In The Farmer's Daughter, Rose Castillo Guilbault describes what it means to grow up Mexican in America. Her narrative highlights the divided identity and prejudices she and her family experienced in California. Her experience is both similar and different from that of many immigrant groups who came to America before her. Throughout the novel, Guilbault portrays the dichotomy between maintaining his family's Mexican heritage and cultural traditions while at the same time attempting to assimilate into American culture. She repeatedly describes situations in which she and her parents adapt their personalities to conform to social situations. In a way they had a double identity, one Mexican and one American. When Guilbault was in elementary school he quickly learned to keep his private life separate from his school life. She reasons: “If other kids didn't know about my family life, they would think I was like them. I could be American in school just like everyone else. (Guilbault, 2005, p. 52) María Luisa, Rose's mother, also faced this struggle during their travels in Mexico. While visiting her uncle Jando, María Luisa is greeted coldly by Tía Lupe, who admonishes her for leaving Mexico. Instead of discussing the matter, María Luisa fell silent knowing she had made the right decision. Witnessing the strange conversation, Rose notes, "My mother wasn't acting quite like herself, but then again, I had begun to notice how my mother's personality always seemed to change whenever she was with her family." (Guilbault, 2005, p. 73) Guilbault later explains the moments when they were free from the burden of pretending to be a different people: “I loved these road trips more than anything. They filled me with an intoxicating sense of freedom...... middle of paper......up. Throughout her childhood, Rose Castillo Guilbault struggled to achieve her American dream of attending college. Her story, while similar to that of the immigrants who came before her, was still uniquely hers. Her success can be attributed to the many experiences she had as a Mexican immigrant attempting to assimilate into American culture. He recalls this lesson: “Somehow Luz had learned something that I hadn't: that one must assimilate to progress” (Guilbault, 2005, p. 65). Works Cited Bayor, R. (ed.). (2004). The documentary Columba History of race and ethnicity in America. New York, NY: Columbia University Press.Dinnerstein, L., & Reimers, D. M. (2009). Ethnic Americans: A History of Immigration (5th ed.). New York, NY: Columbia University Press. Guilbault, R. C. (2005). A Farmer's Daughter: Growing Up Mexican in America. Berkeley, California: Golden Age Books.