InSpeakofIt,MarcosMcPeekVillatoroexploreshowhechanneledhisLatinorootstocometotermswiththechildhoodsexualabusehesufferedatthehandsofarelativeinhishomeinAppalachia,andherecountshisensuingstrugglewithtraumaandmentalillness.ThesonofaSalvadoranmotherandScotchIrishmechanicfather,MarcosspentmuchofhislifetryingtobreakawayfromhisSouthernAppalachianpastandthetraumaexperiencedthereandstrivingtogetclosertohisSalvadoranheritage.HisjourneyincludessteepinghimselfintheSpanishlanguageandLatinAmericanliterature,especiallytheworkofGabrielGarc穩aMarquez;astintinNicaraguawithWitnessforPeace,followedbymissionaryworkinGuatemala;andsocial-justiceworkwithMexicanmigrantfarmworkersinAlabama.Eachexperiencebroughthimclosertounderstandingwherehecamefromandtoforginganidentityasawholeselfinthewakeoftrauma.Riveting,horrifying,moving,andinspiring,SpeakofItisatestamenttothehealingpoweroflanguage,books,andidentity.
