Minerva tells the story of a girl raised in a patriarchal, politically divided country, where her unique family is both a source of strength and a symbol of defiance. As the only child in a queer, multi-partnered family—two fathers and a mother—Minerva’s personal freedoms stand in stark contrast to the rigid authoritarianism of public life. When a political event threatens her life, Minerva is forced to flee her homeland and seek refuge in New York City. As she begins to navigate her new, isolated life, her mother is kidnapped in Caracas and her world is turned upside down. Determined to reunite with her family, Minerva returns home, only to realize that the looming threat of losing her mother has shown her the ultimate truth: love is the only thing that truly matters.
Praise for Minerva
“Traveling half the world over, Keila Vall narrates an itinerary that is an adventure, a travel chronicle, and a metaphor for discovery: a journey through the essential things that have been deep inside us all along, but which we must spend a long time seeking before we can find, recognize, and accept.”
—Antonio Muñoz Molina (Jerusalem Prize 2013, Prince of Asturias Award 2013)
“Minerva confirms Keila Vall de la Ville as one of the best narrative voices in contemporary Venezuelan literature.”
— Rodrigo Blanco Calderón, Paris Rive Gauche Prize, Mario Vargas Llosa Biennal Prize, Longlisted for the International Booker Prize
“In Minerva, Keila Vall de la Ville choreographs a masterful immigrant novel into existence. It felt like the best of dance performances: I swelled with the music of it, I gasped at the summersaults, and by the end was left stunned by its grace. This book brought me home”
—Alejandro Puyana, author of Freedom Is a Feast
Praise for Keila Vall de la Ville
“A one-of-a-kind author.”
—Boris Muñoz, Senior Staff Editor, New York Times
“…among the most talented writers of her generation.”
—Yolanda Pantin, Federico García Lorca International Poetry Prize
“Keila Vall de la Ville’s work is truly exceptional. It delves into complex issues in a beautiful and meaningful way, leaving a lasting impact on readers. It’s like a rite of passage, a transformative experience”
— Alberto Barrera Tyzka, Tusquets Prize and Herralde Prize
