The Leavers

In "The Leavers," Deming Guo, an 11-year-old boy, faces life-altering challenges after his mother, an undocumented Chinese immigrant, disappears one day without a trace. Adopted by two white college professors and renamed Daniel Wilkinson, he grapples with his new identity in a small town far from his Bronx roots. The narrative explores themes of belonging and the impact of separation, as Daniel navigates his memories and the absence of his mother, while she too confronts her past decisions. Set against the backdrop of New York and China, this poignant story delves into the complexities of family and cultural identity.