Lucky Boy

Solimar Valdez, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, becomes pregnant on her journey and makes a new life in America living with her cousin Silvia and working as a housekeeper. Kavya Reddy and her husband Rishi desperately want a child, but no matter what they try they have not been able to. Interweaving their two experiences, Lucky Boy puts a human face on the experiences of mothers and foster mothers in a challenging situation.

It's hard to say much about this book without feeling like I'm reducing it to something pat or easy. It's also almost impossible to say anything concrete about the story without giving spoilers, because the pacing at the beginning is so deliberate: a lot of story time is devoted to Soli's crossing the border show more and her 9 months of pregnancy; then time collapses a little bit and two years goes by quickly, with jumps of months at a time. Sekaran does a really good job of giving the reader differing immigrant experiences, both Soli's individual experience and that of the Latinx housekeepers that work for Silvia, and Kavya's as an Indian-American whose parents put a lot of pressure on her to be a "perfect" girl. There are no easy answers. Both Soli and Kavya are sympathetic, which makes for heartbreaking reading, because someone's going to get hurt regardless. A couple of times, I wondered if events panned out a certain way because the author just didn't know which direction to take the story, especially at the end. But while it's not a perfect book, there's certainly much fodder for discussion. show less

A mother’s love is so fierce and unique, and so perfectly described in this book. Even more equally unique is the love of a foster parent. Both trying to do what’s best for the child and provide them with what they need. What wouldn’t a mother do for her child?

Lucky Boy takes the most unbiased look at two sides I have ever seen and leaves you so unbearably conflicted. It will haunt you long after you finish. I was made to question my stance on immigration, on the foster care system, on the prison system, EVERYTHING. I just wanted a happy ending but in the current state of affairs, there are no clean lines. I can’t recommend this book more, it brought to attention things that you can become callous to when you see the headlines show more every day, or the stories that are relegated to the back pages and small print. I talk about sides, but can you really take a side? It’s not about sides, it’s about humanity. show less

"They had wanted to love. They had gone too far."

Parental love, it's obsessive envelopment and fierceness, is the theme of Shanthi Sekaran's moving and thoughtful novel Lucky Boy. I loved the writing, the characters are sympathetic and real, the story heartbreaking.

Kavya and Rishi Reddy have spent their savings on fertility treatments. While investigating adoption they are sidetracked into foster parenting, with hopes of adoption of their foster child.

Solimar Castro Valdez is determined to leave her impoverished Mexican village to find a better life in America. Her journey is harrowing and terrifying, but for Checo, the young man who protects her and with whom she conceives a child. Soli finds her place in Berkeley, CA working for a show more troubled family that also tries to care for her. Soli's love for Ignatius, her Nacho, is her home, her reason for existence.

When Soli is found to be an undocumented alien she is separated from her son and interned in a series of horrific prisons where she is brutalized and dehumanized. Meanwhile, her son has been welcomed into the Reddy home, newly christened Iggy by Kavya who has fallen deeply in love with the child.

The battle for this lucky boy takes the Reddys and Soli on a journey fraught with dangers, the most dangerous being broken by the loss of one beloved child.

Sekaran's writing is amazing. Her insight into her characters and human nature is spot-on, imparted to the reader in beautiful and insightful language. Anyone who has known couples struggling to conceive, who have turned to adoption, will recognize the Reddy's difficult and emotional journey. I applaud the author for tackling the divisive and politically explosive issue of immigrants and immigrant rights, creating a character who gives a face to the unnamed masses who by any means come to America dreaming of a better life and the ability to improve the lives of family left behind. The descriptions of detention centers, the justice system, and the prejudice encountered will enlighten readers to realities behind the headlines.

I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. show less

I just completed this book after a marathon read - couldn't even stop to eat! This story of two families, each loving the same little boy, was tragic and filled with conflict and deep love. The story isn't new - a girl leaves her home in Mexico for the US, is undocumented, has a child, and suffers horrific injustice. Also, an Indian American couple deeply desiring a child deal with infertility and eventually are given a foster child who they fall in love with..

What makes this story so compelling is that every day this same injustice is being carried out in the US against undocumented people and their children. I became very attached to things working out for the birth mother - yet felt for the foster parents as they had done nothing show more wrong and had deeply bonded with the child - no one can totally win here and this first time author kept me hanging on every word. show less

Lucky Boy is a book that challenges our every view of motherhood.

Solimar Castro Valdez leaves her home in Mexico to live with her cousin in Berkeley, CA. There is nothing left for her in her home town of Popocalco and her parents come up with money to fund her trip to the U.S. Things go horrifyingly wrong and Soli, by her own strength of will, endures and reaches her goal. On the way she becomes pregnant and eventually has a child, Ignacio.

Kavya and Rishi Reddy have a comfortable home and life in Berkeley. One thing is missing, a baby. After a miscarriage and trying to conceive, the couple decides to adopt. Since they have spent most of their money on alternative fertility treatments, foster parenting with the hope of adoption becomes show more their only option. When Solimar ends up in a detention center facing deportation, Ignacio is placed in foster care and eventually with the Reddys.

Soli thinks not of herself, her only energy is focused on returning to Ignacio. Kavya has “forgotten” that Ignacio has only been placed in their home as a temporary measure and becomes convinced that he is where he rightfully belongs.

And Ignacio? He is a lucky boy to have two mothers who love him so dearly.

Lucky Boy is an incredible book, one not to be taken lightly show less

"She'd learned the lesson that all women learn sooner or later. If there was something to be done, she'd have to do it herself."

"There is a beast in all of us. Only the worst things can bring it ripping through the human veneer."

This is one of the most powerful books I have read so far this year. While the title is "Lucky Boy," I'm not sure that anyone in this timely novel could be considered "lucky."

Young and naive, Solimar (Soli) Castro-Valdez leaves Mexico on a wing and a prayer in hopes of a better life in California. She has only a vague understading of the system, and believes that a cousin who lives in the US will help her establish her new life.

Before even reaching the border Soli meets with heartache and disaster, and, show more unknown to her at the time, a child in her womb.

Simultaneously, author Shanthi Sekaran introduces the reader to an upwardly mobile Indian-American couple named Kavya and Rishi. Educated and talented, they are living the American Dream, except that they are struggling with infertility.

This heartbreaking book is told through alternate lenses: Soli's and Kavya/Rishi's as we see Soli give birth to a son, Ignacio; get arrested and held in a detention center for illegal aliens; and witness Ignacio go into the care of Kavya and Rishi.

This book stirred my emotions and has inspired me to learn more about the deportation process as well as the rights aliens have regarding their American-born children.

4.5 stars (which I may end up rounding up to 5)

Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. show less

Immigration and opportunity loom large in this story which pits an Indian-American couple against a single Mexican mother who is in the US illegally in a custody battle over a son they all love. The worst part was developing sympathy for all the characters - Kavya who desperately wants to be a mother and Soli who is cruelly kept from her child when she is imprisoned because of her illegal status. I appreciated how this book provided a glimpse of these kinds of impossible choices while also staying well-paced and not getting the story clogged with details. A very good book.