We Are Called to Rise

Avis is a wife and mother in her mid-fifties who has overcome a childhood of poverty and neglect to build a seemingly stable family life. At the start of the novel, she learns that her husband is having an affair and wants a divorce. Her son, Nate, is suffering from PTSD when he joins the LVPD and, at the story’s climax, kills Bashkim’s mother in what he claims was self-defense. A persevering woman, Avis exemplifies the strength of mothers in this story. While undergoing her family’s crises, she uses tenderness and honesty to overcome her obstacles rather than anger or blame. Her identity as a housewife is ruined by her husband’s affair and son’s PTSD, so she must reinvent herself as an independent and single person, and she supports her son unconditionally, even when it means making him suffer the consequences of his actions. 

Luis Rodriguez-Reyes, a former soldier, is in a hospital for much of the novel, recovering from a suicide attempt. He is suffering from PTSD after killing a child he thought was holding a bomb and losing a friend in the war. With the help of the kind and caring Dr. Ghosh, Luis gradually begins to learn coping mechanisms at the same time as his body heals. Before his suicide attempt, Luis became pen pals with Bashkim, but he scared Bashkim with the dark contents of his letter. As his mental state improves, he writes to Bashkim to ask for forgiveness, and the two begin to write each other frequently, helping each other through their difficult circumstances. In a story filled with examples of toxic patriarchal masculinity, Luis’s character is an example of healthy manhood. Though he struggles after war, he genuinely wants to better himself, doing what he can to salvage his relationships with his abuela, Bashkim, and himself. By allowing himself to be vulnerable and trust Dr. Ghosh’s methods of “feeling”—which counter his intuition as a soldier—he steadily grows his mental and emotional capacity in order to find stability and comfort.

Roberta is a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate for homeless youth who grew up lavishly but now dedicates herself tirelessly to improving the lives of others. The only character who doesn’t deal with any severe conflict, Roberta is an example of how anyone can give back and help those in need—not just family. She is privileged and has access to more social mobility as a happily married white woman, but she doesn’t use this as a crutch and continues to dedicate herself to the world’s problems. Without her involvement and diligent work, Bashkim’s outcome in court would most likely have been less fortunate. Her character symbolizes the good intention of America’s systems.