The Five Wounds: A Novel

The Five Wounds: A Novel

A Family’s Year of Struggle and Redemption

Holy Week takes on new significance for thirty-three-year-old Amadeo Padilla in the small town of Las Penas, New Mexico. Unemployed and seeking redemption, Amadeo has been cast as Jesus in the Good Friday procession. He is determined to play the role with all the devotion he can muster. However, his plans are thrown into chaos when his fifteen-year-old daughter, Angel, arrives at his doorstep, pregnant and ready to turn his world upside down.

 A New Path for Angel

Angel, tough and spirited, has fled her mother’s house just weeks before her due date. Her unexpected arrival sets her life—and Amadeo’s—on a startling new trajectory. The baby’s impending birth brings both hope and tension to the Padilla family, as generations converge to navigate this new reality.

 A Multigenerational Family Drama

As Angel prepares for motherhood, Amadeo’s mother, Yolanda, struggles with a recent, life-changing discovery. Angel’s own mother, Marissa, faces estrangement from her daughter, while Tíve, Yolanda’s uncle, remains the stern keeper of the family’s history, disapproving of the choices around him. Amadeo, often relying on alcohol to cope with life’s challenges, finds himself overwhelmed by the expectations placed on him by his family.

A Heartfelt Debut Novel

“The Five Wounds” by Kirstin Valdez Quade spans the first year of the baby’s life. Revealing the deep and complex dynamics within the Padilla family. Vividly written with tenderness, humor, and emotional depth. This miraculous debut novel explores the struggles and triumphs of a family learning to support one another in times of need. Quade’s richly drawn characters and their intertwined stories will resonate long after the final page.Thus, offering a compelling look at the power of redemption and the enduring bonds of family.