The Land of Forgotten Girls

Two sisters from the Philippines, abandoned by their father and living in impoverished circumstances in Louisiana, fight to make their lives better. In a starred review, School Library Journal calls The Land of Forgotten Girls “A charming and affecting novel about sisterhood, the magic of imagination, and perseverance.” For readers of Pam Muñoz Ryan, Rita Williams-Garcia, and anyone searching for the true meaning of family.

In a starred review, Booklist says, “Kelly’s sophomore novel is both hopeful and heartfelt, but strong emotions are only part of the successful equation here. Told in Sol’s true voice, the direct dialogue brings the diverse characters to vivid life.” Soledad has always been able to escape into the stories she creates. Just like her mother always could. And Soledad has needed that escape more than ever in the five years since her mother and sister died and her father moved Sol and her youngest sister from the Philippines to Louisiana. Then he left, and all Sol and Ming have now is their evil stepmother, Vea. Sol has protected Ming all this time, but then Ming begins to believe that Auntie Jove—their mythical, world-traveling aunt—is really going to come rescue them. Can Sol protect Ming from this impossible hope? Kirkus says that Erin Entrada Kelly “deftly captures the tumultuous emotions of a preteen who is forced to grow up faster than other girls her age.” Kelly writes masterfully about the challenges of finding hope in impossible circumstances, in this novel that fans of Cynthia Kadohata and Thanhha Lai will love.

Erin Entrada Kelly grew up in south Louisiana and now lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she earned an MFA from Rosemont College. She is also the author of Blackbird Fly. The author’s mother was the first in her family to immigrate to the United States from the Philippines. Erin Entrada Kelly’s debut novel, Blackbird Fly, was a Kirkus Best Book, an SLJ Best Book, an ALSC Notable, an Asian/Pacific American Award Honor Book, a Bank Street Books Best Book, a Golden Kite Honor Book, and a Cyblis Finalist.