CHRONICALLY DOLORES

Victoria Villarreal smoothly shifts between the languages, locations, humor, and heartache of Dolores Mendoza. Delores suffers with interstitial cystitis, a condition that caused a bladder accident in front of fellow eighth graders, a moment of shame that Villarreal powerfully conveys. Villarreal captures Dolores's curiosity in a priest's confessional, wit in the bathroom reviews she writes, and imagination in the telenovelas she creates. Villarreal's narration flattens as she portrays Tersichore, an autistic girl, whose affect contrasts with Dolores's high emotions. Villareal portrays minor characters as vividly as she renders Dolores's older brother, who is struggling to find himself. The author delivers her afterword about her writing and life journey with candidness. S.W. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2024]