Once I Was You: Finding My Voice and Passing the Mic

Maria Hinojosa's memoir recounts her upbringing in a Mexican immigrant family in Chicago, where she grappled with the complexities of identity, racism, and the pressures of adolescence. As a curious child with big dreams, she navigates the difficulties of being a Latina in a mostly white neighborhood while staying attuned to the world around her. The narrative follows her struggle to find her own voice, culminating in the moment she hears herself on national radio for the first time. Throughout the book, she offers candid reflections on immigration, discrimination, and the obstacles she overcame on her path to becoming an award-winning journalist.