Jose Antonio Vargas

Jose Antonio Vargas is the book's author, narrator, and main character. Born in the Philippines and raised by a single mother, Jose was put on a plane at just twelve years old and was sent to live with his grandparents in the United States. Though his mother was supposed to follow, she never did, and Jose was raised in America by extended family. What Jose did not know until he was a teenager was that he was brought to the United States illegally and is living there as an undocumented immigrant.

Jose is smart, kind, and hardworking from a young age. He is determined to embrace American culture, to do well in school, and to make a valuable contribution to society. As a teenager, Jose falls in love with journalism which he uses both as a way to make a contribution and to feel a...