Lost Children Archive

An emotionally charged, highly inventive new book from the two-time NBCC Finalist about a family whose road trip across America intersects with an immigration crisis at the southwest border—an unforgettable adventure conveyed with stunning imagery, simple lyricism, and genuine empathy.

In the sweltering summer heat, a mother and father drove from New York to Arizona with their two children, a girl and a boy. The area the Apaches formerly called home, Apacheria, is where they are going.

Why are Apaches used? inquires of the 10-year-old son. His father responds, "Because they were the last of something."

They sing along to songs and play games in their automobile. However, there is news on the radio concerning a "immigration crisis" with thousands of children attempting to enter the country through the southwest border but being apprehended or becoming lost in the desert in the process.

We get the impression that the family is about to have a crisis of their own as they travel from Virginia to Tennessee, across Oklahoma, and across Texas. The children can nearly feel the crack between their parents' feet as it widens. They are inevitably brought on a thrilling and dangerous journey that takes place in both the desert and in their own heads.

Lost Children Archive is an incredible work of literary mastery, told in multiple captivating voices while fusing words, music, and images. This captivating tale explores how we preserve our memories of the things that are most important to us and how we record our experiences. It explores the essence of justice and equality in the modern world while delving deeply into the lives of one extraordinary family with urgency and sensitivity.