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Illegally Yours

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What to expect

A funny and poignant memoir about how as a teenager, TV writer Rafael Agustin accidentally discovered he was undocumented—and how that revelation turned his life upside down.

Growing up, Rafa’s parents didn't want him to feel different because, as his mom told him: "Dreams should not have borders." But when he tried to get his driver's license during his junior year of high school, his parents were forced to reveal his immigration status. Suddenly, the kid who modeled his entire high school career after American TV shows had no idea what to do—there was no episode of Saved by the Bell where Zack gets deported! 

While his parents were relieved to no longer live a lie in front of their son, Rafa found himself completely unraveling in the face of his uncertain future. Illegally Yours is a heartwarming, comical look at how this struggling Ecuadorian immigrant family bonded together to navigate Rafa's school life, his parents' work lives, and their shared secret life as undocumented Americans, determined to make the best of their always turbulent and sometimes dangerous American existence. 

From using the Ricky Martin/Jennifer Lopez “Latin Explosion” to his social advantage in the ‘90s to how his parents—doctors in their home country of Ecuador—were reduced to working menial jobs in the US, the family's secret became their struggle, and their struggle became their hustle. An alternatingly hilarious and touching exploration of belonging and identity, Illegally Yours revolves around one very simple question: What does it mean to be American?

"This award-winning TV writer's immigration journey is an astonishing take on the American Dream told with wit, grit and inspiration." ―People Magazine

"[A] comedic and heartfelt memoir ... Agustin writes with a deft humor that juxtaposes poignant memories with wry observations, highlighting the people who showed him kindness and helped him carve out his successful career. Under its breezy tone, this memoir is an honest exploration of the stamina and sacrifices it takes to dream in spite of the violence of borders. “ ―Library Journal

Critics Review

"Funny is where the heart is. But this book is more than just funny––it’s candid, discerning, and truthful in the most specific and humane ways about what it means to be an immigrant, undocumented or not, in America. A writer of immense heart, Rafael Agustín pierces through these pages." —Jose Antonio Vargas, founder of Define American and best-selling author of Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen
“You cannot change someone’s mind before first changing their heart. Rafael Agustin's Illegally Yours does that with one of the most divisive issues in America today: immigration.”—Alyssa Milano
Author Rafael Agustin
Narrator Rafael Agustin
Duration 7 hours and 38 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9781668604519
Format Audiobook
Publisher Hachette Audio
Genre Biography: general, Child care and upbringing: advice for parents, Ethnic studies, Humour, Memoirs, Relationships and families: advice and issues
Availability US

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