The Leavers book by Lisa Ko

The Leavers book by Lisa Ko

The Leavers by Lisa Ko is a powerful contemporary novel about immigration, identity, and the emotional cost of separation within families.

The story begins when Deming Guo, a young boy in New York, is suddenly left behind when his undocumented Chinese immigrant mother, Polly, disappears after going to work one day. Deming is eventually adopted by a white family and renamed Daniel Wilkinson, growing up with a new identity that slowly distances him from his past. Meanwhile, Polly’s story unfolds separately, revealing the hardships that led to her disappearance and the life she builds elsewhere.

As the two narratives converge, the novel explores what it means to belong, to be lost, and to rebuild identity across borders, languages, and cultures. Buy in Kenya with fast delivery.

What you’ll learn

• Immigration and undocumented life in America
• Mother–child separation and family trauma
• Identity, adoption, and belonging
• Cultural displacement and assimilation
• The emotional cost of migration

Who should read it

• Readers of literary fiction
• Fans of immigrant and diaspora narratives
• Anyone interested in family separation themes
• Readers who enjoy emotionally layered storytelling

Why buy The Leavers from Readers’ Republik

• Buy in Kenya with fast delivery straight to your doorstep
• Curated collection of world literary fiction
• Simple and reliable online book shopping experience
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