Lisa Ko's The Leavers is lauded for its poignant storytelling and multifaceted characters, vividly portraying the immigrant experience and identity struggles. Critics commend Ko's insightful narrative and emotional depth. However, some note a sluggish pace and underdeveloped secondary plotlines. Overall, it’s celebrated for its thought-provoking themes and compelling prose.

Readers who appreciate The Leavers by Lisa Ko are often drawn to complex, character-driven narratives exploring cultural identity, family dynamics, and immigrant experiences, similar to The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan and The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri.

The Leavers by Lisa Ko explores Deming Guo's, later Daniel Wilkinson’s, journey to reconcile with his birth mother, Polly Guo, after she vanishes. Adopted by a white couple, Daniel struggles with his identity and displacement, ultimately uncovering Polly’s challenges as an undocumented immigrant. The novel delves into themes of social injustice, immigration, and their impacts on individual lives. The story contains situations involving immigration detention, deportation, and family separation.

Emotional / Challenging / Melancholic / Contemplative / Bittersweet

- The Leavers by Lisa Ko was the winner of the 2016 PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction, which was founded by author Barbara Kingsolver.
- The inspiration for The Leavers came from a 2009 New York Times article about an undocumented Chinese immigrant woman who was held in detention after her arrest in Florida.
- Lisa Ko spent several years meticulously researching immigration detention and adoption processes to authentically develop the world and characters of The Leavers.

Lisa Ko

Adult

Novel

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

Teaching Guide

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content

Overview

Get ready to explore The Leavers and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

The Leavers Summary and Study Guide

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “Another Boy, Another Planet” 

Part 1, Chapters 1-3

The Leavers Part 1, Chapters 1-3 Summary & Analysis

Part 1: “Another Boy, Another Planet,” 

Part 1, Chapters 4-5

The Leavers Part 1, Chapters 4-5 Summary & Analysis

Part 2: “Jackpot”

Part 2, Chapters 6-8

The Leavers Part 2, Chapters 6-8 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 9-11

The Leavers Part 2, Chapters 9-11 Summary & Analysis

Part 3: “Tilt”

Part 3, Chapters 12-14

The Leavers Part 3, Chapters 12-14 Summary & Analysis

Part 3, Chapters 15-17

The Leavers Part 3, Chapters 15-17 Summary & Analysis

Part 4: “The Leavers”

Part 4, Chapters 18-21

The Leavers Part 4, Chapters 18-21 Summary & Analysis

character

Character Analysis

The Leavers Character Analysis

theme

Themes

The Leavers Themes

Symbols & Motifs

The Leavers Symbols & Motifs

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Important Quotes

The Leavers Important Quotes

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Essay Topics

The Leavers Essay Topics

Introduction

The Leavers Teacher Introduction

Before Reading

The Leavers Before Reading

During Reading

The Leavers During Reading

After Reading

The Leavers After Reading

The Leavers

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read The Leavers?

Reading Age

Book Details