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Cast Away: A Novel
"An intergenerational story that interrogates and celebrates the American dream."—KIRKUS REVIEWS
Written with an abundance of humor and grace, Cast Away is a dual narrative that shines a brilliant light on a quirky and wonderful family as they experience displacement.
What would you do for your shot at the American Dream? Veronica Chavez and her great nephew Chuy immigrate from Mexico to the US, their journeys seventy years apart, each willing to do whatever it takes to build the life of their dreams. In 1922, Veronica’s romantic expectations are crushed by the dangers of living alone in a foreign country. Young and determined, she finds community in Utah’s desert railroad towns. Decades later, Chuy comes with his family to Salt Lake City, but his parents are soon sent back to Mexico. Out of place but together, Chuy and Veronica manage to connect across generations—hatching a plan to finally win it big on reality TV.
Written with an abundance of humor and grace, Cast Away is a dual narrative that shines a brilliant light on a quirky and wonderful family as they experience displacement.
What would you do for your shot at the American Dream? Veronica Chavez and her great nephew Chuy immigrate from Mexico to the US, their journeys seventy years apart, each willing to do whatever it takes to build the life of their dreams. In 1922, Veronica’s romantic expectations are crushed by the dangers of living alone in a foreign country. Young and determined, she finds community in Utah’s desert railroad towns. Decades later, Chuy comes with his family to Salt Lake City, but his parents are soon sent back to Mexico. Out of place but together, Chuy and Veronica manage to connect across generations—hatching a plan to finally win it big on reality TV.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 14, 2024
About the author
Kase Johnstun
7 books15 followersKase Johnstun lives and writes in Ogden, Utah. Johnstun is the Director for the Utah Center for the Book and Utah’s Representative to the Library of Congress.
His recently released CAST AWAY, about a young boy who, along with his formidable great-aunt (an immigrant who settled on the Utah salt flats in 1923), devises a plan to join the cast of a reality show, win the prize money, and bring back their undocumented family safely to America, has been named a finalist for the multicultural category for the 2024 IPPY Awards, a finalist for the 2024 Page Turner Awards, and a SHELF UNBOUND 2024 Notable Reads, and a juried candidate for the Ansfield-Wolf Book Award.
He is the author of the acclaimed novel, LET THE WILD GRASSES GROW (Torrey House Press, 2021), a reimagining of his Mexican American grandparents’ lives during the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and WWII. The novel was recently named a finalist for the High Plains Book Awards, longlisted for Reading the West, and named a coveted Women’s National Book Association Great Group Reads for 2022.
Forthcoming, Johnstun is under contract for three novels in the next three years with Roan and Weatherford Publishing.
Additionally, Johnstun is the author of BEYOND THE GRIP CRANIOSYNOSTOSIS (McFarland & Co., 2015), which has been featured in Pennsylvania Parenting Magazine, Portland Family Magazine, The Ogden Standard Examiner, as well as having mentions in the Chicago Tribune and the Seattle Times. It was awarded the Gold Quill (First Place) in Creative Nonfiction by the League of Utah Writers for 2015.
His Essay Collection WATCING SUNDOWN was named a Finalist for the 2026 Permafrost Nonfiction Award. His essay collection HOW TO DISAPPEAR COMPLETELY was named a finalist for 2025 Schafner Press Awards. His essay collection, TORTILLAS FOR HONKIES, was named a finalist for the 2013 Autumn House Press Nonfiction Awards, and his collection POKER TABLES, COORS, AND BUÑUELOS was named a finalist for the 2020 Autumn House Press Nonfiction awards and the C&R Press Awards. Most of the essays in the collection have found homes in places like The Watershed Review, Label Me Latino/a, Prime Number Literary Magazine, Animal Literary Magazine, and Rougarou Literary Magazine. He is the co-editor/author of UTAH REFLECTIONS: STORIES FROM THE WASATCH FRONT (The History Press, 2014), which was named the Salt Lake Tribune’s book of the month for August 2014 and the League of Utah Writers Recommended Read in Nonfiction 2015 (Third Place).
His work has been published widely by literary journals and trade magazines, including, but not limited to, Southwest the Magazine, Yahoo Parenting, Creative Nonfiction Magazine, Coldnoon: Travel Writing and Traveling Poetics, Like The Wind Magazine, and The Chronicle Review.
Johnstun was literary chair for the Ogden City Arts Advisory Committee (2014-2018), was named to Ogden’s 40 under 40 three weeks before his fortieth birthday in 2015, and hosts a literary podcast called LITerally where he interviews authors about all things publishing and writing. He is a board member of the Label Me Latina/o Literary Magazine (Queens University of Charlotte).
In January 2016, he was the artist in residence at JIWAR International Artist Residency in Barcelona, Spain. He was the 2020/2021 Literary Curator for the literary stage of the Utah Arts Festival and has supported and created literary events in Ogden since moving back to his hometown in 2013. And, he was most recently named the 2021 Ogden Mayor’s Award Recipient for the Literary Arts.
He has a BA in English Literature and Technical and Professional Writing from Weber State University, an MA in Creative Writing and Literature from Kansas State University and an MFA in Creative Writing from Pacific University.
His recently released CAST AWAY, about a young boy who, along with his formidable great-aunt (an immigrant who settled on the Utah salt flats in 1923), devises a plan to join the cast of a reality show, win the prize money, and bring back their undocumented family safely to America, has been named a finalist for the multicultural category for the 2024 IPPY Awards, a finalist for the 2024 Page Turner Awards, and a SHELF UNBOUND 2024 Notable Reads, and a juried candidate for the Ansfield-Wolf Book Award.
He is the author of the acclaimed novel, LET THE WILD GRASSES GROW (Torrey House Press, 2021), a reimagining of his Mexican American grandparents’ lives during the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and WWII. The novel was recently named a finalist for the High Plains Book Awards, longlisted for Reading the West, and named a coveted Women’s National Book Association Great Group Reads for 2022.
Forthcoming, Johnstun is under contract for three novels in the next three years with Roan and Weatherford Publishing.
Additionally, Johnstun is the author of BEYOND THE GRIP CRANIOSYNOSTOSIS (McFarland & Co., 2015), which has been featured in Pennsylvania Parenting Magazine, Portland Family Magazine, The Ogden Standard Examiner, as well as having mentions in the Chicago Tribune and the Seattle Times. It was awarded the Gold Quill (First Place) in Creative Nonfiction by the League of Utah Writers for 2015.
His Essay Collection WATCING SUNDOWN was named a Finalist for the 2026 Permafrost Nonfiction Award. His essay collection HOW TO DISAPPEAR COMPLETELY was named a finalist for 2025 Schafner Press Awards. His essay collection, TORTILLAS FOR HONKIES, was named a finalist for the 2013 Autumn House Press Nonfiction Awards, and his collection POKER TABLES, COORS, AND BUÑUELOS was named a finalist for the 2020 Autumn House Press Nonfiction awards and the C&R Press Awards. Most of the essays in the collection have found homes in places like The Watershed Review, Label Me Latino/a, Prime Number Literary Magazine, Animal Literary Magazine, and Rougarou Literary Magazine. He is the co-editor/author of UTAH REFLECTIONS: STORIES FROM THE WASATCH FRONT (The History Press, 2014), which was named the Salt Lake Tribune’s book of the month for August 2014 and the League of Utah Writers Recommended Read in Nonfiction 2015 (Third Place).
His work has been published widely by literary journals and trade magazines, including, but not limited to, Southwest the Magazine, Yahoo Parenting, Creative Nonfiction Magazine, Coldnoon: Travel Writing and Traveling Poetics, Like The Wind Magazine, and The Chronicle Review.
Johnstun was literary chair for the Ogden City Arts Advisory Committee (2014-2018), was named to Ogden’s 40 under 40 three weeks before his fortieth birthday in 2015, and hosts a literary podcast called LITerally where he interviews authors about all things publishing and writing. He is a board member of the Label Me Latina/o Literary Magazine (Queens University of Charlotte).
In January 2016, he was the artist in residence at JIWAR International Artist Residency in Barcelona, Spain. He was the 2020/2021 Literary Curator for the literary stage of the Utah Arts Festival and has supported and created literary events in Ogden since moving back to his hometown in 2013. And, he was most recently named the 2021 Ogden Mayor’s Award Recipient for the Literary Arts.
He has a BA in English Literature and Technical and Professional Writing from Weber State University, an MA in Creative Writing and Literature from Kansas State University and an MFA in Creative Writing from Pacific University.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 20, 2024
I’d give this 3.5 stars.
At times it’s tender and has a big heart, especially in the first half. It then became a little repetitive and forced. Some good moments and characters, though. Wish Saltair was still what it was back in the ‘20s
At times it’s tender and has a big heart, especially in the first half. It then became a little repetitive and forced. Some good moments and characters, though. Wish Saltair was still what it was back in the ‘20s
March 15, 2026
Loved the story of Veronica. Could see a book based on her alone.
April 8, 2025
Cast Away: A Novel is the first book I’ve read by Kase Johnstun, and I found it to be an odd but compelling read—odd in the best way. The narrative alternates between two timelines and two central characters: Veronica in the 1920s and Chuy in the early 1990s. Veronica, it turns out, is Chuy’s great aunt, and their stories slowly intertwine in meaningful and sometimes surprising ways.
After Chuy's family emigrates from Mexico to the Salt Lake City area on a quota visa, they reconnect with Veronica, who becomes an influential—if initially unwelcome—presence in Chuy’s life. Her tough-love approach to helping him adjust to a new country is met with resistance at first, but over time, Chuy’s resentment gives way to respect and understanding. Their evolving relationship is one of the most rewarding arcs in the novel.
Two other characters who stood out were Hans, who becomes Chuy’s best friend, and Angela, his high school crush. Their relationships add depth to Chuy’s storyline, especially as he navigates adolescence, identity, and belonging in a new culture. A unique and somewhat unexpected theme in the book is Chuy’s obsession with the TV show Cast Away. While I initially found this connection to the title a bit of a stretch, the author commits to the concept, and it ultimately works within the story's context.
The heart of the novel, however, lies in Veronica’s journey. Her chapters take the reader from her early life through a deeply troubling relationship with a white abuser and into the hardships of living in a gritty immigrant railroad town. Her resilience and strength stand out as the most compelling parts of the book. I also found the portrayal of Mexican immigration in the early 20th century both informative and moving. Given the current national discourse on immigration, this fictional account feels particularly relevant and enlightening.
The prose occasionally felt simplistic, but that style seemed intentional—perhaps to reflect the limited English fluency of the characters or to maintain an accessible tone. Either way, the storytelling remained strong and effective throughout.
In the end, I breezed through the book with genuine interest. Cast Away may not be a conventional novel, but it’s a heartfelt and eye-opening one. If you're open to something a little different and appreciate stories that bridge generations and cultures, this is a worthy read.
After Chuy's family emigrates from Mexico to the Salt Lake City area on a quota visa, they reconnect with Veronica, who becomes an influential—if initially unwelcome—presence in Chuy’s life. Her tough-love approach to helping him adjust to a new country is met with resistance at first, but over time, Chuy’s resentment gives way to respect and understanding. Their evolving relationship is one of the most rewarding arcs in the novel.
Two other characters who stood out were Hans, who becomes Chuy’s best friend, and Angela, his high school crush. Their relationships add depth to Chuy’s storyline, especially as he navigates adolescence, identity, and belonging in a new culture. A unique and somewhat unexpected theme in the book is Chuy’s obsession with the TV show Cast Away. While I initially found this connection to the title a bit of a stretch, the author commits to the concept, and it ultimately works within the story's context.
The heart of the novel, however, lies in Veronica’s journey. Her chapters take the reader from her early life through a deeply troubling relationship with a white abuser and into the hardships of living in a gritty immigrant railroad town. Her resilience and strength stand out as the most compelling parts of the book. I also found the portrayal of Mexican immigration in the early 20th century both informative and moving. Given the current national discourse on immigration, this fictional account feels particularly relevant and enlightening.
The prose occasionally felt simplistic, but that style seemed intentional—perhaps to reflect the limited English fluency of the characters or to maintain an accessible tone. Either way, the storytelling remained strong and effective throughout.
In the end, I breezed through the book with genuine interest. Cast Away may not be a conventional novel, but it’s a heartfelt and eye-opening one. If you're open to something a little different and appreciate stories that bridge generations and cultures, this is a worthy read.
September 6, 2024
I am a huge fan of multi-generational stories like Homegoing and Pachinko, especially when they capture aspects of a culture’s diaspora. What I loved about Cast Away was having Veronica exist both in her own narrative and in Chuy’s. I loved that we could see Veronica from a modern-day Chuy, who didn’t understand where her standoff-ish nature came from. I enjoyed peeling her layers back and coming to understand her.
It was easy to feel empathy for both characters and the entire cast. The book made me reflect on what it means to be successful, the importance of family, and the power of love and how it drives us. I’m a bit excited I found this gem a little early. I’m looking forward to seeing what others think!
It was easy to feel empathy for both characters and the entire cast. The book made me reflect on what it means to be successful, the importance of family, and the power of love and how it drives us. I’m a bit excited I found this gem a little early. I’m looking forward to seeing what others think!
July 13, 2024
Cast Away is a masterfully crafted novel that delights and surprises at each turn. Johnstun's use of place and historical detail to tell the stories of Chuy and Veronica creates an immersive experience for readers. The way he slowly weaves the stories of these two characters together is so well done. Full of heart and joy but rooted in the realities of the people living between cultures, this is a book not to miss. Once you start reading, you won't want to stop.
July 19, 2024
Cast Away is a strong novel that paints a beautiful story about multi-generational relatives, and documents the trials of a Hispanic family as they try to build a better life by immigrating to Utah. Cast Aways is a good read to understand the challenges of cultural outsiders coming into a close knit religious community. As a reader you get a perspective on the characters, how they sacrifice for each other and how they love each other. I highly recommend Cast Aways.
November 15, 2025
Intriguing dual point of view. Entertaining and a great read while also bringing the realities of immigration into perspective.
January 2, 2026
Thanks for the great read, Kase. I loved it!
Great characters, a few plot twists, and the power of family, friends, and food.
Great characters, a few plot twists, and the power of family, friends, and food.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews