The Empire of Dirt

In this captivating English-language debut, Valentina, a twelve-year-old girl living with her mother and grandmother in the Italian countryside, confronts deep-seated family secrets when an old curse resurfaces. During a summer in 1996, as Valentina experiences her first menstruation, strange and unsettling events unfold in their home, leading her to believe she has unleashed chaos upon her family. This propulsive coming-of-age novel explores the complexities of mother-daughter relationships and the weight of painful legacies.