Picture a Jamaican-American storyteller who spun a vibrant tapestry of immigrant life in Miami—meet Jonathan Escoffery! With his debut, If I Survive You, Escoffery burst onto the literary scene, blending humor, heart, and sharp social commentary. His stories, rooted in his own experiences, capture the messy beauty of identity, family, and survival in a way that’s both universal and deeply personal.
Born to Jamaican parents, Escoffery’s journey from Miami’s sun-soaked streets to literary stardom is as compelling as his fiction. His work doesn’t just entertain—it challenges readers to rethink race, belonging, and the American dream with a sly grin and a knowing wink.
The Making of Jonathan Escoffery
Born in Houston, Texas, and raised in Miami, Florida, Jonathan Escoffery grew up steeped in the rhythms of Jamaican culture and the complexities of American life. His parents, who fled Kingston’s political violence in the 1970s, instilled a pride in their heritage while navigating the challenges of immigrant life. Escoffery’s early love for storytelling was sparked by literary giants like Sandra Cisneros and Langston Hughes, whose vivid voices shaped his own. After earning a BA from Florida International University and an MFA from the University of Minnesota, he honed his craft as a Stegner Fellow at Stanford University, where he began to carve out his unique literary niche.
Jonathan Escoffery’s Unforgettable Stories
Escoffery’s debut, If I Survive You, is a collection of linked stories that follow Trelawny and his Jamaican-American family as they grapple with economic hardship, racism, and fractured ties in Miami. Critics have praised its inventive structure, blending Jamaican patois, sharp humor, and raw emotion to explore identity and survival. The book earned a spot on the 2023 Booker Prize shortlist and was longlisted for the National Book Award, cementing Escoffery’s status as a rising star.
His short story “Under the Ackee Tree,” published in The Paris Review, won the 2020 Plimpton Prize for Fiction, showcasing his knack for lyrical yet grounded narratives. Escoffery’s forthcoming novel, Play Stone Kill Bird, promises to dive deeper into his signature themes of cultural dislocation and resilience. His style—marked by vibrant dialogue, shifting perspectives, and a playful yet incisive tone—sets him apart as a voice that’s both fresh and timeless.
Whether he’s writing about a son wrestling with his father’s legacy or a young man navigating Miami’s racial fault lines, Escoffery’s stories pulse with life. His ability to weave humor into tales of struggle makes his work resonate with readers who see their own contradictions reflected in his characters.
Why Jonathan Escoffery Matters
Jonathan Escoffery’s impact lies in his fearless exploration of the in-between—those liminal spaces where cultures, identities, and dreams collide. His work amplifies the Jamaican-American experience, shedding light on the joys and struggles of immigrant families in a way that feels urgent and authentic. By founding the Boston Writers of Color Group at GrubStreet, he’s also championed diversity in literature, nurturing new voices in a field that often overlooks them.
Escoffery’s stories don’t just entertain—they spark conversations about race, belonging, and resilience. His growing influence, from prestigious fellowships to international acclaim, signals a bright future for a writer who’s only just begun to tell his story.
- Born: Houston, Texas, to Jamaican parents
- Key Work: If I Survive You (2022)
- Awards: 2020 Plimpton Prize for Fiction, 2020 National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship
- Fun Fact: He’s a former program coordinator at GrubStreet, where he fostered a vibrant community of writers.
Snag If I Survive You and dive into Jonathan Escoffery’s electrifying world of humor, heart, and hard-won truths!