Rubble : The Search for a Haitian Boy

Writing as a mother, journalist, and former human rights observer, Sandra Marquez Stathis takes readers on a powerful journey to Haiti, where she lived and worked for four years in the 1990s. Returning in the aftermath of the deadly 7.0 quake that struck in January 2010, she embarks on a quest in search of Junior Louis, an unforgettable boy who was seven years old and homeless when she first met him many years ago. Marquez is determined to find out if he has survived the quake and to express her gratitude for his enduring friendship. In so doing, she learns that Junior's story is Haiti's story. In this vivid narrative, Marquez chronicles her soul-etching and life-altering years living and working in Haiti, her deepening friendship with Junior, who is like a son to her, and her post-earthquake journey to find him in the rubble. Rubbleis both an eyes-wide-open portrait of Haiti--its beauty and its pathos--and a tender, emotional story about the author's lifelong bond with an extraordinary young boy.

Sandra Marquez Stathis has worked as a staff writer for People magazine, the Miami Herald, the Associated Press, and Reuters. She lived in Haiti for four years as a human rights observer and press officer for a United Nations mission. She lives in Scottsdale, Arizona.