"Across a sun-baked desert where stories are both burden and salvation, a lonely storyteller meets a mysterious wanderer—and together they chase a truth the wind refuses to keep. Lyrical and aching, Each of Us a Desert is a journey of faith, memory, and the courage it takes to claim your own tale."
Have you read this book? Share what you liked (or didn’t) and get personalized recommendations.
Start or resume Shelf TalkThese picks are popular with readers who enjoyed this book. Possible spoilers below.
In Each of Us a Desert, did you enjoy a young protagonist's spiritual and emotional journey in a world shaped by stories and beliefs?
If you loved following Xochitl's journey of self-discovery and grappling with the power of stories and confessions in Each of Us a Desert, you'll be captivated by Jam's quest in Pet. Both novels fuse spirituality, folklore, and coming-of-age exploration as their young protagonists confront the deep truths hidden within their communities.
In Each of Us a Desert, did you enjoy the nuanced exploration of identity and belonging in a harsh, insular world?
If you connected with Xochitl's struggle to find her place in a society that expects her to bear burdens she never chose, An Unkindness of Ghosts offers a similarly powerful journey with Aster, who must navigate a rigid, oppressive environment aboard the HSS Matilda and claim her own voice against all odds.
In Each of Us a Desert, did you enjoy a dreamlike, poetic fantasy rooted in myth and lush, evocative language?
If you were enchanted by the lyrical prose and immersive folkloric atmosphere of Each of Us a Desert, you'll be swept away by the lush, beautiful storytelling of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea. Mina’s journey through the Spirit Realm is told in vibrant, flowing language that echoes the dreamlike quality of Xochitl's desert wanderings.
In Each of Us a Desert, did you enjoy a protagonist’s transformative journey through grief and self-discovery?
If Xochitl’s gradual growth and evolving understanding of herself resonated with you, Leigh’s emotional journey in The Astonishing Color of After will too. As Leigh searches for answers after her mother's death, her path is marked by personal transformation, acceptance, and hope—much like Xochitl’s own evolution.
In Each of Us a Desert, did you enjoy the use of allegory and magical realism to tell a deeply personal story?
If you admired how Each of Us a Desert used magical elements and allegorical storytelling to explore truth, memory, and trauma, Bone Gap will draw you in with its mysterious, symbol-laden narrative of a small town where reality and myth intertwine as Finn searches for the missing Roza.
