ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Getting any book from idea to publication is a tremendous undertaking, and this book required more assistance than many to make it there. A huge thank-you to everyone who has supported me personally over the past five years or has helped this book in a creative or technical capacity.
To my dad, to whom this book is dedicated, and who left his heart on the altiplano years ago. For traveling with me, opening doors where I didn’t even know to look for handles, and for being willing to wait over five years for “his” book to be ready.
To my family, for supporting me as I dug deep to find the treasure in this book. Most especially, to Nick, for ceaselessly supporting me, including solo parenting a feverish four-year-old and two boisterous boys for the two weeks I was in another hemisphere. You have never once doubted me in this crazy thing that I do, though I often doubt myself. Thank you for loving me and being my solid rock every step of the way.
To my amazing writer friends and those who supported this book on its bumpy road to publication. First and foremost, my amazing critique group: Annie Gaughen, Annie Cardi, Katie Slivensky, and Allison Pottern. You guys are the absolute best. Thanks also to Trish Ryan for encouraging me to give this book the time it needed, to Annamary Sullivan for the many phone calls reminding me that “benching” a book is an investment in the future, and to Daniela DeSousa and Samantha Negrete, for the last-minute consult, even though it was midnight in Madrid.
To Caryn Wiseman, my agent, and to all those at Penguin Random House who helped turn this book from an idea into a reality. Special thanks to assistant editor Caitlin Tutterow, art director Cecilia Yung, and assistant art director Eileen Savage for the beautiful cover. Deepest thanks to Stacey Barney, editor extraordinaire, for helping me bring out the heart in this book that mattered so much to me.
I am indebted to the producers and directors of two documentaries that I used in my research: Kief Davidson and Richard Ladkani’s The Devil’s Miner (2005) and Raul de la Fuente’s Minerita (2013). The Devil’s Miner was my first introduction to the Cerro’s child miners. I have named my fictional mine El Rosario in tribute to the real El Rosario mine in which Basilio and Bernardino Vargas worked. And though I only discovered it recently, I would also like to acknowledge Ander Izagirre’s book The Mountain That Eats Men. Thank you all for working to make known the plight of the children of the Cerro Rico.
To Francisco Tandioy Jansassoy, native speaker of Inga (Quechua) and co-founder of Musu Runakuna, a political action group that works closely with Inga elders to promote Inga language, cultural expression, and land rights, and my teacher at Indiana University. Thank you for introducing me to your culture and teaching me the fascinating basics of your native language.
Lastly, to all those who helped me while on my research trip in Bolivia, my thanks:
Este libro ha sido una empresa dura de realizar que ha llevado varios años. Quiero dar las gracias enormemente a las siguientes personas, quienes me ayudaron durante mi viaje de investigación a Bolivia en 2016:
A la Dra. Rosario (Nilda) Caballero Aracena, doctora, trabajadora de desarrollo y ayudante extraordinaria: Mil gracias por presentarme a personas que fueron claves durante el proceso, por actuar como intérprete del quechua al español y por dirigir la excursión por la montaña.
A Zenon Paucara, trabajador de campo en la Fundación Voces Libres: Gracias por dejarme acompañarle mientras conducía a los niños del Cerro Rico a la Escuela Robertito y por compartir sus experiencias conmigo.
A Fabiola Sandivel Miranda Vela, abogada de CEPROMIN: Gracias por ayudarme a ver la realidad de las mujeres de la montaña, y por su trabajo protegiendo a todas esas mujeres maltratadas y guiando a los niños que quieren abandonar la montaña mediante los programas de capacitación.
A José Manuel (Manolo) Diez Canseco y Jorge Marcelo Velásquez Bonilla: Gracias por auxiliarme con contactos y alojamiento en la ciudad de Potosí.
A Vanessa Giselle Nera Zeherina, psicóloga escolar en la Escuela Robertito: Gracias por su generosidad al compartir su trabajo y por presentarme a los estudiantes que tiene bajo su cuidado.
Por último, a las mujeres y los niños del Cerro Rico: Gracias por compartir sus historias, vidas y penas conmigo con tanta generosidad. Debo una mención especial a Doña Serafina Sandoval Condor, madre de once y viuda del Cerro Rico, y a Emiliane (trece años), Rober (trece), Jadahi (doce), Edwin (doce), Cintia (once), Emily (diez), Joel (diez), Noelia (ocho), y Jimena (seis), estudiantes de la Escuela Robertito.