The Flower in the Skull

A riveting new novel from acclaimed author Kathleen Alcal, The Flower in the Skull begins in the Sonoran Desert in the late 19th century, where a village of Opata Indians is attacked by Mexican soldiers. Driven from family and homeland, Concha, a young woman from the village, makes her way alone to Tucson, where she gives birth. Through the stories of Concha and her daughter, and the related story of Shelly—a Latina living in modern-day Los Angeles who is increasingly fascinated by her ancestry—the author spins a powerful tale of heritage, loss, and acculturation. Her most lyrical and moving work yet, The Flower in the Skull is a vivid tale of beauty and bravery which stands perfectly apart even as it continues the epic begun with Spirits of the Ordinary.