The Weight of all Things

The last time Nicolas saw his mother, she was slumped over him, mortally wounded by gunfire that erupted in a crowded plaza during a funeral for a martyred archbishop. Watching while her body is dragged away with other victims, Nicolas believes that his mother is still alive. He vows to find her again, no matter what. Thus begins the young boy's harrowing journey through his war-ravaged country--a journey that brings him face-to-face with the danger, cruelty, and violence inflicted today on so many parts of the world by terrorism and repression. Inspired by real events, this gripping yet poignant novel will solidify Bentez's place in the pantheon of contemporary authors writing brilliantly about the realities of Latin American life.

Bitter Grounds

Spanning the years between 1932 and 1977, this beautifully told epic is set in the heart of El Salvador,where coffee planta- tions are the center of life for rich and poor alike. Following three generations of the Prieto clan and the wealthy family they work for, this is the story of mothers and daughters who live, love, and die for their passions. Epic in scope, richly steeped in history, Benitez's poetic yet unsentimental novel takes you into another time,another place and into the lives of characters so real they can't be forgotten.

A Place Where the Sea Remembers

In a finely wrought portrait of life in a small Mexican village, Sandra Benitez introduces a beguiling cast of characters and reveals how each is irrevocably affected by the birth of a child and the tragedy that follows. "Profound in its simplicity and rhythm . . . a quietly stunning work."--The Washington Post.