The Last Karankawas

A Novel

De: Kimberly Garza

Narrado por: Adriana Sananes, André Santana, Becca Q. Co, Reggie De Leon

"Debut author Garza skillfully links brilliantly crafted episodes to create an unforgettable community in Galveston, TX...Indeed, staying well-tuned to Garza’s work earns enduring rewards."
— Booklist (starred review)

"These rich performances, a chorus of different tones and accents, create a beautiful tapestry of a complicated city and the people who call it home." - AudioFile Magazine

"Beautiful, complex, and subversive, The Last Karankawas is an important book about Texas from a powerful new voice in American fiction. I loved it." —Elizabeth Wetmore, New York Times bestselling author of Valentine

A blazing and kaleidoscopic debut about a tight-knit community of Mexican and Filipino American families on the Texas coast from a voice you won't soon forget.

Welcome to Galveston, Texas. Population 50,241.

A popular tourist destination and major shipping port, Galveston attracts millions of visitors each year. Yet of those who come to drink by the beach, few stray from the boulevards to Fish Village, the neighborhood home to individuals who for generations have powered the island.

Carly Castillo has only ever known Fish Village. Her grandmother claims that they descend from the Karankawas, an indigenous Texas people once believed to be extinct, thereby tethering them to Galveston. But as Carly ages, she begins to imagine a life elsewhere, undefined by her family’s history. Meanwhile, her boyfriend and all-star shortstop turned seaman, Jess, treasures the salty, familiar air. He’s gotten chances to leave Galveston for bigger cities with more possibilities. But he didn’t take them then, and he sure as hell won’t now. When word spreads of a storm gathering strength offshore, building into Hurricane Ike, each Galveston resident must make a difficult decision: board up the windows and hunker down or flee inland and abandon their hard-won homes.

Moving through these characters’ lives and those of the extraordinary individuals who circle them, Kimberly Garza's The Last Karankawas weaves together a multitude of voices to present a lyrical, emotionally charged portrait of everyday survival. The result is an unforgettable exploration of familial inheritance, human resilience, and the histories we assign to ourselves, reminding us that the deepest bonds are forged not by blood, but by fire.

A Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt and Company

©2022 Kimberly Garza (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

Beautifully written and performed

A beautiful and complex story that separates and weaves back together the threads that build a diverse community.

Amazingly dynamic reading of a great Texas novel!

Compelling and diverse characters that reflect the ever changing face of Texas. Multiple talented readers.

Awesome read ! High recommendation.

Awesome read ! Started me in reading again . Emotional and thought provoking. Like reading a few books in one !

Compelling Texan Story

Love the cast of narrators! The stories weave in and out of each other in such a delightful way.

Beautiful Writing and Moving Story

Garza’s writing is magical. Her descriptions are vivid and accurate, and her voice is unique. Having never been to Texas (save driving through it once), I was unaware of the rich history and culture of Texas.

Reading this book was mind expanding for me. It is a beautiful intertwining of heart and heart, story crossing story, and life affecting life.
You only get a glimpse of each character, but this is an effective strategy for Capturing a culture and event from multiple perspectives. And even though the writing jumps from character to character, the way Garza crafts each persona leaves you feeling for and rooting for them.

Just own trigger warning: the book was heavy on sexual content and language. Multiple f bombs and many references to sexual behavior, often outside of wedlock. This wasn’t encouraged per-say, but it was definitely present and explored widely. Just a warning for those that are bothered by this.