Kantika: Gripping Immigration Story and Unforgettable Novel

Elizabeth Graver talks about why and how she transformed her family's own history of immigration, abandonment, remarriage, and survival into a gripping, unforgettable novel. She shares the challenges of transforming painful sometimes dark, family episodes into a universal story of family secrets and abiding love. In Elizabeth's own words, learn how Kantika changed her understanding of her immigrant family, her Jewish heritage, and her own identify as a writer. TakeawaysHow one family's history became a universal survival storyBalancing integration and identityChapters00:00 The Transformation of Family History into a Novel06:17 Challenges of Fictionalizing Family History17:06 Understanding Rebecca's Journey25:13 The Impact of Family Photographs31:41 Lasting Impressions of Rebecca