Set in the wake of Hurricane Maria, Xavier Navarro Aquino’s
unforgettable debut novel follows a remarkable group of survivors
searching for hope on an island torn apart by both natural disaster
and human violence.
Camila
is haunted by the death of her sister, Marisol, who was caught by a
mudslide during the huracán. Unable to part with Marisol, Camila
carries her through town, past the churchyard, and, eventually, to
the supposed utopia of Memoria.
Urayoán,
the idealistic, yet troubled cult leader of Memoria, has a vision for
this new society, one that in his eyes is peaceful and democratic.
The paradise he preaches lures in the young, including Bayfish, a boy
on the cusp of manhood, and Morivivi, a woman whose outward toughness
belies an inner tenderness for her friends. But as the different
members of Memoria navigate Urayoán’s fiery rise, they will need
to confront his violent authoritarian impulses in order to find a way
to reclaim their home.
Velorio—meaning
“wake”—is a story of strength, resilience, and hope; a tale of
peril and possibility buoyed by the deeply held belief in a people’s
ability to unite against those corrupted by power.