Sayonara is the culmination of eight years of work, a long journey excavating a forgotten childhood through interviews and both collecting and creating photographs. Using family photographs, creative writing and her own photography, the author constructs a story of her troubled childhood in northeastern Brasil, place from which she left alone at age sixteen to embark in a journey which has taken her many places across the globe. Over the past fourteen years, Mapurunga has lived and worked in many countries, but never in her native Brasil.

Now decades later, she tells this story from the point of view of a world traveler, an anthropologist, and a professional photographer. Her first-person account is honest and moving. Many of us can relate to the turbulent moments and great discoveries of her childhood and adolescence, as she skillfully tells a story which is her own, but could as well be yours or mine.

This piece is an inspiration for those who have suffered traumas, as it highlights how one girl has found creative solutions to surpass difficulties and move on, creating her own path.

Storytelling and cultural critique merge seamlessly in this book. A great read for anyone, especially those interested in family history, personal growth, photography and the photographic archive, gender inequality, and transnational identity.