Delaware, OH -- The Delaware County District Library (DCDL) welcomes New York Times recognized author Cristina Henríquez for a free after-hours speaking engagement open to the public. She will speak on Friday, October 9 at 7 p.m. at the Delaware Main Library, located at 84 E. Winter St. in Delaware.
Henríquez’s novel, The Book of Unknown Americans, was chosen as the Library’s focal point for DelawaREADS, their fall community read. Nearly 500 copies of the book were ordered and distributed to the Library’s four branches for six book groups to read and discuss.
The Book of Unknown Americans tells the stories of the Rivera and Toro families. The Riveras move to America from Mexico in hopes of giving their daughter Maribel, who has sustained a debilitating head injury, a better life. At their apartment complex they meet the Toros from Panama, who also have a son the same age as Maribel. For the children, it’s love at first sight. For the families, it’s the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Woven into their stories are the testimonials of men and women who have come to the United States from all over Central and Latin America.
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 as one of the best books of the year by BookPage, Oprah.com, and School Library Journal. It was also longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction. Henríquez earned her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. She lives in Chicago.
Fundamentals Parent Teacher Store will provide copies of Henríquez’s book for purchase during the talk. Books may be ordered in advance by calling 740-363-0290.
Henríquez’s visit is partly funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association. The Latino Americans: 500 Years of History grant is part of an NEH initiative, The Common Good: The Humanities in the Public Square.