Jason DeParle Knihy

When Jason DeParle moved in with Tita Comodas in the Manila slums thirty years ago, he didn't anticipate forming a lifelong friendship or spending decades chronicling her family's journey. "In A Good Provider Is One Who Leaves" offers an intimate look at three generations of a family that exemplifies the profound impact of global migration. Central to this narrative is Rosalie, Tita's middle child, who transcends poverty by becoming a nurse and securing jobs in Jeddah, Abu Dhabi, and Texas, joining the forty-four million immigrants in the U.S. Migration influences every facet of global life, injecting billions in remittances into impoverished communities, fueling Western populism, supporting Silicon Valley, and sustaining American healthcare. With one in four U.S. children being an immigrant or the child of one, the topic remains highly polarizing. DeParle skillfully navigates between personal stories and broader societal implications. Reunited after years apart, Rosalie and her husband face the challenges of parenting in an unfamiliar environment, while their children grapple with their identities. Their journey is both ordinary and extraordinary, capturing the essence of the twenty-first century in gripping detail.