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.

**Deming Guo/Daniel Wilkinson**  
The protagonist who is born in Manhattan, sent to live in China as an infant, and later adopted by an American couple who rename him Daniel; he struggles with identity and belonging throughout the story.

**Peilan Guo/Polly Guo/Polly Lin**  
Deming's mother who moves from China to the US, adopting the name Polly; she faces a conflict between her adventurous spirit and family responsibilities.

**Leon Zheng**  
Polly's boyfriend and a father figure to Deming, working hard to support his family while grappling with difficult life circumstances.

**Vivian Chen**  
Leon’s sister who lives with him, Polly, and their children, making tough decisions for her family and household.

**Michael Chen**  
Vivian’s son who grows up alongside Deming and later supports him by sharing information about their past.

**Roland Fuentes**  
Daniel's closest friend and bandmate from Ridgeborough, known for his confidence and dynamic energy despite feeling like an outcast.

**Peter Wilkinson**  
An economics professor who, with his wife Kay, fosters and then adopts Deming, introducing him to a different cultural environment.

**Kay Wilkinson**  
A political science professor and Peter’s wife, she shares a closer relationship with Daniel and grapples with the challenges of adoption.

**Yong Lin**  
Polly's husband, offering her economic stability and support as she navigates the complexities of her life.

**Angel Hennings**  
An adoptive Chinese daughter who befriends Daniel; they bond over shared feelings of disconnection from their adoptive families.

**Yi Ba/Yi Gong**  
Polly’s father, a traditional fisherman from Minjiang who raises both Polly and Deming during their early years.

**Ms. Li**  
Haifeng's mother who is involved in Polly's early life, particularly related to family and property matters.

**Haifeng**  
A village boy connected to Polly through a relationship rooted in her early life circumstances.

**Jim and Elaine Hennings**  
Angel's adoptive parents and close friends of the Wilkinsons, forming part of the social circle surrounding Daniel.

**Cody Campbell**  
A classmate of Daniel's from Ridgeborough, symbolizing the local environment Daniel navigates during his return.

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Before You Read

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Overview

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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

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Character Analysis

The Leavers Character Analysis

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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

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