"Rodriguez . . . brings heart and humor to universal issues such as race, motherhood and survival, often through the lens of Latinx experiences." — Los Angeles Times

"Aida Rodriguez is part of the next wave of talented comedic storytellers that I dreamt about when I was trying to break down barriers in the industry. Besides being a fierce Latina powerhouse, she’s FUNNY AS HELL! So buy this book. No really, BUY THIS BOOK!!! I don’t want any problems, ya heard?!" — John Leguizamo, Emmy- and Tony Award-winning actor, writer, and producer

"Funny doesn't come easy. Sometimes funny comes from humiliation, heartbreak, and a lifetime of hard knocks. Sometimes it rises like a phoenix from the ashes. Legitimate Kid is a tribute to Aida's comedic art—to her ability to dig down, bring up the pain, and transform it magically, mercifully into stories that lighten the load. This is a book that confronts not only the question of ‘illegitimate’ birth, but also the larger question of social legitimacy, of one’s place in a heartless caste system, of the business of being a Latina. It will stay with you for a very long time." —  Marie Arana, author of American Chica, Bolívar, Silver, Sword, and Stone, and the forthcoming LatinoLand

"Legitimate Kid is a significant book for the culture. It speaks to those in society who feel ostracized and marginalized by America’s institutions that are designed to maintain the status quo. The book demonstrates how Aida evolved into a frontline warrior in the fight to legitimize and raise the value of African Americans, Latino Americans, and Afro-Latino Americans. She speaks truth in such a transparent and courageous way about the challenges within her community and the importance of holding each other accountable, while making us laugh along the way. I know, without a doubt, readers will love this memoir." — Ben Crump, Civil Rights Attorney and author of Open Season

"Aida's journey will inspire you not only to conquer your goals but your fears. What a delight it was to emerge myself in Legitimate Kid." — Julissa Arce, author of You Sound Like a White Girl

2023-08-25
A comedian and actor reckons with a lifetime of familial heartache.

Instead of packing the book with humor, Rodriguez largely details somber, even harrowing experiences. “I am grieving my losses, feeling my own pain, giving myself grace, and understanding why I operate the way I do,” she writes. The author focuses her nonlinear narrative around her long alienation from her absent father and her extremely difficult childhood. “I didn't know how bad it was,” she writes, “until we were so broke that we had to go out and beg for food.” She describes being molested by her mother’s boyfriend, before being sent to live with other relatives. “My mother was a young mom and she did a lot of things wrong,” writes the author. “She didn’t know better.” When Rodriguez became pregnant as a teenager, her mother beat her with a belt and pressured her to have an abortion. She chronicles how a divorce served as an impetus for her move to Los Angeles, and she candidly delineates a series of tribulations, including a tumultuous five-year relationship. A few years ago, the author met her father for the first time, and she “felt like a fool” when he asked for money. Refreshingly, Rodriguez opts for compassion, forgiveness, and gratitude. Only the final chapter chronicles getting her start as a comedian. “Stand-up comedy gave me the voice I never thought I had,” she writes. “After spending my life searching for validation, it became the place where I found it.” In 2013, she got her first real break, as a finalist on Last Comic Standing, after which she “became a full-time comic.” The author’s resilience is undeniable, but the narrative is often disjointed and repetitive, demonstrating that she is still finding her voice as a writer.

A genuine memoir that suffers from a lack of organization.