No one can hurt you like family

These beautiful short stories will break your heart, just a little, then fill you with love. Fajardo-Anstine writes Indigenous Latina family stories all taking place in or around Denver. Each story focusing on one relationship at a time: mothers and daughters, sisters, close cousins, brother and sister. There's a common theme of absent parents and children that have to grow up just a little too quickly. Family misfits who want to be seen as valuable. Also gentrification of urban Denver and death ceremonies, both forced changes we sometimes don't want to acknowledge. The title story, "Sabrina & Corina", was my clear favorite and one I'll re-read again.

Fajardo-Anstine's writing is very descriptive without falling into purple prose. The reader can clearly visualize the weather sweeping through the Colorado countryside, a mother's kitchen, and the familiar funeral parlor. I really hope Fajardo-Anstine explores novel length books because she would be amazing at it I'm sure.

Stories: 5 stars
Writing/Prose: 5 stars
Overall Theme: 5 stars