September 29, 2013

Spotlight & Giveaway: The Secret Side of Empty

The Secret Side of Empty by Maria Andreu
Series: N/A
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Publication Date: March 11, 2014
What's it like to be undocumented?  High school senior M.T. knows all too well.  With graduation and an uncertain future looming, she must figure out how to grow up in the only country she's ever called home... a country in which she's "illegal."

M.T. was born in Argentina and brought to America as a baby without any official papers. And as questions of college, work, and the future arise, M.T. will have to decide what exactly she wants for herself, knowing someone she loves will unavoidably pay the price for it.  On the way, M.T. must navigate first love, letting go of her childhood friends as they begin a life she can't share, a difficult relationship with a father who grew up a world away and a mother struggling to find her way in America.  What is it like when the only country you've ever known says you don't belong?  The Secret Side of Empty offers an intimate, often surprising glimpse into a story you often hear on the news but have never heard told this way before.

Author Maria E. Andreu draws from her personal experience as a former undocumented immigrant to explore issues of belonging, keeping secrets and what it's like to be undocumented.  More than that, The Secret Side of Empty is a story that will touch anyone who has ever felt excluded or unsure about the future or has kept a secret she felt was too big too share.

Maria E. AndreuAbout the Author:
Maria’s writing has appeared in Newsweek, The Washington Post and the Star Ledger.  Her debut novel, The Secret Side of Empty, is the story of an “illegal” high school senior.  It was inspired by Maria’s own experiences as an undocumented teen.  Since becoming a citizen, Maria has run her own business and has become a soccer mom. She lives with her 13-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son in northern New Jersey.

Connect with her:
Website || Twitter || Facebook || Pre-Order The Secret Side of Empty

Giveaway:
To enter the giveaway, you'll need to go to Maria's website and make a comment on her blog post for today. Winners will be randomly selected tomorrow!! Prizes: A $250 Amazon Gift Card, and a Kindle Fire. These are separate prizes-- you could win either or! (:

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