My Family Divided: One Girl's Journey of Home, Loss, and Hope

Why does Diane spend most of her life keeping her experiences and family history a secret? How does she eventually turn her story into a powerful tool for change?

How did Diane find the courage to rise above her circumstances and pursue her dreams? What steps did she have to take along the way, and what obstacles did she encounter?

Diane believes in turning pain into a learning experience or opportunity for self-improvement. How does she demonstrate this in the memoir?

Undocumented immigrants face both social stigma and the risk of deportation every day. How does Diane propose these issues be addressed?

Make a comparison of Guerrero’s original memoir and this text adapted for younger readers. How and why do you think alterations were made?

Analyze Guerrero’s narrative voice and describe its effect using close examples from the text.

What role does Guerrero’s relationship with Mami signify? Consider its symbolic as well as literal significance.

The memoir presents Guerrero’s parents’ choices to move to the US as complex and ambiguous. Analyze the ways in which the memoir deals with parental responsibility and personal judgment.