Vida

by Patricia Engel

First published 2013

Sabina grows up caught between worlds. Her Colombian parents have made New Jersey home, but classmates call her Chocolat or the Indian because her skin differs from theirs. She moves through New York, Miami, and Bogotá, carrying these encounters with her as she transforms from teenager to woman. Nine episodes capture different moments in this journey. Her family shapes her, especially her brother. Friends come and go. Love arrives and departs. Each experience adds another layer to who she becomes. The places change but the questions remain the same. Where does she belong? Who gets to decide? Sabina's story unfolds across these cities and years, showing how a young woman builds her identity from the pieces others try to define for her.

Genres: literary-fiction, american-fiction, coming-of-age, contemporary, 21st-century, family-drama

Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking

Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family

Setting: New Jersey, New York, Miami, Bogotá

Period: 21st-century

192 pages · Pocket Book · Distribooks Inc

More by Patricia Engel

Readers who liked Vida also liked

View on Siftivo