52 pages 1 hour read

Valeria Luiselli

Lost Children Archive

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2019

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Before You Read

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli follows an unnamed family on a cross-country journey while paralleling the harrowing experiences of migrant children from Mexico. The story intertwines recordings, maps, photos, and literary references to depict both the family's disintegration and the refugee crisis, emphasizing the personal and collective trauma faced by all. The book explores themes of migration, family separation, and systemic injustice.

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Valeria Luiselli's Lost Children Archive masterfully intertwines a family road trip with the migrant crisis, showcasing her inventive narrative style and emotive prose. While some find the fragmented storytelling challenging, its depth and cultural relevance resonate profoundly. Critics commend its ambitious scope but note it may require patient readers.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Lost Children Archive?

A reader who enjoys Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli is likely drawn to literary fiction that blends personal and political narratives, especially with a focus on immigration and family. Admirers of The Road by Cormac McCarthy and The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead will appreciate its intricate storytelling and poignant themes.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Action / Adventure

Latin American Literature

Modern Classic Fiction

Topics

Immigration / Refugee

History: U.S.

Themes

Emotions/Behavior: Memory

Identity: Language

Society: Immigration