First published 1999
Esperanza loses her child and must leave her quiet Mexican village to find them. Her beloved saint guides her from the familiar world of prayer and devotion into places she never imagined visiting. The search takes her through Tijuana's brothels and into hidden corners of Los Angeles. Each step forward demands she abandon old certainties about herself and her faith. The innocent widow who begins this quest discovers her own sexuality and independence while never losing her deep religious conviction. Esperanza learns the world's harsh lessons as she pursues the one thing that matters most. Her journey transforms her from sheltered believer into a woman who understands both desire and devotion.
Genres: literary-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary, adult-fiction, 21st-century, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, fish-out-of-water, spiritual-journey
Setting: Los Angeles, Mexico, Tijuana
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
256 pages · Paperback · Touchstone