Junkyard Girl: A Memoir of Ancestry, Family Secrets, and Second Chances
"An astonishing tale, told by a gifted storyteller. Beautifully written, emotionally engaging and unrestrained in its intimacy...as heartbreaking as it is heartfelt."-Jay Rabinowitz, ACE, award-winning motion picture editor of Requiem for a Dream
Carlyn Montes De Oca grew up surrounded by secrets. She never knew her dad was a Marine during World War II or that her grandmother hired kidnappers to bring her mother back home after her parents eloped. Her parents took an even bigger secret to their graves... Carlyn's identity.
In 2019, at age 57, a consumer DNA test taken for fun revealed that Carlyn's mom and dad, immigrants from Mexico, were not her biological parents. In that instant, Carlyn felt her world shatter. This revelation fueled a year long journey to find the answers to "Who the hell am I and where do I belong?"
Junkyard Girl explores the powerful impact of long-held secrets and the complex relationships between immigrant mothers and their native-born daughters. This is a coming-of-age story later in life; a tale about loss and discovery, betrayal and forgiveness, and the true meaning of an American family.
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"Too many memoirs simply narrate a life story. Montes De Oca invites readers to live in her world and memories alongside her, capturing the passionate overlay of the past with an attention to detail that is the hallmark of excellence. Junkyard Girl is a cut above the ordinary. Very highly recommended." -Midwest Book Review
"What happens when you discover you are not who you thought you were? Buried secrets. Lies. A DNA test. These are the details that make Junkyard Girl a spell-binding, gut-wrenching page turner. Carlyn is a late discovery adoptee. This knowledge shatters her sense of identity and belonging, forcing her to look at family in an all-new way. The writing in Junkyard Girl is lyrical, exquisite. The story is unpredictable and true-the perfect recipe for a memorable read." -Julie Ryan McGue, award-winning author of Twice a Daughter
"Junkyard Girl is an astonishing tale, told by a gifted storyteller. Beautifully written, emotionally engaging and unrestrained in its intimacy, it is an honest account of a life unravelling. But as it is doing so, we do indeed begin to feel 'the divine hand at play.' This book is evidence; as heartbreaking as it is heartfelt. In the end, it is a celebration of the deepest mysteries of life, asking who we really are and where we really come from. A delightful read." -Jay Rabinowitz, ACE, award-winning motion picture film editor of Requiem for a Dream
"With brazen vulnerability, warmth, humor and emotional courage, Carlyn Montes De Oca takes us on a journey rife with laughter, tears, her junkyard childhood and a surprising secret enormous enough to eclipse everything she knew about herself as a fully-formed adult. Carlyn's prose and descriptions are like music that seduces and lights up our senses. She pours us into an irresistible and unimaginable tale that makes Junkyard Girl a most unexpected delight!" -Gary W. Goldstein, Producer of Pretty Woman and Under Siege
"I was spellbound by this author's life. Family secrets can sometimes knock us off the course we were on and return us to an entirely different world. And the thing about secrets is we never know when the truth will be revealed nor how it will affect our lives. Riveting, poignant, and unexpected, Montes De Oca's story reminds me why I love the memoir genre!" -Suzanne Simonetti, USA Today bestselling author of The Sound of Wings
"Utterly engaging from start to finish. An astonishing memoir of a secret adoption and a beautifully rendered tale of complicated family dynamics, the secrets we keep and the gifts we give to each other....Carlyn has beautifully, and honestly, detailed her inner life, conflicts, and emotional journey of discovery and resolution - all with a healthy dose of humor. Reading this book has given me a clearer understanding of what my own adopted daughter may be feeling, or what she might go through in the future." - Maria Jacquemetton, Emmy award-winning television writer and producer
"Junkyard Girl captures the surprising and emotional journey of a decades-old secret adoption. Told with honesty and humor, Carlyn Montes De Oca's remarkable memoir takes the reader through a story infused with emotion and depth. With vivid details and a longing for the truth, Junkyard Girl grapples with the meaning of familia, and the discovery of self." -James Wong, writer-producer and two-time Golden Globe winner of The X-Files
