Nima

A young Sherpa woman grapples with her narrow social roles in Popescu’s emotional debut. Seventeen-year-old Nima, the eldest in a family of six daughters, lives a precious existence in the drought-affected village in the shadows of the Himalayas in Nepal . The family’s livelihood has become increasingly precarious in the three years since her father was injured in an avalanche, leaving him unable to serve as a guide to the crowds of foreigners climbing the mountains. He sees the marriage of his daughters as the only route to regain wealth, and so offers Nima and her sister as polygamous wives to the well-to-do Norbu. Nima balks at the marriage, even after compassionate, forward-looking Norbu agrees to marry just her, and flees after her father beats her. With the help of Val, an American journalist making her first trek on Everest, Nima disguises herself as a male guide. Val and her companions offer an unheard of sum for her services, which Nima hopes will allow her to move to Kathmandu and pursue a more fulfilling life. However, the suspicions of the more experienced guides and challenging encounters on the trail soon threaten her plan. This striking depiction of Sherpa life, particularly the difficulties faced by Sherpa women, is bolstered by Nima’s strong narrative voice, making this a perfect fit for book clubs . Agent: Pilar Queen, McCormick Literary. (May)