Overview
These 44 prose poems, artful yet accessible, presented in both Spanish and English versions, immerse us in the boy kingdom that Achy Obejas inhabits with her two sons. They move from the wild and divine spirit of boyhood to the everyday rhythms of family life—mac’n’cheese, television, sick days home from school.
Achy carries multiple identities: she is Cuban American, lesbian, and Jewish. She captures the universality of motherhood while also illuminating the uniqueness of her queer, multilingual, multicultural family: the way her elder son looks as her as if she’s “dancing with the dead” when she speaks Spanish; the way her boys prefer mac’n’cheese to tostones; her sons’ fishing trips with their dads; the day her elder son comes home from school disquieted, then finally spills it: “A couple of boys yelled at him: Your moms are queer!”
The collection is divided into four parts. The first part focuses primarily on Achy’s sons, and subsequent parts branch out into stories of her parents, her roots in Cuba, and her divorce from her wife.
This book title, The Boy Kingdom / El reino de los varones, ISBN: 9780807017531, by Achy Obejas, published by Beacon Press (September 16, 2025) is available in paperback. Our minimum order quantity is 25 copies. All standard bulk book orders ship FREE in the continental USA and delivered in 4-10 business days.
Unlike Amazon and other retailers who may also offer The Boy Kingdom / El reino de los varones books on their website, we specialize in large quantities and provide personal service, from trusted, experienced, friendly people in Portland, Oregon. We offer a Price Match Guarantee, and QuickQuote form, to make purchasing quick and easy.
Prefer to work with a human being when you order The Boy Kingdom / El reino de los varones books in bulk? Our Book Specialists are standing by Monday-Friday 8-5 PST, ready to help!