Trigger warning: sexual abuse, sex trafficking

In the Shadow of the Mountain is Vasquez-Lavado's harrowing tale of an abusive childhood and her triumphs of summiting the tallest mountains on the planet, including Mount Everest. The reader follows her on a journey to base camp with other women who experienced sexual abuse and/or trafficking, and the camaraderie and strength they derive from each other. Once the group reaches Everest Base Camp, most of them turn around to their starting point, yet Silvia continues in her bid to summit the world's tallest peak.

Ultimately, this book is about overcoming trauma and finding joy in setting and meeting challenging goals with the support of a loving community. Underneath, the excruciating abuse Silvia and others experienced is shared through their own words.

I loved the tight bonds forged between girls from the U.S. and Nepal while on their healing journey. The descriptions of Silvia's abuse, however, were really hard to read (and I teach a university course on Child Abuse and Neglect!) I digested this book slowly - way more slowly than most books I read - because I needed to take breaks to absorb some of the pain and trauma shared on the pages.