Novel of Immigrant Lives in America Picked for One Book, One Community

Michael Lionstar

Cristina Henríquez, author of "The Book of Unknown Americans."

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Book of Unknown Americans, a widely acclaimed novel from 2014 by Cristina Henríquez, is the 2017 selection for the University of Arkansas One Book, One Community project. Members of the university community and the Northwest Arkansas community are encouraged to read and discuss the book during the fall semester.

Henríquez will give a free public lecture on campus on Thursday, Nov. 2, and will meet with members of area book clubs at the Fayetteville Public Library for a luncheon on Friday, Nov. 3.

The Book of Unknown Americans tells the stories of Latino immigrants, living legally in Delaware, and of their family lives, aspirations, struggles, successes and failures – their lives revealing the dreams and the dangers of the immigrant experience.

“Immigration is obviously an important national issue – it has been for several years, and no doubt will continue to be part of the diversity narrative in the United States,” said Kevin Fitzpatrick, co-chair of the One Book, One Community committee. “It is part of our mission to select books that help people in the campus and local community to better understand, engage in discussions and make decisions on these important issues.”

The committee made a special effort to make its selection early this year to give faculty time to decide if they can make it a part of their class curriculum in the fall. Members feel this year’s book may have a broader appeal because it is a novel.

“This is the first time the committee members selected a work of fiction since we started the program in 2009,” said committee co-chair David Jolliffe. “We have read some excellent books in previous years, examining some of the most important issues facing the country. There are times, however, when a novelist can take the reader deeper into an experience than a non-fiction author can. “We felt this was the case with The Book of Unknown Americans. Cristina Henríquez writes so clearly, and so beautifully, that readers feel they are living the story themselves.

The Book of Unknown Americans was a New York Times Notable Book of 2014 and one of Amazon’s Top 10 Books of the Year. It was the Daily Beast Novel of the Year, a Washington Post Notable Book, an NPR Great Read, and was chosen one of the best books of the year by BookPage, Oprah.com, and School Library Journal.

Henríquez is the daughter of a Panamanian immigrant father. She earned her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. She lives in Chicago.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.