We the Animals PDF, written by Justin Torres, is a novel about three brothers growing up in an economically disadvantaged home. Published by Mariner Books in 2011, this poetic piece of literature has earned great reviews and sold hundreds of thousands of copies.
The themes present throughout We the Animals include characters searching for their own identities, living in extreme poverty, and coming of age. Through the eyes of a young boy, Torres paints an intimate portrait of family life that is both heart-wrenching and humorous.
We the Animals has been widely praised by critics. The New York Times called it “a fierce little jewel of a book” and The Guardian claims it to be “profoundly affecting”. In 2012, it was chosen as a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction. We the Animals has sold hundreds of thousands of copies since its publication in 2011 and is available in both paperback and e-book format.
Table of Contents
We the Animals Summary
The novel follows the story of three brothers, Manny, Joel and Jonah, growing up in a working-class family in upstate New York. The boys’ parents are barely scraping by, their mother is struggling with depression and their father is often absent due to his demanding job.
Despite the hard times, the boys have each other which allows them to create a unique bond. They actively explore their identities as they come of age and find solace in the beautiful natural environment around them. As Manny, Joel, and Jonah grow older, they begin to break away from each other. Manny is the first one to really assert his independence and begins to rebel against his parents’ conservative values.
Manny’s rejection of his family leads him to pursue a path of self-discovery. He immerses himself in poetry and art and begins to understand that he is gay. This newfound understanding triggers a series of events which eventually leads Manny to escape his home, forcing the brothers apart temporarily.
Details of We the Animals Book
Book | We the Animals |
Author | Justin Torres |
Original language | English |
Originally published | August 30, 2011 |
Category | Bildungsroman, Literary fiction |
Publisher | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |
Total Pages | 144 |
Format | PDF, ePub |
Multiple Languages Editions of We the Animals Book
We the Animals has been translated into numerous languages, including Spanish, German, French, Italian, Dutch and Portuguese. The book has made its way around the world and has been praised by readers in many countries.
Book Editions | Check Now |
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English | Check Price |
About the Author
Justin Torres is an American writer and author of the bestselling novel We the Animals (2011). His debut novel has been translated into over twenty languages, won multiple awards, and was adapted into a major motion picture in 2018. Torres was born in Fresno, California to Puerto Rican parents.
He received his BA from the University at Albany and then his MFA from Cornell University. Torres has also taught creative writing at the college level and lectured at numerous universities. Torres’s writing focuses on LGBTQ issues, family dynamics, and Puerto Rican identity in American culture.
His debut novel We The Animals tells the story of three brothers coming of age as they struggle to understand their parents’ tumultuous relationship and discover their own identities. The novel was a New York Times Notable Book of 2011 and was praised for its poetic language and vivid imagery.
Since the success of We The Animals, Torres has gone on to author two more books: A Five-Star Man (2017) and This is How You Lose the Time War (2019). He has also written several short stories, articles, and essays which have appeared in The New Yorker, Harper’s Magazine, Esquire, and other publications.
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FAQs(Frequently Asked Questions)
What was the point of We the Animals?
We the Animals by Justin Torres is a coming-of-age story that follows three brothers, Manny, Joel and Maury, in their struggle to find their place in the world.
Is We the Animals a true story?
No, We the Animals is not a true story. The novel is based on Justin Torres’ childhood in upstate New York but it does take some liberties with the truth.
What themes are explored in We the Animals?
The book explores many important and complex topics such as love, identity, family dynamics, and the struggle for self-acceptance.
Why did Justin Torres Write We the Animals?
Justin Torres wrote We the Animals to explore his own childhood and share his experience of growing up in a multiracial family.
What happens at the end of We the Animals pdf?
At the end of We the Animals, Manny decides to leave home and embark on an adventure.