The Leavers

This poignant novel tackles issues surrounding borders and belonging. When an undocumented Chinese immigrant mother disappears, her son, Deming, is left shaken and adrift. He is eventually adopted by a white American family and renamed Daniel, but struggles to reconcile his new life with his memories of his past. The Leavers alternates between Daniel's and his mother Polly's perspectives, offering a complex and moving examination of the bonds that connect us. Lisa Ko's storytelling drives this novel that is required reading for anyone who wants a glimpse into the world of immigrants in America.