Daughters of Madurai by Rajasree Variyar

Historical fiction is on fire this summer. Daughters of Madurai is as much a story about love and hope as it is about trauma. Janani is an exceptionally drawn character. There is so much to learn and grieve in this book. I'm truly glad I read it.

From the back

'A girl is a burden. A girl is a curse.'

Madurai, 1992. A young mother in a poor family, Janani is told she is useless if she can't produce a son - or worse, bears daughters they can't afford. They let her keep her first baby girl but the rest are taken away as soon as they are born. The fate of her children has never been in her hands. But Janani can't forget the daughters who weren't allowed to live.

Sydney, 2019. Nila has a secret, one she's been keeping from her parents for far too long. Before she can say anything, her grandfather in India falls ill and she agrees to join her parents on a trip to Madurai - the first in over ten years. Growing up in Australia, Nila knows very little about where she or her family came from, or who they left behind. What she's about to learn will change her forever...

Perfect for fans of Christy Lefteri and Delia Owens.