My Diary from Here to There – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

My Diary from Here to There

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2013

87%

WISE Score

4.7

Amazon

A young girl's diary captures the hopes and fears of leaving Mexico for Los Angeles—honest, bilingual, and deeply human.

My Diary from Here to There

book

2013

87%

WISE Score

4.7

Amazon

A young girl's diary captures the hopes and fears of leaving Mexico for Los Angeles—honest, bilingual, and deeply human.

4.7

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Screenwise Verdict

This is the kind of book that does exactly what children's literature should do: it opens a window into someone else's life while giving kids language for their own feelings.

Amada's journey from Mexico to Los Angeles is told with enough honesty that it doesn't feel sanitized, but enough hope that it doesn't feel crushing. The diary format is genius—kids see that writing down your fears actually helps, and that it's okay to be excited and terrified at the same time.

The bilingual text isn't just a nice touch; it's integral to the story. Amada worries about losing her language and her identity, and the book itself refuses to let that happen by keeping Spanish present on every page.

It's not a flashy book—no dragons, no time travel, no fart jokes. But for building empathy and emotional vocabulary? It's exceptional. And in 2025, when immigration stories are more relevant than ever, this book gives kids (and parents) a human face to put on headlines.

Age Fit

Best for ages 5-10, when kids are developing empathy for others' experiences and can grasp the complexity of bittersweet transitions. The diary format and emotional honesty work well for early elementary readers, while the bilingual text extends its usefulness for language learners.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

A tender, emotionally grounded story about family love and resilience during a major life transition. Amada's father reassures her throughout the journey, the family stays united, and her diary becomes a healthy outlet for processing fear and hope. Models emotional expression, family support, and self-belief without sugar-coating the real anxieties of immigration.

Imaginative

The diary format invites kids to see journaling as a creative tool for processing their own experiences. The bilingual text and journey across multiple Mexican cities (Juárez, Mexicali, Tijuana) to Los Angeles offers cultural richness and geographic exploration. While not fantastical, it sparks curiosity about different places, languages, and perspectives on what 'home' means.

Safe

Completely age-appropriate for young readers. Addresses immigration with sensitivity but no graphic content, violence, or trauma. The fears Amada expresses (leaving friends, learning English, missing Mexico) are relatable childhood anxieties handled with care. Pura Belpré Honor Award signals cultural authenticity and thoughtful representation.

Enriching

Builds empathy for immigrant experiences and the courage required to start over in a new country. Teaches emotional literacy through Amada's honest diary entries about fear, hope, and self-doubt. The bilingual format supports language learning and cultural understanding. Strong messages about family bonds, self-belief, and resilience. The father's reassurance that 'she is stronger than she realizes' is genuinely empowering without being preachy.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Builds real empathy for what it feels like to leave everything familiar behind, told through a child's authentic voice
Bilingual format makes it accessible for Spanish-speaking families and helps English-speakers learn alongside Amada
Shows healthy emotional processing—Amada uses her diary to work through fear rather than bottling it up
Father's gentle reassurance throughout models supportive parenting without dismissing legitimate worries
Pura Belpré Honor Award signals culturally authentic storytelling that matters

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What to Watch For

Some kids might find the immigration journey emotionally heavy if they're dealing with their own moves or separation anxiety
The story doesn't shy away from uncertainty—there's no guarantee they'll return to Mexico, which might prompt questions about permanence
Perfect for families navigating their own transitions, but might need context for kids with zero experience of moving or cultural displacement

Conversation Starters

"Have you ever had to leave something important behind? How did you feel about it?"
"Why do you think Amada's family decided to move even though it was scary?"
"What would you write in your diary if we were moving to a new place where people spoke a different language?"
"How does Amada's dad help her feel brave? What helps you feel brave when things are hard?"

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