CALL OF THE OWL WOMAN

A sixth-century Nasca girl living in the Atacama Desert in what is present-day Peru comes of age in the midst of a catastrophic drought.

The familiar patterns of 15-year-old Patya’s cherished life are shaken to pieces with the death of her grandmother, the gifted healer Kuyllay. But her community, the Clan of the Orca, faces further disruptions in the form of a relentless drought, tremendous earthquakes, and power-hungry men who seek to profit from the perilous circumstances the community faces. When Tachico, her younger brother, is caught up in their schemes, Patya must learn to harness the strength and power Kuyllay foresaw she’d have to protect the land and the people she loves. Huber, who describes her extensive research in the acknowledgements, tells the story with grace and doesn’t flinch from challenging topics: When Patya is assaulted by Warpa hunters from the mountains, readers will deeply feel the emotional and physical ramifications. Healers and their important role in Nasca society feature prominently in the story, and the text contains descriptions of their methods of healing. The land and traditions of the Nasca people come to vivid life on the page, with a map and a cast of characters to support readers as they traverse Patya’s world.

A moving, immersive, and meticulously detailed story of tradition, spirituality, and the weight of destiny.