2022 Common Read book selection

Cover art for the book Far Away Brothers by Lauren Markham.

The Far Away Brothers: Two Young Migrants and the Making of an American Life

By Lauren Markham

From Penguin Random House: "The deeply reported story of identical twin brothers who escape El Salvador's violence to build new lives in California—fighting to survive, to stay, and to belong.

"Growing up in rural El Salvador in the wake of the civil war, the United States was a distant fantasy to identical twins Ernesto and Raul Flores—until, at age seventeen, a deadly threat from the region's brutal gangs forces them to flee the only home they've ever known. In this urgent chronicle of contemporary immigration, journalist Lauren Markham follows the Flores twins as they make their way across the Rio Grande and the Texas desert, into the hands of immigration authorities, and from there to their estranged older brother in Oakland, CA. Soon these unaccompanied minors are navigating school in a new language, working to pay down their mounting coyote debt, and facing their day in immigration court, while also encountering the triumphs and pitfalls of teenage life with only each other for support. With intimate access and breathtaking range, Markham offers an unforgettable testament to the migrant experience."

A Kelley student’s reflection

Following Ernesto and Raúl through their harrowing journey brought me insight into the difficult immigrant experience in the United States, all while educating me on Salvadoran culture and the sociopolitical nuances that comprise the issue of immigration in our country today. Lauren Markham weaves the twins' story together through candid rhetoric and statistics. I find myself in awe of their experience and my own ignorance, while also relating to their teen struggles of romance, school, familial duty, and ultimately, trying to find ‘our place’ in this world.

Maddie Athanasiou, BS’23, selection committee member

David Resnick

The Kelley Common Read: Presented by Katz, Sapper & Miller in honor of David Resnick

About David

As a Kelley School of Business student, David discovered his passion for tax law. He also found trusted mentors, including accounting professor Sam Frumer, who advised David to work for KSM. David promptly took that advice and began a successful career at the Indianapolis advisory, tax, and audit firm. Today, as KSM’s chair of the board and proud IU alum, David is grateful for the learning experiences he had and the personal interest that was shown him as a student: “I thank IU and Professor Frumer for giving me the tools to succeed and directing me to the best place I could use those tools.”

About the sponsorship

KSM is grateful to the Kelley School for molding David and so many other talented KSM leaders. To commemorate David’s 20-year tenure as managing partner and his contributions to the accounting profession, KSM is underwriting the 2022 Kelley Common Read in his name. This sponsorship supports the week of events, including The Far Away Brothers author Lauren Markham's keynote. By engaging in the Kelley Common Read, we at KSM hope Kelley’s incoming first year students begin their college experience inspired by the spark of learning and discovery that marked David’s time at Kelley and IU.

Frequently asked questions

    • Incoming Kelley Direct Admits who have paid their enrollment deposit by May 1 and whose home address is in the United States will have a copy shipped directly to their home early this summer.
    • Incoming Kelley Direct Admits who have paid their enrollment deposit and who live internationally will receive a copy when they arrive on campus for orientation.
    • Incoming Kelley Direct Admits who submit their deposit after May 1 may pick up a copy when they arrive on campus for the fall semester.
    • Check here to find available copies on campus.

A copy of the book will be sent to the permanent address on file with Indiana University. (To check what address we have on file, please login to One.IU and go to your Student Center account. The address listed under "Student Home" is the one we will use. Please make sure your address is current.) Books will begin shipping by the end of May. Please allow two weeks for shipping.

No. Books are only provided to students directly admitted to the Kelley School of Business.

At this time, books will only be provided to incoming Kelley Direct Admit students.

Yes. Incoming Kelley Direct Admit international students will be able to pick up their book when they arrive in Bloomington for orientation.

A benefit of the Kelley Common Read is that reading the book is something you can have in common with other incoming Kelley students. Reading the book is strongly encouraged. For students who will be living in the Jellison Living Learning Center this year, the book is required as part of the T134 course.

Kelley makes each year’s selection centered on a topic outside typical classroom discussions, but still relevant for students of business.

Each year, the Kelley Common Read book is selected by a committee of Kelley faculty, staff, and student(s). They review numerous options. A variety of factors are considered and the committee members vote to determine the selection.

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