Overview
A major bestseller and prize-winner in France: a young man journeys from Paris to Rwanda to discover the truth about his mother's past and the country of her birth, from the internationally renowned Rwandan-French novelist and hip-hop artist Gaël Faye
"Gaël Faye’s talent is breathtaking.” —Imbolo Mbue
“A writer of great promise and grace.”—Chigozie Obioma
Faced with the prospect of having to repeat a year in school, twelve-year-old Milan tells his mother the first lie he can think of: his bad grades are due to the genocide in Rwanda, his mother's homeland. In reality, he knows little about Rwanda or his mother's past, which she has kept secret from Milan. Soon after, Claude arrives, a boy from Rwanda the same age as Milan with a mysterious wound and shadowy backstory. Thrilled to have a new playmate, Milan treats Claude as a brother until one day, he is gone, back to Rwanda as quickly as he came.
Four years later, after his parents' painful divorce, Milan travels for the first time to Rwanda, encountering a beguiling country and family members he never knew existed. After reuniting with Claude, Milan finally seeks answers to his many questions: about their friendship and the truth of what happened there. Over the course of many years, Milan will return to Rwanda again and again, sometimes with his mother, sometimes without, always confronting new sides of himself and those he loves.
Spanning generations and time, Jacaranda is a rich and deeply felt portrait of a man seeking to understand his family and his nation as it heals from the unthinkable.
"Gaël Faye’s talent is breathtaking.” —Imbolo Mbue
“A writer of great promise and grace.”—Chigozie Obioma
Faced with the prospect of having to repeat a year in school, twelve-year-old Milan tells his mother the first lie he can think of: his bad grades are due to the genocide in Rwanda, his mother's homeland. In reality, he knows little about Rwanda or his mother's past, which she has kept secret from Milan. Soon after, Claude arrives, a boy from Rwanda the same age as Milan with a mysterious wound and shadowy backstory. Thrilled to have a new playmate, Milan treats Claude as a brother until one day, he is gone, back to Rwanda as quickly as he came.
Four years later, after his parents' painful divorce, Milan travels for the first time to Rwanda, encountering a beguiling country and family members he never knew existed. After reuniting with Claude, Milan finally seeks answers to his many questions: about their friendship and the truth of what happened there. Over the course of many years, Milan will return to Rwanda again and again, sometimes with his mother, sometimes without, always confronting new sides of himself and those he loves.
Spanning generations and time, Jacaranda is a rich and deeply felt portrait of a man seeking to understand his family and his nation as it heals from the unthinkable.
While major retailers like Amazon may carry Jacaranda (A Novel), we specialize in bulk book sales and offer personalized service from our friendly, book-smart team based in Portland, Oregon. We’re proud to offer a Price Match Guarantee and a streamlined ordering experience from people who truly care.
We’re trusted by over 75,000 customers, many of whom return time and again. Want proof? Just check out our 25,000+ customer reviews—real feedback from people who love how we do business.
Prefer to talk to a real person? Our Book Specialists are here Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST and ready to help with your bulk order of Jacaranda (A Novel).