Cristina Henriquez – författare

‘A gorgeous, sweeping epic’ ANN NAPOLITANO'A master of prose'WASHINGTON POST‘One of my favourite writers' ROXANE GAY‘Spectacular’ JOANNE SEFTON‘I didn’t want it to end’ SARA SHERIDAN A breathtaking historical novel following the incredible construction of the Panama Canal and casting light on the unsung people who lived and laboured in its shadow – by acclaimed author Cristina Henríquez. It is said that the Canal will be the greatest feat of engineering in history. But first, it must be built.Ada Bunting, a bold sixteen-year-old from Barbados, arrives alone in Panama as a stowaway alongside thousands of other West Indians seeking work in the grand building project of the Canal. Francisco, a local fisherman, resents the foreign nations clamouring for a slice of his country, but nothing is more upsetting for him than his son Omar’s decision to work as a digger. For Omar, whose upbringing was quiet and lonely, this job offers a chance to finally find connection and independence. Scientist John Oswald has come from further afield. He has journeyed to Panama in pursuit of one goal: eliminating malaria. But everything hangs in the balance as his wife Marian falls ill herself.When John witnesses an act of bravery and compassion from Ada one day, he hires her on the spot as a caregiver for his wife. This fateful decision sets in motion a sweeping tale of ambition, loyalty, and sacrifice.Breathtaking and impossible to put down, The Great Divide explores the lives of the labourers, fishmongers, journalists, protesters, doctors and soothsayers who lived alongside the construction of the Canal – those rarely acknowledged by history even as they carved out its course.'Henríquez writes gorgeously, creating indelible characters whom you’ll never want to leave' Justin Torres, author of Blackouts‘A masterful weaving together of different lives… I can't stop thinking about it’ Hester Musson, author of The Beholders‘Henríquez writes beautifully … Stunning’ Haleh Agar, author of Out of Touch

‘A gorgeous, sweeping epic’ ANN NAPOLITANO'A master of prose'WASHINGTON POST‘One of my favourite writers' ROXANE GAY‘Spectacular’ JOANNE SEFTON‘I didn’t want it to end’ SARA SHERIDAN A breathtaking historical novel following the incredible construction of the Panama Canal and casting light on the unsung people who lived and laboured in its shadow – by acclaimed author Cristina Henríquez. It is said that the Canal will be the greatest feat of engineering in history. But first, it must be built.Ada Bunting, a bold sixteen-year-old from Barbados, arrives alone in Panama as a stowaway alongside thousands of other West Indians seeking work in the grand building project of the Canal. Francisco, a local fisherman, resents the foreign nations clamouring for a slice of his country, but nothing is more upsetting for him than his son Omar’s decision to work as a digger. For Omar, whose upbringing was quiet and lonely, this job offers a chance to finally find connection and independence. Scientist John Oswald has come from further afield. He has journeyed to Panama in pursuit of one goal: eliminating malaria. But everything hangs in the balance as his wife Marian falls ill herself.When John witnesses an act of bravery and compassion from Ada one day, he hires her on the spot as a caregiver for his wife. This fateful decision sets in motion a sweeping tale of ambition, loyalty, and sacrifice.Breathtaking and impossible to put down, The Great Divide explores the lives of the labourers, fishmongers, journalists, protesters, doctors and soothsayers who lived alongside the construction of the Canal – those rarely acknowledged by history even as they carved out its course.'Henríquez writes gorgeously, creating indelible characters whom you’ll never want to leave' Justin Torres, author of Blackouts‘A masterful weaving together of different lives… I can't stop thinking about it’ Hester Musson, author of The Beholders‘Henríquez writes beautifully … Stunning’ Haleh Agar, author of Out of Touch

‘A gorgeous, sweeping epic’ ANN NAPOLITANO''A master of prose''WASHINGTON POST‘One of my favourite writers'' ROXANE GAY‘Spectacular’ JOANNE SEFTON‘I didn’t want it to end’ SARA SHERIDANA breathtaking historical novel following the incredible construction of the Panama Canal and casting light on the unsung people who lived and laboured in its shadow – by acclaimed author Cristina Henríquez.It is said that the Canal will be the greatest feat of engineering in history. But first, it must be built.Ada Bunting, a bold sixteen-year-old from Barbados, arrives alone in Panama as a stowaway alongside thousands of other West Indians seeking work in the grand building project of the Canal. Francisco, a local fisherman, resents the foreign nations clamouring for a slice of his country, but nothing is more upsetting for him than his son Omar’s decision to work as a digger. For Omar, whose upbringing was quiet and lonely, this job offers a chance to finally find connection and independence. Scientist John Oswald has come from further afield. He has journeyed to Panama in pursuit of one goal: eliminating malaria. But everything hangs in the balance as his wife Marian falls ill herself.When John witnesses an act of bravery and compassion from Ada one day, he hires her on the spot as a caregiver for his wife. This fateful decision sets in motion a sweeping tale of ambition, loyalty, and sacrifice.Breathtaking and impossible to put down, The Great Divide explores the lives of the labourers, fishmongers, journalists, protesters, doctors and soothsayers who lived alongside the construction of the Canal – those rarely acknowledged by history even as they carved out its course.''Henríquez writes gorgeously, creating indelible characters whom you’ll never want to leave'' Justin Torres, author of Blackouts‘A masterful weaving together of different lives… I can''t stop thinking about it’ Hester Musson, author of The Beholders‘Henríquez writes beautifully … Stunning’ Haleh Agar, author of Out of Touch

‘A gorgeous, sweeping epic’ ANN NAPOLITANO 'A master of prose'WASHINGTON POST ‘One of my favourite writers' ROXANE GAY‘Spectacular’ JOANNE SEFTON‘I didn’t want it to end’ SARA SHERIDAN A breathtaking historical novel following the incredible construction of the Panama Canal and casting light on the unsung people who lived and laboured in its shadow – by acclaimed author Cristina Henríquez. It is said that the Canal will be the greatest feat of engineering in history. But first, it must be built.Ada Bunting, a bold sixteen-year-old from Barbados, arrives alone in Panama as a stowaway alongside thousands of other West Indians seeking work in the grand building project of the Canal. Francisco, a local fisherman, resents the foreign nations clamouring for a slice of his country, but nothing is more upsetting for him than his son Omar’s decision to work as a digger. For Omar, whose upbringing was quiet and lonely, this job offers a chance to finally find connection and independence. Scientist John Oswald has come from further afield. He has journeyed to Panama in pursuit of one goal: eliminating malaria. But everything hangs in the balance as his wife Marian falls ill herself.When John witnesses an act of bravery and compassion from Ada one day, he hires her on the spot as a caregiver for his wife. This fateful decision sets in motion a sweeping tale of ambition, loyalty, and sacrifice.Breathtaking and impossible to put down, The Great Divide explores the lives of the labourers, fishmongers, journalists, protesters, doctors and soothsayers who lived alongside the construction of the Canal – those rarely acknowledged by history even as they carved out its course.'Henríquez writes gorgeously, creating indelible characters whom you’ll never want to leave' Justin Torres, author of Blackouts‘A masterful weaving together of different lives… I can't stop thinking about it’ Hester Musson, author of The Beholders‘Henríquez writes beautifully … Stunning’ Haleh Agar, author of Out of Touch

‘A gorgeous, sweeping epic’ ANN NAPOLITANO''A master of prose''WASHINGTON POST‘One of my favourite writers'' ROXANE GAY‘Spectacular’ JOANNE SEFTON‘I didn’t want it to end’ SARA SHERIDANA breathtaking historical novel following the incredible construction of the Panama Canal and casting light on the unsung people who lived and laboured in its shadow – by acclaimed author Cristina Henríquez.It is said that the Canal will be the greatest feat of engineering in history. But first, it must be built.Ada Bunting, a bold sixteen-year-old from Barbados, arrives alone in Panama as a stowaway alongside thousands of other West Indians seeking work in the grand building project of the Canal. Francisco, a local fisherman, resents the foreign nations clamouring for a slice of his country, but nothing is more upsetting for him than his son Omar’s decision to work as a digger. For Omar, whose upbringing was quiet and lonely, this job offers a chance to finally find connection and independence. Scientist John Oswald has come from further afield. He has journeyed to Panama in pursuit of one goal: eliminating malaria. But everything hangs in the balance as his wife Marian falls ill herself.When John witnesses an act of bravery and compassion from Ada one day, he hires her on the spot as a caregiver for his wife. This fateful decision sets in motion a sweeping tale of ambition, loyalty, and sacrifice.Breathtaking and impossible to put down, The Great Divide explores the lives of the labourers, fishmongers, journalists, protesters, doctors and soothsayers who lived alongside the construction of the Canal – those rarely acknowledged by history even as they carved out its course.''Henríquez writes gorgeously, creating indelible characters whom you’ll never want to leave'' Justin Torres, author of Blackouts‘A masterful weaving together of different lives… I can''t stop thinking about it’ Hester Musson, author of The Beholders‘Henríquez writes beautifully … Stunning’ Haleh Agar, author of Out of Touch

Dos familias cuyas esperanzas chocan con el destino. Y una extraordinaria novela que nos ofrece una poderosa y nueva definición de lo que significa ser americano.Arturo y Alma Rivera han vivido toda la vida en México. Un día, Maribel, la hija a la que tanto quieren, sufre un grave accidente y la probabilidad de que se recupere completamente es poca. Dejando todo atrás, los Rivera emigran a los Estados Unidos con un solo sueño: que en este país de tantos recursos y oportunidades, Maribel se recupere.Cuando Mayor Toro, cuya familia es de Panamá, ve a Maribel en un Dollar Tree, es amor a primera vista. También es el principio de una amistad entre las familias Rivera y Toro, y de una red de culpa, amor y responsabilidad que es el núcleo de esta novela.Intercalado en sus historias están los testimonios de mujeres y hombres que han llegado a los Estados Unidos de todo Latino América. Sus viajes y voces te inspirarán, y te partirán el corazón.Intrigante, irónica e inmediata, humana y llena de espíritu, El libro de los americanos desconocidos es una obra rebosante de fuerza y originalidad.

“A triumph of storytelling. Henríquez pulls us into the lives of her characters with such mastery that we hang on to them just as fiercely as they hang on to one another and their dreams. This passionate, powerful novel will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page.” —Ben Fountain, author of Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk   A boy and a girl who fall in love. Two families whose hopes collide with destiny. An extraordinary novel that offers a resonant new definition of what it means to be American. Arturo and Alma Rivera have lived their whole lives in Mexico. One day, their beautiful fifteen-year-old daughter, Maribel, sustains a terrible injury, one that casts doubt on whether she’ll ever be the same. And so, leaving all they have behind, the Riveras come to America with a single dream: that in this country of great opportunity and resources, Maribel can get better. When Mayor Toro, whose family is from Panama, sees Maribel in a Dollar Tree store, it is love at first sight. It’s also the beginning of a friendship between the Rivera and Toro families, whose web of guilt and love and responsibility is at this novel’s core. Woven into their stories are the testimonials of men and women who have come to the United States from all over Latin America. Their journeys and their voices will inspire you, surprise you, and break your heart. Suspenseful, wry and immediate, rich in spirit and humanity, The Book of Unknown Americans is a work of rare force and originality.This eBook edition includes a Reading Group Guide.

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.