The book of unknown americans summary from litcharts the. Alternating points of view bring to life nine families living in a dingy apartment. In love and locked out of any reasonably cool social scene in high school, mayor toro and maribel rivera are the teens at the heart of the novel. Mar 25, 2015 cristina henriquez on the unknown americans project duration.
In addition to telling the story of the rivera and toro families, the plot is interwoven with brief testimonials from other neighbors, each of whom came from a different latin american country and. The book of unknown americans is a stunning novel of hopes and dreams, guilt and lovea book that offers a resonant new definition of what it means to be american. Cristina henriquez is the author of the book of unknown americans, which was a new york times notable book of 2014 and one of amazons 10 best books of the year. The book of unknown americans tells immigrant tale newsday. Summary of 366 alma we bundled up our old life and left it behind, and then hurtled into a new one with only a few of our things, each other, and hope. Literary fiction, multicultural a dazzling, heartbreaking pageturner destined for breakout status. She cant forgive herself, because she loves maribel so much. The question and answer section for the book of unknown americans is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. A dazzling, heartbreaking pageturner destined for breakout status. Maribel has been involved in a mysterious accident and has suffered a traumatic brain injury which has left her with a flat emotional affect and number of impairments, such as shortterm memory loss and difficulty remembering certain words. The book of unknown americans is less about the actual trek of its characters than about how they settle in, make do and figure things out. That declaration bluntly articulates the theme of the book of unknown americans, as does the novels choral structure made up of firstperson reminiscences from an array of characters. One day, their beautiful fifteenyearold daughter, maribel, sustains a terrible injury, one that casts doubt on whether shell ever be. The book of unknown americans, by cristina henriquez.
Read by yareli arizmendi, christine avila, jesse corti, gustavo res, ozzie rodriguez, and gabriel romero. The american dream is most often considered, in general, to have two aspects. Alma is interviewed, too, and is asked about maribels developmental historyalma, frustrated, reminds. The story takes place in a rundown apartment building in delaware, home to nine families who arrived in the states from various south and central american. The book of unknown americans penguin random house. Maribel undergoes a series of evaluations and tests with psychologists and education specialists. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone.
A heartbreaking love story about two immigrants and their families. Jul 07, 2014 the unknowns who cristina henriquez pictures in her novel, the book of unknown americans, are those who come from south of the united states border. The unknowns who cristina henriquez pictures in her novel, the book of unknown americans, are those who come from south of the united states border. The american dreamthe idea that in america everyone, regardless of race, creed, or class, can enjoy prosperity, liberty, and the pursuit of happinessis a driving force in the lives of the characters. Get all the key plot points of cristina henriquezs the book of unknown americans on one page. The book of uknown americans by sarah kania on prezi. The book of unknown americans characters gradesaver.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the book of unknown americans. The book of unknown americans fits squarely within this tradition, eager to prove that even the most unexceptionable of immigrant experiences is every bit the equal of. The american dream is an important theme in the novel the book of unknown americans by cristina henriquez. In this spirit, the characters in cristina henriquezs new novel, the book of unknown americans, have come to the united states. The book of unknown americans is a deeply stirring story about a budding romance between two unlikely lovers, but it is also a ringing paean to love in general. Im glad it made bookpages list, and ill certainly be on the lookout for more like it. The questions, discussion topics, and other material that follow are intended to enhance your groups conversation about cristina henriquezs the book of unknown americans, a powerfully honest, unforgettable story of two families, brought together by love and tragedy, each struggling to find their place in a new country. Set at a scrappy apartment complex in delaware, the book of unknown americans is a panlatino novel, with characters from panama, venezuela, mexico and puerto rico, among other nations. These people live days steeped in uncertainty and sometimes fear, and the sacrifices that are made in a move toward a better lot in life are huge. Cristina henriquez on the concept of home in the book of. Jul 19, 2014 t he unknown americans of cristina henriquezs novel are hispanic tenants of a rundown apartment building in a downatheel delaware town. About the author cristina henriquez is the author of the story collection come together, fall apart, which was a new york times editors choice selection, and the novel the. The world in half, 2009 opens with the arrival of arturo and alma rivera, who have brought their teenage daughter, maribel, to the u.
Aug 07, 2015 the book of unknown americans by cristina henriquez vintage. Ben fountain, author of billy lynns long halftime walk a boy and a girl who fall in love. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Suspenseful, wry and immediate, rich in spirit and humanity, the book of unknown americans is a work of rare force and originality. The characters in the book of unknown americans are. There weret enough words in spanish, not enough words in english no matter how many classes i might have gone to, not enough words in any language on earth, not the right words, nothing to match the depths of what i felt. Apr 30, 2015 these people are the titular characters of cristina henriquezs novel the book of unknown americans. One day, their 15yearold daughter, maribel, sustains a terrible injury. The book of unknown americans gives powerful voice to america. We dont like feliz navidad and we dont eat tacos buzzfeed.
In particular, the novel centres on maribel rivera, a. Moving from mexico to america when their daughter suffers a nearfatal accident, the riveras confront cultural barriers, their daughters difficult recovery and her developing relationship with a panamanian boy. Cristina henriquezs powerful novel the book of unknown americans captures readers with the quiet beauty of her characters and their profoundly wrought experiences as immigrants in america. The story takes place in a rundown apartment building in delaware, home to nine families who arrived in the states from various south. The voynich code the worlds most mysterious manuscript. The book of unknown americans fits squarely within this tradition, eager to prove that even the most unexceptionable of immigrant experiences is every bit the equal of the most harrowing. Were you surprised that the book takes place in newark, delaware, rather than in the larger latin american communities of florida, new york, texas, or. Cristina henriquezs book of unknown americans the new. Alma rivera narrates roughly half of the novel, quietly assessing the precariousness of her familys new life and. The book of unknown americans gives powerful voice to. The book of unknown americans, by cristina henriquez the.
Jun 03, 2014 their journeys and their voices will inspire you, surprise you, and break your heart. In the book of unknown americans, immigrants from mexico, venezuela, guatemala, puerto rico, etc. Cristina henriquezs book of unknown americans the new york. Alma cant forgive herself for letting garrett get to maribel. And so, leaving all they have behind, the riveras come to america with a single dream. Alma, still nervous about garrett, attempts to report him to the police, but as no crime has been committed there is nothing that the authorities can do.
The book of unknown americans by cristina henriquez reading. Though they come from all over the spanish speaking world, they have more in common than they do not and what struck me most about this novel is the structure whose purpose becomes clear with the last chapter. But life without status, money, family and friends soon becomes unmanageable and violent. Cristina henriquezs the book of unknown americans the new. The book of unknown americans book charlotte mecklenburg. About this guide the questions, discussion topics, and other material that follow are intended to enhance your groups conversation about cristina henriquezs the book of unknown americans, a powerfully honest, unforgettable story of two families, brought together by love and tragedy, each struggling to find their place in a new country. A novelist of panamanian descent imagines the sweetand bitterreality of coming to america. This 36page guide for the book of unknown americans by cristina henriquez includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 28 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. They talk to one another, give advice and lend a hand. It was the daily beast novel of the year, a washington post notable book, an npr great read, a target book of the month selection, and was chosen one of the best books of the year by bookpage, and school library journal. Jul 06, 2014 the book of unknown americans is less about the actual trek of its characters than about how they settle in, make do and figure things out. This ambitious story about hispanic tenants in a rundown apartment. The book of unknown americans book chicago public library. How badly a person could want a thing money or peace of mind, or a better education for.
The book of unknown americans audiobook listen instantly. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. When alma rivera arrives in delaware she is full of the promise and possibilities of her new home. The book of unknown americans is a contemporary american novel of latino immigration by cristina henriquez. The book of unknown americans questions and answers.
While immigration has long been an important and contentious issue in the united states, the current situation with central american child refugees playing out at our border makes cristina henriquezs the. The book of unknown americans vintage contemporaries. Jun 05, 2014 when alma rivera arrives in delaware she is full of the promise and possibilities of her new home. The book of unknown americans by cristina henriquez on june 3rd 2014 pages. One day, their beautiful fifteenyearold daughter, maribel, sustains a terrible injury, one that casts doubt on whether shell ever be the same. The book of unknown americans by cristina henriquez goodreads. The book of unknown americans by cristina henriquez. A dilapidated cinderblock apartment complex surrounded by a. I enlisted in the navy, i always wanted to do something heroic. 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 hardworking. An excerpt from the book of unknown americans by cristina henriquez, a fantastic new novel about love and friendship in a multicultural immigrant community.
In cristina henriquezs the book of unknown americans, an array of characters from latin america talk directly about their reasons for. A dilapidated cinderblock apartment complex surrounded by a chainlink fence is the setting for cristina henriq. Maribel has been involved in a mysterious accident and has suffered a traumatic brain injury which has left her with a flat emotional affect and. Jul 11, 2014 that declaration bluntly articulates the theme of the book of unknown americans, as does the novels choral structure made up of firstperson reminiscences from an array of characters. It was the daily beast novel of the year, a washington post notable book, an npr great read, a target book of the month selection, and was chosen one of the best books of the year by. Cristina henriquezs the book of unknown americans the. Fornecemos, em parceira com as maiores editoras do pais, os pdfs dos primeiros capitulos dos principais lancamentos editoriais. Cristina henriquez arturo and alma rivera have lived their whole lives in mexico.
Jun 24, 2014 the book of unknown americans is a deeply stirring story about a budding romance between two unlikely lovers, but it is also a ringing paean to love in general. Arturo and alma rivera have lived their whole lives in mexico. From the first pages i was captivated by the sustained voices of the characters written with such grace and dignity as i felt their humanity, hopefulness, and despair to do what they had to do ensure a better life for their children and often, times themselves. When mayor toro, whose family is from panama, sees maribel in a dollar tree store, it is love at first sight and the. The book of unknown americans is a 2014 novel by cristina henriquez published by knopf. This passionate, powerful novel will stay with you long after youve turned the final page. I considered myself a feminist before i even needed a training bra, so its been second nature to me to gravitate toward books written by women. While centered on a banal teenage romance between two tenants, this novel not only creates bittersweet portraits of latin american immigrants in the united states, but also tells a compelling story of loss and forgiveness. Goodreads members who liked the book of unknown americans al. The book of unknown americans summary and study guide. Jun 03, 2014 a family from mexico settles in delaware and strives to repair emotional and physical wounds in henriquezs dramatic pageturner. Cristina henriquezs the book of unknown americans gives a powerful and moving glimpse into the immigrant experience for many latin american people. Arturo and alma rivera bring their teenage daughter, maribel, across the mexicou.
Jun 03, 2014 cristina henriquezs the book of unknown americans gives a powerful and moving glimpse into the immigrant experience for many latin american people. The novel primarily revolves around a romance between two latino teenagers maribel rivera from mexico, and a mayor toro from panama and how maribel and her family handle living in a. The book of unknown americans by cristina henriquez vintage. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in the book of unknown americans, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Cristina henriquez is the author of the book of unknown americans, which was a new york times notable book of 2014 and one of amazons top 10 books of the year. The story is told from multiple first person points of view. The book of unknown americans gives voice to an entire society of people who struggle and work for the hope of better livesbut these lives dont necessarily turn out as they may have dreamed. The novel primarily revolves around a romance between two latino teenagers maribel rivera from mexico, and a mayor toro from panama and how maribel and her family handle living in a new country.