STAIRCASE OF A THOUSAND STEPS

A precocious 11-year-old girl experiences an unsettling coming of age in a Jordanian village in this engaging first novel. Jammana, who possesses an ancestral gift that allows her to see the past, travels with her mother, Rafa, against her father's wishes, to Rafa's birthplace, the ancient village of Ein Fadr. It is 1966, and the desert region simmers with ethnic and religious tensions—helicopters and military patrols are as much a part of the terrain as sand dunes and camels. In Ein Fadr a tightly knit group of families have lived together for generations, donkeys serve as transportation and the rule of Allah is strictly observed. Rafa's father, Harif, is a shepherd with his own psychic gift; he and Faridah, the village midwife, are much loved by Jammana. Harif's often disturbing prophecies have made him a suspicious figure in town, and Faridah has her own troubles as an independent woman. As Jammana attempts to understand the past, Harif and Faridah weave tales that bring long-buried secrets to light. When Rafa leaves her husband and hides in the caves above the village, tragedy strikes. Jammana—who can't decide if she is cursed or blessed with her growing powers—is forced to decide her loyalties and learn what betrayal means. Hamilton is a natural storyteller: she weaves past and present artfully together, the narrative moves at a good clip and the mysticism throughout is rendered believably. Readers eager for a much different take on small-town hurts and rivalries will be intrigued by how these elements play out in this sheltered corner of the world. (May 21)

Forecast:This is one of four first novels kicking off Penguin's BlueHen imprint, which aims to bring literary fiction to a wider audience. The editors have made a wise choice with this debut, though a drab jacket may deflect browsers.