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I was on the library wait list for so long that I didn’t remember how this unique, powerful, beautiful, tiny, dystopian wonder found its way onto my radar. I know I needed a book in translation to blackout my Book Bingo card and enjoy dystopian fiction, but I don’t know who told me about it.

Regardless of how it found me, I’m glad it did.

Thirty-nine women and one young girl live imprisoned deep underground. They have no sense of time and little memory of their lives “before.�� When the lights dim, they sleep. When the guards deliver food, they eat. When their tunics wear thin, they patch and repair them.

They exist.

Until a mysterious event provides the opportunity to move from mere existence to survival. Told from the POV of the young girl as she ages, this was a bleak, sparse, and haunting exploration of community, survival, and what it means to be human.

Despite its size, this book is a giant in emotion, contemplation, and depth. However, it's important to note that this is a #cilantrobook. Some will be deeply moved, others will dislike it, and many will be left wondering, “Why does this book taste like soap?��

If you’ve read this book, I'm eager to hear your thoughts and discuss it with you!