Moonface: A True Romance

By the time she was in her early 30s, Balcita had an M.F.A., a husband named Charlie, a toddler daughter, and her third kidney transplant. Her debut is a wonderfully composed, moving tale of what it was like to discover at age 17 that renal disease is her lot in life—and to realize not once but thrice that there are people who love her so much they will offer her a kidney. It's not hard to see why Balcita would inspire such generosity; she's funny and smart and considerate. In fact, she rarely stops worrying about her donors: her brother, then boyfriend (now husband), and a friend. Are they in pain? Do they regret their decision? Does she deserve such a gift? Bits of her story first appeared in literary journals and in a 2006 New York Times "Modern Love" column, and it has grown into a creatively rendered homage to love in its many forms. Whether reflecting on her nomadic postcollege days or her emergency C-section, Balcita balances drama and comedy with finesse. (Feb.)