Names on a Map: A Novel
Names on a Map: A Novel by Benjamin Alire Sáenz is a haunting exploration of the immigrant experience set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War. Published by Harper Perennial on February 5, 2008, this edition spans 423 pages and is presented in English. The narrative follows the Espejo family from El Paso, Texas, as they navigate the psychological turmoil of a conflict they feel disconnected from, particularly when their eldest son, Gustavo, faces the draft.
Readers will find a poignant examination of identity and belonging as Gustavo grapples with his decision to flee to Mexico to avoid military service. The novel delves into the complexities of immigrant life in the United States, highlighting the emotional struggles faced by those caught between two cultures. Names on a Map offers a reflective look at the impact of war on families and the intricate ties that bind them to their heritage and homeland.
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“A book of great lyrical power, Names on a Map is a heartbreaking mirror for our own time, about an American family torn apart by an unjust war. In Ben Saenz’ dexterous, tender hands, this novel is a salve upon the wounds of both then and now.” —Ruben Martinez, award winning author of Crossing Over: A Mexican Family on the Migrant Trail
A haunting novel from award-winning author and poet Benjamin Alire Saenz, about a family of Hispanic immigrants handling the psychological effects of a war they don’t feel is theirs to fight
In 1967, at the height of the Vietnam War, the Espejo family of El Paso, Texas, is just like thousands of other American families coping with a war they feel does not concern them. When Gustavo, the eldest son—the “bad boy” of the family—is told to report for basic training, his ideology and sense of patriotism is put to the test.
Opting to flee to Mexico and avoid the draft, Gustavo soon realizes he is no more culturally connected to his ancestral homeland than he is to the America that called him to war. Poignant and insightful, Names on a Map explores with complex detail the harsh nature of immigrant life in the United States—and the emotional tug-of-war experienced by all those with allegiance to more than one country.
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