Books like The boat people by Sharon Bala
Mahindan, a 35‑year‑old Sri Lankan refugee, has endured civil war, a prison camp, and a dangerous ocean crossing to reach Vancouver. Upon arrival, he and his six‑year‑old son are placed in a detention center as Canadian officials and the media speculate that some of the “boat people” may be extremist operatives. Amid intense interrogation, Mahindan fears that an act he committed to finance the escape could derail his and his son’s chances for asylum. The story unfolds through the alternating perspectives of Mahindan, his second‑generation Sri Lankan‑Canadian lawyer Priya, and Grace, a third‑generation Japanese‑Canadian adjudicator, offering a compassionate look at the contemporary refugee experience.
First publish date: 2018
Genre: Literary Fiction/Contemporary Literary Fiction
Authors: Sharon Bala
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