In 'Lost Children Archive', Valeria Luiselli masterfully interweaves the story of a family road trip with the harrowing plight of migrant children at the U.S.-Mexico border. As the family's dynamics unravel amidst their journey, the narrative delves into themes of loss, displacement, and the quest for belonging. With lyrical prose and a profound exploration of how stories shape reality, the novel challenges readers to confront the often-ignored tragedies of immigration. Luiselli's unique structure, blending intimate personal experiences with the broader socio-political landscape, keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Will the family find their destination, or will the echoes of lost children haunt them forever?
By Valeria Luiselli
Published: 2020
""We have become so skilled at narrating the world, we forget that the stories we tell can shape reality itself.""
NEW YORK TIMES 10 BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR • “An epic road trip [that also] captures the unruly intimacies of marriage and parenthood ... This is a novel that daylights our common humanity, and challenges us to reconcile our differences.” —The Washington Post In Valeria Luiselli’s fiercely imaginative follow-up to the American Book Award-winning Tell Me How It Ends, an artist couple set out with their two children on a road trip from New York to Arizona in the heat of summer. As the family travels west, the bonds between them begin to fray: a fracture is growing between the parents, one the children can almost feel beneath their feet. Through ephemera such as songs, maps and a Polaroid camera, the children try to make sense of both their family’s crisis and the larger one engulfing the news: the stories of thousands of kids trying to cross the southwestern border into the United States but getting detained—or lost in the desert along the way. A breath-taking feat of literary virtuosity, Lost Children Archive is timely, compassionate, subtly hilarious, and formally inventive—a powerful, urgent story about what it is to be human in an inhuman world.
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“"We have become so skilled at narrating the world, we forget that the stories we tell can shape reality itself."”
Lost Children Archive
By Valeria Luiselli
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Valeria Luiselli is a Mexican author renowned for her innovative narrative style and exploration of themes such as migration, identity, and the complexities of modern life. Her notable works include 'Los ingrávidos' ('The Weight of Our Souls'), 'Tell Me How It Ends: An Essay in Forty Questions,' and 'The Lost Children Archive,' which received critical acclaim for its poignant storytelling and rich, multilayered narratives. Luiselli's writing often blends fiction with non-fiction, employing a unique voice that challenges traditional narrative structures and invites readers to engage with pressing social issues. She has received numerous awards for her work, including the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the American Academy of Arts and Letters Metcalf Award.
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