Name: The Book of Unknown Americans
ISBN: 9780385350846

Cristina Henríquez

Moving from Mexico to America when their daughter suffers a near-fatal accident, the Riveras confront cultural barriers, their daughter's difficult recovery and her developing relationship with a Panamanian boy. By the author of Come Together, Fall Apart. 75,000 first printing.

The Book of Unknown Americans

sash.

3.5/5 stars

This was my first book read for 2016 and what I nice start it was. I started it at the hairdresser's this morning because I needed the distraction and finished it all in a day. It's a bit of a quick read. 

Although I didn't find any of the characters personally affecting, I did tear up in bits of it. More than anything family is at the centre of the immigrant experience/immigration and this book did a good job of illustrating that. 

I really liked the stories of Maribel, Mayor and Alma. I wish the story had taken the time to focus on Quisqueya's story a bit and explore her life more, as well as, a few other characters. Not all ends were tied up neatly, which might lead to the possibility of another story in the future. 

All in all, a good book.

milly

Mani Mohan

3.5. 

I would have loved to listen to less of Mayor (he seemed a bit creepy) and more of other adults in the community, and their stories/immigrant journey. As an immigrant, I was able to relate to lot of what was discussed. Looking forward to read more latinx authors.

Elyssa Parker

Etel Yamilette Conde Gonzalez

This really impacted me in so many ways! The ending killed me and it made me realize and understand so many things. Brought some tears & memories, i have lived this and understand this 100%.

A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF 2014We had been planning our life here for so long. Filling out papers, hoping, praying, waiting. We had all of our dreams pinned on this place, but the pin was thin and delicate and it was too soon to tell whether it was going to hold much of anything at all. When Alma Rivera arrives in Newark, Delaware she is brim full of the promise and possibilities of her new American home. Hope that her luminous daughter Maribel will be helped by the specialist education the US can provide, and faith that her husband Arturo will flourish in a country that celebrates the hard-working and the talented. But the reality of life without status, money, family and friends soon becomes apparent. And when violence casts its shadow, Alma realizes that her biggest mistake was assuming that everything that could go wrong in their lives already had . . . In this tale of great imagination and grace, Cristina Henríquez gives voice to the stories of the displaced and unknown - the untold stories of our time that resonate for us all.

Lena

When I found out about this book's existence I suddenly needed it immediately. I loved it so much. I laughed and cried and thoroughly enjoyed it the whole way through. Not only does it tell the story of the main characters but each side character/family is given their own section to tell their story. This was so beautiful to me, not only showing that these two families that the main story centered on weren't stereotypes but that nobody truly was. Everyone had their own past, their own reason to leave their homes, and everyone was a person. A lot of the time immigrants are ignored and a lot of the time side characters aren't able to tell their own story but this book let them.

Pratik M

When Alma Rivera arrives in Delaware she is full of the promise and possibilities of her new home. Hope that her daughter Maribel will be helped by the specialist support US education can provide, and faith that her husband Arturo will flourish in a country that celebrates the hard-working. But life without status, money, family and friends soon becomes unmanageable and violent. Told through a range of perspectives written with compassion and grace, Cristina Henríquez gives voice to the displaced and the unknown, and shows what it means to uproot your life in search of something better.

Moving from Mexico to America when their daughter suffers a near-fatal accident, the Riveras confront cultural barriers, their daughter's difficult recovery and her developing relationship with a Panamanian boy.

The Book of Unknown Americans

Reviews

Highlights