Delve into Kali Fajardo-Anstine’s acclaimed "Sabrina & Corina: Stories," a powerful portrayal of women navigating life and legacy in Denver’s vibrant yet challenging terrain.
Discover the Captivating Collection by Kali Fajardo-Anstine
One Book One Community is excited to announce the selection of "Sabrina & Corina: Stories" by Kali Fajardo-Anstine as the 2024-2025 book choice. This remarkable collection, praised by the New York Times Book Review as “fierce and essential,” showcases Fajardo-Anstine’s exceptional storytelling skills.
A Glimpse into the Stories
“Kali Fajardo-Anstine’s magnetic story collection breathes life into her Latina characters of indigenous ancestry and the land they inhabit in the American West. Against the remarkable backdrop of Denver, Colorado—a place that is as fierce as it is exquisite—these women navigate the land the way they navigate their lives: with caution, grace, and quiet force,” states Penguin Random House.
Why "Sabrina & Corina: Stories"?
Dr. Andrea Cooper, One Book One Community director, shared the reasons behind the selection. “The short stories are very appealing and make the book accessible to more people and courses. The stories are exceptionally well written, and the author’s character development is truly amazing,” Cooper said. “Many of the themes in the book, like the sense of home, heritage, and experiences of abandonment, are very interesting, and we believe they will resonate with our students and community.”
Stories That Resonate
The collection features powerful stories such as:
- Sugar Babies: Ancestry and heritage hidden inside the earth rise during land disputes.
- Tomi: A woman leaves prison and finds herself in a gentrified city, a shadow of the one she remembers.
- Sabrina & Corina: A Denver family’s cycle of violence against women, ultimately unified through ritual.
Acclaimed and Celebrated
"Sabrina & Corina: Stories" has earned significant acclaim, including the American Book Award and being a finalist for the National Book Award. Author Kali Fajardo-Anstine is a 2023 Guggenheim Fellow and the 2021 recipient of the Addison M. Metcalf Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Fajardo-Anstine, from Denver, Colorado, serves as the 2022–2024 Endowed Chair in Creative Writing at Texas State University.
Meet the Author
One Book will host an in-person author visit on October 17 at 5:30 p.m. in the Connie Gotsch Theater. Kali Fajardo-Anstine will give a presentation and reading, followed by a Q&A session. The event is free and open to the community. A book signing in the lobby will conclude the evening. For more information on Fajardo-Anstine, visit PRH Speakers.
About One Book One Community
San Juan College’s One Book One Community is a common reading program that unites the college and community through shared learning experiences, promoting dialogue and literacy through curriculum and events. This fall, AJ Odasso, a member of the SJC English faculty and One Book committee, will take over as director from Andrea Cooper. Cooper, who has led the program for four years, expresses excitement about Odasso’s upcoming leadership.
Acknowledgements
The One Book One Community committee extends sincere gratitude to the San Juan College Foundation and Citizen’s Bank for their unwavering support.
