After They Left

***Gold Medal Winner of the ILBA Mimi Lozano Best Family History Book, and from the author of the award-winning "Waiting on Zapote Street" and "Brothers: A Pedro Pan Story." Betty Viamontes, a multi-award-winning author, is celebrated for her honest and authentic storytelling that captivates readers from the first page. Her works, often rooted in true stories, are renowned for their engaging narratives.

In April 1980, a family is jolted awake by loud banging and screams at their door. Government officials have arrived to take them to Havana's Port of Mariel, where a boat awaits to ferry them to the United States. Yet, not all will embark on this journey. Two sisters, inseparable residents of Zapote Street, are torn apart. Laura departs with her three children, reuniting with her husband after a twelve-year forced separation. Her sister, Berta, remains with her husband, Antonio, and their two daughters, as their departure is denied. Following Laura's departure, Berta's family is branded as traitors by the state. Shunned by neighbors and kin alike, they endure the constant threat of assault, vitriol, and potential death by state-endorsed mobs. Their lives hang in the balance.

The family's daily battle to remain united and alive strips them of sleep, health, and vitality, jeopardizing the very little they possess.