Infinite Country

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Talia is held in a correctional facility for adolescent girls in the Colombian mountains after an impulsive act of violence. She desperately needs to escape and return to Bogotá, where her father and a plane ticket to the U.S. await her. Missing her flight could mean losing her chance to reunite with her family. The story unfolds through the lens of Talia's parents, Mauro and Elena, who fell in love as teenagers amidst civil war and social unrest. They leave Bogotá with their firstborn, Karina, seeking safety and opportunity in the U.S. on a temporary visa, later welcoming two more children, Nando and Talia. The narrative explores the choices that lead to Mauro's deportation and the family's fragmentation, highlighting the emotional toll of their circumstances. Award-winning author Patricia Engel, a dual citizen and daughter of Colombian immigrants, gives voice to all five family members as they navigate their lives. The ticking metronome raises the question: Will Talia reach Bogotá in time? If she does, can she reconcile her father's reality in Colombia with the distant vision of her mother and siblings in North America? Rich in Bogotá's urban life and steeped in Andean myth, this story reveals the complexities of a mixed-status family, where every pursued dream carries the weight of a deferred one.