OYE | A Busboys and Poets Books Presentation

Structured as a series of one-sided phone calls from our spunky, sarcastic narrator, Luciana, to her older sister, Mari, this wildly inventive debut “jump-starts your heart in the same way it piques your ear” (Xochitl Gonzalez). As the baby of her large Colombian American family, Luciana is usually relegated to the sidelines. But now she finds herself as the only voice of reason in the face of an unexpected crisis: A hurricane is heading straight for Miami, and her eccentric grandmother, Abue, is refusing to evacuate. Abue is so one-of-a-kind she’s basically in her own universe, and while she often drives Luciana nuts, they’re the only ones who truly understand each other. So when Abue, normally glamorous and full of life, receives a shocking medical diagnosis during the storm, Luciana’s world is upended.

When Abue moves into Luciana’s bedroom, their complicated bond intensifies. Luciana would rather be skating or sneaking out to meet girls, but Abue’s wild demands and unpredictable antics are a welcome distraction for Luciana from her misguided mother, absent sister, and uncertain future. Forced to step into the role of caretaker, translator, and keeper of the devastating family secrets that Abue begins to share, Luciana suddenly finds herself center stage, facing down adulthood—and rising to the occasion.

As Luciana chronicles the events of her disrupted senior year of high school over the phone to Mari, Oye unfolds like the most fascinating and entertaining conversation you’ve ever eavesdropped on: a rollicking, heartfelt, and utterly unique novel that celebrates the beauty revealed and resilience required when rewriting your own story.

Melissa Mogollon is joining us on the Busboys stage alongside poet and youth worker Chelsea Iorlano to share more about this humorous and touching story about sisterhood, the challenges of growing up, and hope found in dark times. Copies of the book will be available for purchase during and after the event, and Mogollon will be signing following the program.

This event is free and open to all. Our program begins at 6:00 pm, and will be followed by an audience Q&A. Copies of OYE will be available for purchase before and after the event. Please note that this event is in person and will not be livestreamed. 

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Melissa Mogollon holds an MFA in fiction from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and a BA from the George Washington University. Originally from Colombia and raised in Florida, she now teaches at a boarding school in Rhode Island, where she lives with her partner and dog. Oye is her first novel.

Chelsea Iorlano is a Latina poet and youth worker who has called DC home for the past 14 years. She believes creative expression, practicing love, and cultivating community is how we get free. As Co-Director at Split This Rock, she is one third of a shared leadership team that collaborates to provide accessible programming at the intersection of poetry and social justice. Chelsea has been blessed to call Melissa Mogollon her dear friend since poetry brought them together in their undergraduate years and finds deep pleasure in joining the celebration of Oye’s arrival.

Host or Publisher Busboys and Poets