Whatis“identity“whenyou’reagirladoptedasaninfantbyaCubanAmericanfamilyofJehovah’sWitnesses?Theanswerisn’teasy.Youwon’tfinditinbooks.Andyoucertainlywon’tfinditintheneighborhood.ThisisjustthebeginningofJoyCastro’sunmooredlifeofsearchingandstrivingthatshe’sturnedtoaccountwithliteraryalchemyinIslandofBones.Inpersonalessaysthatplumbthedepthsofnot-belonging,Castrotakestheall-too-rawmaterialsofheradolescenceandyoungadulthoodandviewsthemthroughtheprismoftime.Theresultisanexquisitelyrendered,richlydetailedperspectiveonauniquelytroubledyounglifethatreflectsonthelargerquestionseachofusfacesinaworldwherediversityandsingularityareforeveratodds.Intheexperiencesofherpast--hungerandabuse,flightasafourteen-year-oldrunaway,singlemotherhood,therevelationsofher“true“ethnicidentity,thesuicideofherfather--Castrofindsthe“jagged,smashedplaceofedgesandfragments“thatshepiecestogethertocreateanislandallherown.Hersisacomplicatedbutveryrealdepictionofwhatitisto“jumpclass,“tonotbelongbuttofindone’svoiceintheintersticesofidentity.
IDENTITY ISLAND BONES TRUE YEAR
