Daisy Hernández

Daisy Hernández is the author and first person narrator of The Kissing Bug. Hernández is the daughter of immigrant parents. She was born and grew up in Union City, New Jersey. Although she never lived in Colombia, she and her mother often visited her extended family in South America during her childhood. Throughout these visits, Hernández became close with her mother’s youngest sister, Tía Dora. When Hernández was still a little girl, Tía Dora contracted a mysterious illness, which the family later learned was Chagas, or the kissing bug disease.

When Tía Dora’s condition worsened, she moved to New Jersey to live with Hernández’s family and seek medical attention at New York City hospitals. Throughout this time, Hernández’s relationship with her aunt grew increasingly complicated. Hernández was not a refined or...