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Reviewed by Rolanda Lyles for Readers' Favorite
In Junkyard Girl: A Memoir of Ancestry, Family Secrets, and Second Chances by Carlyn Montes De Oca, we find that the author grew up surrounded by a family that loved her and tried to protect her. Her parents were immigrants from Mexico who had nothing, although they fought to give their kids a better life. The family had become hoarders, filling their home with things they had collected in case someone needed them. Her mother, Mary Montes De Oca, was the defender of the family and ruled with an iron fist. As Carlyn grew older, she noticed that there were big differences between her and the rest of her family. Even her interests and talents were not like theirs. Slowly, her older siblings left their junkyard home to go to school and find jobs, but the tension between her and her mother grew. She wanted freedom, but mami held on even more tightly. It seemed as if anything she enjoyed was taken away, and she slowly began to resent and hate. Carlyn looked forward to the day she could be free of her suffocating mami and their junkyard prison, but when she discovered the reason behind her mother's overbearing actions, could their relationship be repaired?
Carlyn Montes De Oca's memoir Junkyard Girl chronicles her coming of age and discovering her lineage. Carlyn's story is about the love and protection of her family. They all come together as shields that keep her sheltered in a cocoon of secrets. The story also shows how strong a mother's love can be. Mary is a strong and proud woman, but eventually, pride leads to their relationship hitting an impasse. Carlyn's story is moving and told from the heart. No family is perfect, and all families have secrets, but one thing that I think Carlyn realized at the end is that they all loved her and only did what they thought was right. Bonds of love are more substantial than any blood ties. Join Carlyn as she relates her story of discovering her family's history and who she is in Junkyard Girl.
