When I Was Elena

A detailed and harrowing tale of encountering how the other 95% of the world lives. After spending 14 years growing up in Asia I developed genuine fear and worry about what would become of the pleasant but terribly naive peace corp. volunteers who showed up regularly in the strangest places. I must read for anyone hoping to experience the real world of abject poverty lived with joy and dignity. Rob Kendall

Reading "When I Was Elena" takes you on a journey with Ellen and Cali (her beloved german shepherd)through not only the wilds of Guatemala, but through your own experience as a female. The stories written in her voice and the voices of the women she meets during her Peace Corps journey highlight the shocking difference of everyday life in a third world country and the USA. It makes me appreciate things I completely take for granted and creates awareness and empathy in me for my sisters across the globe who strive each day to be strong, raise families, stay healthy and happy. Ellen's writing is invigorating and illustrative - I feel like I was there with her!

I have just this moment finished this exceptional book and I am nearly numb from the experience. I am in awe of Ellen's abilities both as a writer and as a survivor. Her words allowed me to easily place her in my mind's eye in each of the humorous/harrowing/touching/frightful/endearing/heart-wrenching/celebratory moments. I had to continually remind myself that these were the real experiences of a real woman and not the "written with a movie in mind" pot boilers that keep many a reader enthralled these days. Her descriptions came off of the pages in leaps and bounds and grabbed me by the collar and shook my senses to life. I'm so glad I read this book and I cannot wait to share it with others.

For me, this book was that rare book that stays with you, lingering in your thoughts far beyond expectation. While I have not had the kind of remarkable journey in a foreign land that this author portrays, I identified with the girl in Laura Ashley outfits stepping off the bus wearing her duct tape on her arm (no room in the stuffed suitcases) moving through people and experience and time to a place of maturity and awareness. This coming of age, while varying in its degrees of harshness, is universal. What I loved as much as Ms. Hiltebrand's self examination, was her glimpses into the lives of the other women she met and held close. Between each chapter written in the author's voice was a narrative from the perspective of one of the women she met on her journey. While I was unsure of how these chapters would flow after hearing of this unique approach (one which is getting a bit of eyebrow raising) once I read the first chapter or two in an alternate voice, I began to expect and welcome the interruption with anticipation of another great woman and fascinating story. Within the story there was ample opportunity to dive into multiple levels and themes, (women's studies, Guatemalan life and culture, risk and adventure, religion in the third world). In the midst of some truly sorrowful situations, humor is surprisingly used with great skill. I highly recommend reading "When I was Elena," as its a rare first novel that is this poetic or moving.

Ellen Urbani Hiltebrand's "When I Was Elena" captured me from the first words. I found it fascinating to accompany her as she relived her adventures while serving in the Peace Corp in Guatamala. I was particularly taken by her relationships with the women she encountered, the influence she had on them and they had on her. In trying to imagine myself in a similar situation, I don't think I would have had the fortitude, bravery and compassion that she exhibited, but was inspired to try to realize those qualities in myself. Hiltebrand is adept in her down-to-earth writing, with humor injected, keeping my interest to the end.