez's ending author's note reveals the family's fate-with a thank you to President Biden. VERDICT Citing John Lewis's March as inspiration to write her own book, Juarez is another heartening voice for justice.
Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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