Ostrich Legs

Partially autobiographical, this translation of the Spanish Patas de Avestruz is a masterpiece of introspective, linguistically innovative fiction about the relationship between two sisters--one severely handicapped, the other gifted yet overlooked. Mariana is four years older than her sister Alcira, but Mariana is seriously disabled and slowly dying. Conveying the experience of a physically messy process, this account points out the flaws in adult society through the point-of-view of its child protagonist. At its core, the novel is about the abuse of power and its consequences--whether that abuse is by a government, a parent, or a child.

Alicia Kozameh is a former Argentinean political prisoner. She is a creative writing and literature professor at Chapman University and the author of five novels in Spanish, including Steps Under Water, a collection of short stories, and a book of poetry. She has also worked extensively with Amnesty International to share her prison experiences and to promote human rights. She lives in Los Angeles.