“We are like a grain of sand that belongs to no beach and never stops dreaming: to blend in, yet to resemble no one else.” Who hasn’t dreamed of going unnoticed? Who hasn’t dreamed of being accepted, appreciated for who they are? Isn’t that what we tell our children to help them flourish: “Be true to yourself.” For immigrants, the very principle of integration rests on this idea: becoming a full member of the host society while preserving the essence of one’s personality. Consequently, political and societal discourse crystallizes around this first generation of immigrants, made vulnerable by their expatriation. Since they were born in France, subsequent generations do not have the same level of interest. But what about the 2005 riots in the suburbs? What can be said about the unease felt by some of these young adults caught between societal and familial demands? What about their flight abroad after graduation? Drawing on national and international statistics, scientific publications, as well as her own personal experience and the testimonies of young and old alike, the author offers a reflection on the question of integration and its impact on the identity of these children of immigrants. A quest for coherence at the very core of the personal, for harmony both within oneself and collectively. Publication date: April 1, 2025. Order Press release

Aline has been overwhelmed since the disappearance of her husband, Pierre, on the morning of June 15, 2016. Despite her bookstore being threatened by the online book giant Speedbooking, her four children with their very different personalities, and the judgment of others, she has vowed to give them the best. At any cost. Between parents from whom Aline has been estranged for several years, and a colorful family of siblings, only André, her secretive stepfather and former Doctors Without Borders in Madagascar, truly understands her. She must also contend with her strained relationship with her eldest son, François, a promising young talent in medical research, and her worries about the schooling of her two youngest, Castille and Auguste. Furthermore, her youngest daughter, Jeanne, regularly disappears in the hope of finding her father, to the detriment of her medical studies. Convinced that this man is still alive somewhere, the student persists for six years until she discovers a mysterious message in her mother's email inbox. What if "Jeanne was right" and she "was going to find Dad" because she had assured her little brother Auguste? Through everyday anecdotes, past wounds, humor, and tenderness, this novel explores six years in the life of a family, where each member, despite their uniqueness, longs to overcome the void and find their place. Publication date: April 1, 2024. Order now