Mother Island

Praise

“With a mosaic approach keenly represented by its cover, Jamie Figueroa’s Mother Island is a story of self-creation…a valiant work of cultural excavation, and a deft guide to understanding the narratives that shape us all.”
—Elle

“A lushly written, deeply felt investigation into the meanings of home, lineage and selfhood—Figueroa thoughtfully examines the contours of what is given to us, & what can be chosen.” 
—Melissa Febos, bestselling author of Body Work and Girlhood

“A memoir of re-assemblage in which fragments of the author’s memories from childhood to the present are collaged to create a receptacle in which Figueroa can recollect, recognize and claim what it means to be Boricua. Figueroa’s text is both lamentation and reclamation. Upon reaching its final pages, one can only imagine her ancestors standing proud, returning with solemn grace the beauty of her collective acknowledgement.”
—Myriam J. A. Chancy, author of What Storm, What Thunder and Harvesting Haiti


“Mother Island rings with deep vulnerability and compassion. A beautiful poetic book.”
—Tiphanie Yanique, Center for Fiction First Novel Prizewinning author of Love and Drowning

“A compelling memoir that explores the complexities of identity, heritage, and connection to Puerto Rico….Figueroa’s prose weaves together themes of belonging and self-discovery, creating a narrative that resonates with anyone seeking to understand the intricate ties between personal identity and cultural heritage.”
—Hispanic Executive

“Poignant and layered…As [Figueroa] recounts unlearning to relearn, she explores motherhood, lineage, legacy and reclamation.”
—Ms. Magazine

“Figueroa enchantingly shifts and sifts through her memories…her exceptional command of her craft builds narrative tension while granting force to the way her personal history mirrors geopolitical devastation and imbuing her voice with the power of one no longer unclaimed by, but ready to lay claim to. A searching and lyrical memoir packed with nuance and depth.“
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)