Dispossessed - by Désirée Zamorano (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Manuel Galvan is separated from his parents and sister during the mass expulsion of Mexicans and Mexican Americans in the 1930s. He grows from a small, lost and confused boy into a wandering and angry teenager pushed out of high school and into the dockyards. Later as a loyal, passionate husband he is a man searching for a life of value and dignity despite his losses. Set against the backdrop of (Mexican) American history in Los Angeles, forced deportations, the demolition of Chavez Ravine, sterilization of Latinas, student protests and rising political consciousness, this story spans his life, from 6 to 60, and his search for his missing family, the missing pieces of his life.

Review Quotes

"Dispossessed is a heartfelt, moving work about an episode of Los Angeles history long erased from our collective memory. Désirée Zamorano brings to light the human toll of the mass deportations of the 1930s, and the fortitude of those who endured them."
Héctor Tobar, author of Our Migrant Souls "Epic in its scope yet intimate in its storytelling, Dispossessed is a deeply powerful novel about injustice and resilience, racism and wholeness, separation and longing, and the ways that sometimes, knowing who we are and staying soft in this hard world is the journey that shapes a lifetime."
Natalia Sylvester, author of Everyone Knows You Go Home "What an epic, immersive, tale Désirée Zamorano has woven, a beautiful, moving story of family, of longing and belonging, of injustice, of friendship, of love, of the deep power of place. Just as Manuel could see his story reflected in The Fiddler on the Roof, I could see my own family reflected in Dispossessed. By the time I finished reading, Manuel and his loved ones had become my own kin; they and this novel will forever hold a place in my heart".
Gayle Brandeis, PEN/Bellwether prize-winning author. "Dispossessed is a compelling novel set against the hidden history of the terrible treatment of Mexican-Americans in 20th-century California beginning with the forced expatriation of Mexicans, including naturalized citizens, during the Depression, the destruction of the vibrant neighborhoods by real estate speculators and the ghastly medical procedures practice on unsuspecting Latinas. Yet through it all, as this novel eloquently shows, the community survived and thrived. An important addition to Latinx literature."
Michael Nava, author of The City of Palaces "Dispossessed by Désirée Zamorano is a beautiful and necessary story, tenderly told, that spans the vicissitudes of Mexican American history in twentieth-century California. Richly detailed yet quickly paced, offers the moving tale of one man, one family, and the extraordinary endurance of love. 'We are all each other's families, ' as one character says, and Zamorano's enchanting storytelling makes it feel true. Admirers of Gregory Nava's My Family/Mi Familia will love this heartbreaking, heartwarming novel".
Joy Castro, author of One Brilliant Flame "A beautiful elegiac masterpiece which begins with the fictional life of a young Mexican American boy, Manuel, as he navigates a new life in Los Angeles' Chavez Ravine without his biological parents and sister. Author Désirée Zamorano reveals her great love and respect for her community as Manuel perseveres against racist laws and attitudes through key moments of his adult life in Southern California. Readers will be firmly in Manuel's corner, rooting for his personal happiness and also transformation of American politics. Dispossessed is such a necessary work; I laud Zamorano's dedication to realize this story that deserves a large readership."
Naomi Hirahara, author of Mary Higgins Clark Award-winning Clark and Division and Evergreen "Few novels have captured the scope of Latino L.A. the way Dispossessed does. Sweeping, lyrical, gut-wrenching -- yet hopeful."
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times columnist "As the whitewashing of American history takes a terrifying turn, Dispossessed is essential reading. Focusing on one man, Manuel, Désirée Zamorano embarks on a heartbreakingly honest journey through the history of 20th-century Mexican Americans in California. She bravely breaks silences, knocks down stereotypes, and demands that crucial stories be listened to with compassion. At the same time she explores the intimate beauty of a maligned culture and illuminates the dignity that every human being deserves."
Kim Fay, National Bestselling Author of Love & Saffron

About the Author

Born and raised in Los Angeles Dé siré e Zamorano is the author of the highly acclaimed literary novel, The Amado Women. Her novel Human Cargo was Latinidad's mystery pick of the year. She is a Pushcart prize nominee and award-winning short story writer. Her work is often an exploration of issues of invisibility, injustice, or inequity. A selection of her writing can be found in Catapult, Cultural Weekly, The Kenyon Review Online, and Akashic's South Central Noir. She teaches linguistic and cultural diversity at Cal State Long Beach.