Eva's Journey — Bernadette Joyce

Eva's journey begins as an eight-year-old in a dysfunctional

childhood in a fear-filled era of Chilean history. Born into

poverty, her life is shaped by her grandfather's disappearance

under Pinochet's dictatorship. She leaves home at a young age and

moves from place to place, all the while fighting for justice in spite of

being faced with tremendous obstacles.

Eventually Eva's troubles appear to be alleviated when she, along

with her friend Mario, leads a group of homeless people to lay claim

to land in the Atacama Desert. However, it is here that Eva

experiences an unimaginable tragedy, as she and five other

parents fall victim to a horrendous crime …

Inspired by real events, Eva's Journey draws

on the author's experiences in Chilean shanty

towns to depict three very different regions both

during and after the dictatorship. The book tells of

homelessness, disappearances and a disregard for the poor,

but is overall a moving tale of strength and endurance.