A Flower Traveled in My Blood

The Incredible True Story of the Grandmothers Who Fought to Find a Stolen Generation of Children

By: Haley Cohen Gilliland

Narrated by: Alejandra Reynoso

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF 2025 • THE WASHINGTON POST’S 5 BEST NONFICTION BOOKS OF 2025 • THE ATLANTIC’S 10 BEST BOOKS OF 2025 • THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY'S BEST BOOKS OF 2025 • TIME MAGAZINE’S BEST BOOKS OF 2025 • NPR’S BEST BOOKS OF 2025

“[An] astonishing story…Powerful…Harrowing…Absorbing and lucid…You would have to harden your heart to be unmoved by the Abuelas’ quest.” —Jennifer Szalai, The New York Times Book Review (front-cover review)

“Inspiring…A triumphant saga of ordinary people doing extraordinary things in the face of pure malevolence.” —Hampton Sides • “Enthralling…Written with the nail-biting verve of a thriller.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) • “Extraordinary...A harrowing and timely reminder of what happens when democracy succumbs to despotism.” —Adam Higginbotham • “[A] cinematically detailed, deeply researched narrative.” —The Washington Post • “Piercing, emotional...Will resonate for generations.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

A remarkable new talent in narrative nonfiction delivers the epic true story of a group of courageous grandmothers who fought to find their grandchildren who were stolen.

In the early hours of March 24, 1976, the streets of Buenos Aires rumble with tanks as soldiers seize the presidential palace and topple Argentina’s leader. The country is now under the control of a military junta, with army chief Jorge Rafael Videla at the helm. With quiet support from the United States and tacit approval from much of Argentina’s people, who are tired of constant bombings and gunfights, the junta swiftly launches the National Reorganization Process or El Proceso—a bland name masking their ruthless campaign to crush the political left and instill the country with “Western, Christian” values. The junta holds power until 1983 and decimates a generation.

One of the military’s most diabolical acts is kidnapping hundreds of pregnant women. After giving birth in captivity, the women are “disappeared,” and their babies secretly given to other families—many of them headed by police or military officers. For mothers of pregnant daughters and daughters-in-law, the source of their grief is twofold—the disappearances of their children, and the theft of their grandchildren. A group of fierce grandmothers forms the Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo, dedicated to finding the stolen infants and seeking justice from a nation that betrayed them. At a time when speaking out could mean death, the Abuelas confront military officers and launch protests to reach international diplomats and journalists. They become detectives, adopting disguises to observe suspected grandchildren, and even work alongside a renowned American scientist to pioneer groundbreaking genetic tests.

A Flower Traveled in My Blood is the rarest of nonfiction that reads like a novel and puts your heart in your throat. It is the product of years of extensive archival research and meticulous, original reporting. It marks the arrival of a blazing new talent in narrative journalism. In these pages, a regime tries to terrorize a country, but love prevails. The grandmothers’ stunning stories reveal new truths about memory, identity, and family.

An excellent narrative history.

Narrative history, done well is probably my favorite type of book. and this is an excellent one. Told with empathy, accuracy and Lively detail, the author uncovers the grizzly history of the Argentine dictatorship in the nineteen seventies. Centered on their abduction of young leftist activists, their torture and their killing. And most striking of it all the stealing of babies born to pregnant young women they had abducted and killed. Giving those children to other couples many of them in the military themselves. And the beginning of the gelling of the group of grandmothers who organized and fought over so many years to recover the identities of their grandchildren after they swallowed the hard truth that their own children would never be found. if you care about history, if you care about politics, if you care about children, grandchildren and an organized fight -- if you just care about good writing, this book is for you.

Long deep history

Very interesting and informative interwoven history of individuals directly affected by the Argentinian junta of 1976 to 1983. I have just returned from Buenos Aires and wish that I had read this book ahead of my trip so that I could have visited some of the memorials. As a grandmother, I am horrified. But at the same time heartened that we old women carry on and are intrepid.

Incredible narration

The history written was well done. This audible book and narration took it to another level.

I remember reading about "The Disappeared" In the

...San Francisco Chronicle back when these atrocities were happening. The fact that I remember sitting in my parents' kitchen reading that article after so many decades made me pick up this book. Very well written and performed. Oddly, my attention was captured the most by the history (especially Peron) at the beginning of the book. A tribute to the author's skill, I guess!

A fight to remember

What a beautifully written true story of “the grandmothers” who never gave up in finding their grandchildren who had been stolen during the dictatorship in Argentina. Although not all were found, those that were are continuing their grandmother’s work. Best historical book I’ve ever read and recommend to all readers! Argentine history not many even knew happened; including me!