Cristina Henríquez

About

Cristina Henríquez is an American novelist and short-story writer of Panamanian heritage, known for exploring immigration, cultural identity, family, and the experiences of Latin American communities in the United States. Born in the United States to a Panamanian father, she spent time living in Panama during her childhood, an experience that shaped her interest in belonging and cultural connections. Her novels often examine the lives of people navigating different languages, traditions, and social expectations. Her best-known works include The Book of Unknown Americans (2014), which portrays a community of Latin American immigrants living in Delaware, and The Great Divide (2024), a historical novel set during the construction of the Panama Canal. Through compassionate, character-driven storytelling, Henríquez explores migration, displacement, love, and the complex relationships between individuals and the societies they inhabit.