National Network for Equitable Library Service

Dolores Reyes' Eartheater is an "outstanding" (New York Times) synthesis of mystery and magical realism that explores the dark tragedies of ordinary lives. Named a Must-Read and One of the Best Books by TIME, Vulture, Boston Globe, Cosmopolitan, Wired, and more. Set in an unnamed slum in contemporary Argentina, this is the story of a young woman who finds herself drawn to eating the earth -- a compulsion that gives her visions of broken and lost lives. With her first taste of dirt, she learns the horrifying truth of her mother's death. Disturbed by what she witnesses, the woman keeps her visions to herself. But when Eartheater begins an unlikely relationship with a withdrawn police officer, word of her ability begins to spread, and soon desperate members of her community beg for her help, anxious to uncover the truth about their own loved ones. Surreal and haunting, spare yet complex, Eartheater is a dark, emotionally resonant tale told from a feminist perspective that brilliantly explores the stories of those left behind -- the women enduring the pain of uncertainty, whose lives have been shaped by violence and loss. Translated from the Spanish by Julia Sanches. "Dolores Reyes's writing is visceral and urgent. It's also connected to a powerful tradition of fantasy and crime, and it reflects on violence against women with enormous lucidity." -- Mariana Enriquez, author of Things We Lost in the Fire. "A raw and vital literary debut, Eartheater takes an unwavering and visceral look at systems of power through the perspective of a young woman caught in the crosshairs." -- Shelf Awareness.