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 mom and dad 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 and that most of her extended family, including 63 first cousins, knew the truth but never told her. In that instant, the reality Carlyn had lived with her entire life shattered. This revelation fueled her year long journey to find the answers to “Who the hell am I and where do I belong?” Questions that led her to unearth a truth she could never have foreseen.

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.

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

REVIEWS

“Utterly engaging from start to finish, an astonishing story 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.”

Maria Jacquemetton, Emmy award-winning television writer and producer

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“Montes De Oca tells two interwoven stories with sensitivity and courage....She succeeds commendably with both.”

Robert Basler, former reporter and senior editor for Reuters

“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.”

Julie Ryan McGue, award-winning author

“An astonishing tale, told by a gifted storyteller. Beautifully written, emotionally engaging and unrestrained in its intimacy…This book is evidence; as heartbreaking as it is heartfelt.”

Jay Rabinowitz, award-winning film editor of Requiem for a Dream

“Carlyn’s prose and descriptions are like music that seduces and lights up our senses.”

Gary W. Goldstein, producer of Pretty Woman and Under Siege

“Riveting, poignant, and unexpected, Montes De Oca’s story reminds me why I love the memoir genre!"

Suzanne Simonetti, USA Today bestselling author

“A can’t-put-down read from start to finish."

Maria Milito, national radio personality

"From the very first sentence of Junkyard Girl, we pull up to a spot right next to the determined, spunky and grace-full Montes De Oca -- and stay with her every step of the way. And what an inspirational, inspiring trip it is.”

Karen Pearlman, journalist

“A skilled and entertaining writer, Montes De Oca engages us throughout with her prose, but it’s the unique and fascinating story of her adoptive mother that keeps us flipping pages. That and the two…big…secrets. One you’ll discover early on. The other? You’ll have to wait until the (satisfying) conclusion!”

David Aretha, award-winning author

"Told with honesty and humor, Carlyn Montes De Oca’s remarkable memoir takes the reader through a story infused with emotion and depth."

James Wong, writer-producer and Golden Globe winner of The X-Files

“Junkyard Girl is a poignant story of one woman's struggle to claim her true self. Written in eloquent prose, Montes De Oca invites us into her life, which ultimately inspires readers to better understand their own."

Bella Mahaya Carter, award-winning author

"....a narrative of acceptance, forgiveness, and the complex bonds of family—those we share blood with and those we’ve spilled blood with."

Sara Easterly, author

"An uplifting and inspirational must read.”

Meg Nocero, award-winning author

"Carlyn conveys with determination and optimism what it’s like to search for the truth of one’s identity later in life. The result: Junkyard Girl—a treasure to behold.”

Valerie Taylor, award-winning author

“Junkyard Girl is an engrossing book that instantly connects you to a Latinx story of family, secrets, and identity. I immediately wanted to know more.”