Witches

Mexican author Lozano (Loop) tells the story of Paloma, Feliciana, and Zoe, whose lives intersect after Paloma is murdered. Paloma was a traditional healer who was assigned male at birth but later identified as Muxe, a third gender among the Zapotec people of Oaxaca; she passed on her knowledge of the healing arts to her cousin, Feliciana. Zoe, a journalist from the city, is sent to interview Feliciana in the village of San Filipe. There, Feliciana tells Zoe of Paloma’s desire and painful struggle to be accepted as a healer. Beautifully narrated by Kyla García, Lozano’s tale is steeped in Mexican folklore and imbued with a hint of magical realism. García lyrically gives voice to Lozano’s poetic language, portraying Paloma’s path as one that is faced by many who too often meet the same end. Listeners will appreciate the book’s introduction, in which translator Heather Cleary explains her decision to leave some words in Spanish, to not lose their meaning in translation.