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Grand Central Publishing

First Gen: A Memoir

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*2X NATIONAL BESTSELLER*
Winner of the Martin Cruz Smith Award (CALIBA)
Winner of the Dolores Huerta Award (International Latino Book Awards)
2024 Council for Opportunity in Education National Book Club Selection
Longlisted for the Outstanding Works of Literature (OWL) Award for First Year Experience

An unflinching memoir and "invaluable resource" (Kirkus) about navigating social mobility as a first gen Latina--offering both a riveting personal story and an examination of the unacknowledged emotional tolls of being a trailblazer. 

Alejandra Campoverdi has been a child on welfare, a White House aide to President Obama, a Harvard graduate, a gang member's girlfriend, and a candidate for U.S. Congress. She's ridden on Air Force One and in G-rides. She's been featured in Maxim magazine and had a double mastectomy. Living a life of contradictory extremes often comes with the territory when you're a "First and Only." It also comes at a price.

With candor and heart, Alejandra retraces her trajectory as a Mexican American woman raised by an immigrant single mother in Los Angeles. Foregoing the tidy bullet points of her resume and instead shining a light on the spaces between them, what emerges is a powerful testimony that shatters the one-dimensional glossy narrative we are often sold of what it takes to achieve the American Dream. In this timely and revealing reflection, Alejandra draws from her own experiences to name and frame the challenges First and Onlys often face, illuminating a road to truth, healing, and change in the process.

Part memoir, part manifesto, FIRST GEN is a story of generational inheritance, aspiration, and the true meaning of belonging--a gripping journey to "reclaim the parts of ourselves we sacrificed in order to survive."

Book Details

ISBN: 

9781538757192

EAN: 

9781538757192

Binding: 

Paperback

Pages: 

320

Authors: 

Alejandra Campoverdi

Publisher: 

Grand Central Publishing

Published Date: 2024-06-08

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Customer Reviews

Based on 20 reviews
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raneshia
Good read, don’t give up on it

Had to read this for an English class. Thought I was going to really dislike this book. It took a bit for me to latch on to it but once I did I enjoyed picking it up to continue it.

D
Daisy Auger-Dominguez
A gift for everyone in the family!

Loved this book from beginning to end. Buying it for family, friends and colleagues.

A
Arleen Lopez
Impactful, raw, and a voice for the “first and onlys”

This book is absolutely beautiful and left a lasting impact on me. Alejandra “Medellin’s” words and journey gave voice to emotions and experiences I didn’t realize so many of us share. Her story made me feel seen and brought a sense of peace I didn’t know I needed. It’s a powerful read for anyone searching for a home between two worlds.

A
Alexander Yang
A Memoir That Inspires Resilience and Empowers Readers.

This memoir touched my heart and encouraged me to reevaluate my own struggles, reminding me that all the hard work I’ve put in truly pays off in the end. It’s a beautifully captivating story in so many ways. I am so grateful that my EWRT professor selected this memoir as our read for the Fall quarter, as it allowed us to delve into the author’s background and the hardships she's faced. Her story is both engaging and raw, and I believe many can find reflections of their own experiences as first-generation individuals in her journey. It inspires me to persist in my efforts and to maintain faith in myself, even when things don’t go as planned. The kindness and strength of the author shine through, and it’s clear that people will recognize and value you for who you are and what you can achieve. She is truly a remarkable woman.

L
Leigh Griffith
An amazing life journey that inspires

This book took me on an unexpected journey in what feels like a love letter to her family and herself. I experienced joy, sadness, pain, understanding, empathy, laughter, and ultimately inspiration. It touches on many universal truths and struggles that everyone can identify and empathize with. Through struggle, we find strength and resilience and Alejandra tells her story in such a beautiful and relatable way. I highly recommend this book. It altered parts of my soul and I felt inspired to keep going during a tough time. It is also on audible and I loved hearing it in her own voice.