The Secret Side of Empty

As a straight-A student with a budding romance and loyal best friend, M.T.'s life seems as American as apple-pie. But M.T. hides a fact to the contrary: her status as an undocumented immigrant.

With senior year of high school kicking into full swing, M.T. sees her hopes for a "normal" future unraveling. And it will take discovering a sense of trust in herself and others for M.T. to stake a claim in the life that she wants.

Author Maria E. Andreu draws from her personal experience to tell a story that is timely, relevant, and universally poignant.


2015 CLASP Américas Award Commended Title

"With immigration reform a hot button issue across the country, this book couldn't be timelier. Written with the compassion and raw emotions of one who has lived in the shadows herself, Andreu's debut offering is a winner."
Booklist

"M.T., like many undocumented youth, is resilient and determined to rise above her circumstances to make a life in the only country she has ever known as home. Andreu has crafted an empathetic yet gritty narrative; readers will ache for M.T. as they are let into her secret life."
Kirkus Reviews

"M.T's immediate, jaundiced, and worldly perspective is eye-opening and wrenching." Publishers Weekly

 

"...a captivating look at the life of one young immigrant and the challenges so many like her face. Andreu deftly captures the protagonist's desires, despair, and determination in this peek at a side of American life not often seen in YA literature."