The Thirsty Earth : A Novel

A young Caribbean boy must learn to survive by himself after the death of his grandmother and disappearance of his mother, while trying to stay one step ahead of corrupt police.

One morning, twelve-year-old Shango wakes up to discover his grandmother has died in her sleephis only family on the island. Shango heads into town to tell the authorities and call his mother in America, but before he can get there, he is almost run off the road by a passing car. Swerving to avoid him, the driver loses control and heads into a ravine. When the police arrive on the scene, they open fire on the driver and threaten to kill Shango if he says anything.

Shango puts aside his fears and tries to report his grandmothers death to the police. But no one will listen to him and he makes the fateful decision to bury his grandmother on the mountain and pretend she is still alive. His new secret changes his interactions with everyone, essentially cutting him off from society as he must lie to his teachers and friends in order to survive.

When Shango wins a prestigious island-wide competition, it becomes harder to keep the world believing his grandmother is still alive. And when he inadvertently uncovers the true story behind the police execution, his life becomes even more complicatedand dangerous. Political turmoil envelops the island, threatening to bring society crashing down, and taking Shango with it.