Until someone listens : a story about borders, family, and one girl's mission

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Title:

Until someone listens : a story about borders, family, and one girl's mission

Author:

Juarez, Estela, author.

Norman, Lissette, author.

Martínez, Teresa, 1980- illustrator.

Summary:

Estela’s family lives together in a happy home full of love. Or, at least, they used to… until their home was torn apart. 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. -- Amazon.

Audience:

Ages 4-8 years Roaring Brook Press.

Grades K-1 Roaring Brook Press.

Edition:

First edition.

Physical Description:

1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 26 cm

Genre:

Autobiographies.

Picture books.

Creative nonfiction.

Personal Subject:

Juarez, Estela-Juvenile literature.

Subject Term:

Persuasion (Rhetoric) -- Political aspects -- Juvenile literature.

Noncitizens -- Government policy -- Juvenile literature.

Deportation -- Social aspects -- Juvenile literature.

Separation (Psychology) -- Juvenile literature.

Mothers and daughters -- Juvenile literature.

Families -- Juvenile literature.

Geographic Term:

United States -- Emigration and immigration -- Government policy -- Juvenile literature.

Mexican-American Border Region.

Author(s):

Norman, Lissette,

Martínez, Teresa, 1980-

Publisher:

Roaring Brook Press,

Publication Date:

2022

ISBN:

9781250832122

Publication Information:

New York : Roaring Brook Press, 2022.

Call Number:

P JUAREZ

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003641860	New Picture Books	JUAREZ	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

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.

Also available in Spanish as Hasta que alguien me escuche !

Author Notes

When Estela Juarez was 8 years old, her mother, Alejandra, was deported to Mexico. It was then that Estela transformed her love of writing in her diary into writing letters to her local newspaper, to Congress, and to the president. The momentum built, and her Congressman decided to step in to help. Estela's story was featured at the 2020 Democratic National Convention, inspiring the whole country. In 2021, her mother received temporary permission to return to her family. Now 12 years old, Estela still loves writing in her diary. She also enjoys making her family laugh, reading books from the library, going for long walks with her mom and dad, Cuauhtemoc, near their home in Florida, and hanging out with her big sister Pamela. Estela hopes to one day become an immigration lawyer and a Congresswoman to advocate for the unification of separated families.

Teresa Martinez grew up in a small town north of Mexico, playing in the river, walking with the cows, and feeding the neighbor's pigs. When her family decided to move to a bigger city, she became very shy, but drawing helped her connect with other children. Later, Teresa studied Graphic Design and learned traditional painting techniques in Italy. Today, she lives in Puerto Vallarta, happily drawing for kids as she did during her school days. Her books include The Little Girl with the Big Voice and The Halloween Tree .

Reviews (2)

School Library Journal Review

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.

Publisher's Weekly Review

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. (Sept.)