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Title details for An American Immigrant by Johanna Rojas Vann - Available

An American Immigrant

A Novel

by Johanna Rojas Vann
Allison Strong
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available
CHRISTY AWARD WINNER • A Colombian American journalist tries to save her career by taking an assignment somewhere she never thought she’d go—Colombia—in this heartwarming debut novel about rediscovering our family stories.
“A beautiful homage to a mother’s bravery and to the grace and grit that is our inheritance.”—Alicia Menendez, MSNBC anchor and creator and host of the Latina to Latina podcast
International Latino Book Award Gold Winner for Best First Book—Fiction; Silver Winner for The Isabel Allende Most Inspirational Fiction • Tennessee State Book Award Finalist
Twenty-five-year-old Melanie Carvajal, a hardworking but struggling journalist for a Miami newspaper, loves her Colombian mother but regularly ignores her phone calls, frustrated that she never quite takes the time to understand Melanie’s life. When the opportunity arises for a big assignment that might save her flagging career, Melanie follows the story to the land of her mother’s birth. She soon realizes Colombia has the potential to connect her, after all these years, to something she’s long ignored: her heritage, the love of her mother, her family, and the richest parts of herself. 
Colombia offers more than a chance to make a name for herself as a writer. It is a place of untold stories.
Inspired by real-life events, An American Immigrant is a story of culture and community, of abiding commitment to family, and of embracing our culture and the generations that have come before.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    August 15, 2023

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780593791516
      • File size: 275094 KB
      • Duration: 09:33:06

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Library Journal

      February 1, 2024

      Twenty-five-year-old Melanie Carvajal works as a journalist for a struggling Miami newspaper. Though she doesn't feel especially connected to her cultural heritage, she volunteers for an assignment in Cali, Colombia, her mother's hometown, in the hope that it will revitalize her languishing career. Her Colombian grandmother's 90th birthday is also coming up, so the assignment will give Melanie a chance to connect with her extended family at the celebration. During her brief stay in Cali, Melanie unearths her mother's journals and learns about her complicated past and the path that led her to the United States. As she comes to better understand her mother's experiences, she realizes that she wants to write a different Colombian story. Rather than focusing on the drug trade and violence, she wants to highlight the positive, joyful parts of the country's culture. Vann's debut novel, read by Colombian American narrator Allison Strong, speaks to the push and pull experienced by many immigrants and their children--belonging to two countries but still feeling like an outsider in both. Strong's narration, conveying the determination, sincerity, and grace of Melanie's family and newfound community, makes for a moving listening experience. VERDICT This novel about the importance of one's family and culture should appeal to readers of Leah Franqui and Angie Cruz.--Joanna M. Burkhardt

      Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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