Maya's Notebook - Isabel Allende

Maya's Notebook

(Author: Isabel Allende)

‘Isabel Allende enchants in Maya’s Notebook’ — Vanity Fair

Living on Chiloé, a beautiful, remote island off the coast of Chile, might sound like paradise. For nineteen-year-old Maya Dello, it is the only safe haven keeping her alive.

Abandoned by her parents as an infant and raised in Berkeley, California, by her eccentric Chilean grandmother, Nidia (Nini), and her beloved astronomer grandfather, Popo, Maya was a spirited, free-thinking girl. But when Popo dies of cancer, Maya's world shatters. She spirals into delinquency, runs away to Las Vegas, and quickly falls prey to a dangerous underground world of addiction, petty crime, and drug cartels.

Rescued from the brink of destruction by her fierce grandmother, Maya is sent to hide away on Chiloé under strict rules: stay off the grid, contact no one from her past, and keep a journal detailing how her life went off the rails.

On this misty, mystical island steeped in indigenous lore and quiet rhythms, Maya begins writing her story. But as she integrates into the island's quirky community, she discovers that Chiloé holds unexpected ties to her own family’s past and Chile's dark political history. To heal her present, Maya must confront both her personal trauma and the secrets waiting for her in the shadows of the island.

Key Features:

• Masterful Bestselling Author: Written by internationally celebrated storyteller Isabel Allende (The House of the Spirits, Inés of My Soul).

• Gripping Modern Coming-of-Age Story: Balances dark contemporary themes of addiction and trauma with hope, redemption, and self-discovery.

• Atmospheric Chilean Setting: Transports readers to the enchanting, folklore-rich island of Chiloé.

• Dual-Timeline Structure: Combines Maya's raw journal entries about her gritty past in the US with her healing journey in South America.