The Affairs of the Falcóns

Ana and her husband, Lucho, along with their two young children, have fled the financial and political upheaval facing Peru in the twilight of the twentieth century, seeking a chance at a new life in New York City. When Lucho loses his job, his cousin proposes a tenuous offer of hospitality to the family. Despite the setback, Ana is intent on putting down roots, but she soon finds that her undocumented status significantly curtails her family’s opportunities. Ana is indebted to a loan shark who calls herself Mama, and she is stretched thin by unceasing shifts at her factory job. To make matters worse, Ana must also battle both criticism from Lucho’s cousin—who has made it obvious the family is not welcome to stay in her spare room for much longer—as well as escalating and unwanted attention from Mama’s husband. With the pressure building, Lucho dreams of returning to Peru, but Ana is deeply haunted by the demons she left behind and determined to forge a better future for her children. Soon Ana will be forced to decide just how much she’s willing to sacrifice to protect her family—and how much more she can take in this new country before she admits defeat.Deeply urgent and richly told, The Affairs of the Falcóns is the breathtaking story of one woman’s relentless pursuit of a new American dream and a remarkable portrait of the contemporary immigrant experience.