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About the Book
One morning, Deming Guo's mother, Polly, an undocumented immigrant from China, goes to work at a nail salon and never returns. Deming is lost and cannot understand how his mother could leave him. Eventually adopted by a couple of well-meaning white professors, Deming moves from the Bronx to a small town up north and is now called Daniel. But he cannot leave his roots behind and continues to wonder who he really is.
A novel about growing up, wandering in a world where everyone is left to fend for themselves, about friendship, trust, and the need to be loved.
Lisa Ko reflects on what people leave behind and those who leave: a mother leaves her family, people leave their old lives, moving from place to place in search of a home where they want to stay.
Polly's portrait in the book is original and unlike anything else. Told from two perspectives - son and mother - this story is not only about a teenager's coming of age but also about an imperfect parent who plays a decisive role in the child's fate.
What, in our opinion, this book is about:
- About the boundaries of love and freedom
- About how to find one's place in the world
- About whether there are immutable values in life
- About what is stronger: kinship of souls or blood, and the feeling of being different, dissimilar
- About imperfect children and imperfect parents
Awards and Honors
The book won the PEN/Bellwether Prize (an award given to works of fiction that address issues of social inequality) and was a finalist for the National Book Award.
Also, the book 'The Leavers' was named the best book of the year by: NPR, Entertainment Weekly, the Los Angeles Times, BuzzFeed, Bustle, and Electric Literature
Why We Decided to Publish This Book
This book is our first foray into serious fiction. We decided to seek and publish books that allow us to talk to young readers about complex, problematic issues. We prioritize books that make us doubt, learn about ourselves, and understand the complex and contradictory nature of human beings, reflect on the world around us, and keep asking ourselves new questions, without trying to paint the world in black and white. We think this is exactly such a book.
Who This Book Is For
For teenagers and adults who are not afraid to ask themselves difficult questions and seek answers. For everyone who loves quality fiction that continues classical traditions. For those who are looking for their place in the world.
About the Author
Lisa Ko is an American writer, born in New York, but, being the daughter of Chinese immigrants, felt misunderstood in society.
'The Leavers' is her debut novel, which has earned the respect of critics and the love of readers.
Critics note that 'Lisa Ko has managed to create a realistic work, in which both external details and circumstances, as well as the inner world of the characters, their motives, and emotions, are very accurately described. Ko is so insightful and adept at quick glances she casts on the inner life and surroundings of the characters, so skillfully handles empathy, that the book brings genuine intellectual joy.'
About the Translator
Sergey Karpov, in collaboration with Alexey Polyarinov, prepared the first official translation of the legendary novel 'Infinite Jest' by David Foster Wallace. Karpov's translations of works by American authors (David Foster Wallace, Tom Piccirilli, Kevin Maloney, Don DeLillo, Warren Ellis, Ted Williams, etc.), previously unknown to Russian-speaking readers, have gained popularity online.
Author:
Author:Ko Lisa
Cover:
Cover:softcover
Category:
- Category:Biographies & Memoirs
- Category:Fiction
Publication language:
Publication Language:Russian
Paper:
Paper:offset
Dimensions:
Dimensions:21x14x2.5 cm
Series:
Series:MYTH. Prose
Age restrictions:
Age restrictions:18+
ISBN:
ISBN:978-5-00146-498-3
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