Literature exploring women’s friendships has nearly become its own genre, with many notable books on the subject, from Mary McCarthy’s classic bestseller The Group to more contemporary works like Rufy Thorpe’s The Girls from Corona del Mar. Another novel delving into the unbreakable bonds of friendship is The Girls in Queens by Christine Kandic Torres. Learn more about the talented author and her debut novel on queens1.one.
About the Author
Christine Kandic Torres was born and raised in Queens. She has penned numerous short stories, many of which have been nominated for the prestigious Pushcart Prize and published in renowned literary journals such as Catapult, Kweli, Lunch Ticket, and Cosmonauts Avenue. In 2020, Torres received a grant from the Queens Council on the Arts for her debut novel, The Girls in Queens. A staunch supporter of writers from her borough, Torres contributes to Newtown Literary, a journal and nonprofit organization serving the literary community in Queens.
Plot of the Novel
The Girls in Queens, Christine Kandic Torres’s debut novel, revolves around two Latina friends, Brisma and Kelly. Growing up and coming of age in Queens, the girls share all the details of their lives with one another. Brisma is sweet, empathetic, and observant, while Kelly is free-spirited, flirtatious, and bold. Together, they enjoy fun-filled days, listening to Boyz II Men tapes and dancing to hits by Selena and Mariah Carey.
However, in high school, their friendship begins to falter due to a boy—baseball player Brian. Years later, on the brink of adulthood, the friends learn that Brian has been accused of sexual assault. This revelation forces them to confront complex questions about their own lives and past traumas. Their personal connection to Brian complicates their ability to reveal the truth about his actions.
Spanning multiple timelines, the book explores the bonds of friendship, violence within communities of color, and the dangers of overlooking the presence of monsters among us. The novel also highlights ethnic diversity. The Queens depicted in the story is the most diverse area in the United States, home to people of numerous cultures, ethnicities, and nationalities, who speak over 130 languages and hail from more than 120 countries. This diversity offers residents a sense of belonging far from their homelands, yet, as Torres notes, it also creates a community where gender, skin color, and ethnic background are central to social standing. The novel addresses the marginalization of certain societal groups and the unique community attitudes toward perpetrators of violence who belong to minority groups.
Conclusion
The Girls in Queens is a novel centered on themes of friendship, coming of age, and racial issues. It offers readers a window into the dynamic between two Latina friends in the late 1990s and early 2000s within a multicultural environment. Their bond is repeatedly tested, yet it also evolves and strengthens over time.
Interestingly, the storyline involving Brian, the baseball player, was inspired by a real-life case. In 2016, Brock Turner, a former Stanford University swimmer, was convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman. As a sports star, Turner garnered considerable public support despite his actions. In her novel, Torres seeks to unravel how society has normalized the defense of perpetrators of such heinous crimes.