Notoriously not prolific (yet beloved!) writer Junot Díaz has announced plans for a children’s book titled, “Islandborn,” a 48-page picture book featuring illustrations by Leo Espinosa.
Díaz can add the book to a short pile that includes two short-story collections and his wildly popular 2007 novel “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.” In addition to books, Diaz occasionally writes essay, including a much-needed salve written in November for Americans brokenhearted by the results of the election titled “Radical Hope.”
“Islandborn” stars Lola, a Dominican-born girl who lives in Washington Heights, a Manhattan neighborhood known for its Dominican population. When Lola is assigned homework describing her homeland, she reaches out to family members to help her complete the project.
According to the NY Times, “Some relatives share joyful stories, while others recall heartbreaking and frightening moments from the country’s dark past. Lola draws pictures and begins to assemble her own version of the island from the conflicting fragments of her family’s stories.”
“It ties to my own Dominican immigrant identity,” said Díaz, who was born in Santo Domingo and grew up in New Jersey. Díaz conceded, “It’s a lot harder than it looks to write a story for kids.”
Published by Dial Books for Young Readers, “Islandborn” should hit shelves in spring 2018.
