When We Return

By 2008, it finallly seems that the Peruvian government is ready to make amends to its citizens following violent guerilla movement of the last three decades. Otilia and Salvador, a mother and son torn apart during the conflict and separated for twenty years, are eager for the government to acknowledge their pain and suffering, but they hit a roadblock when the government denies responsibility in their legal case. Things begin to look up when Otilia meets Jerry, the son of Jewish parents who escaped the Holocaust. Together, Otilia, Jerry, and Salvador must support one another through the turbulent journey that is healing from historical trauma, and through it, they must find the courage to rebuild their lives and open themselves up to love and companionship.
Weaving together different countries and timelines the novel examines the nuanced topic of grief,explores the culture of remembrance and what we must do to achieve justice and reconciliation when we return.