Set in the small town of River Bank, Jamaica, this story focuses on three women: mother Delores, and daughters Margot and Thandie. Delores works hard, but Margot is the one who works the hardest, providing for the three of them, especially Thandie. Margot is determined that all of her sacrifices are for Thandie, so Thandie can do well in school and surpass the rigid societal hierarchy that keeps Delores and Margot firmly in place. However, Thandie doesn't necessarily share the same dreams that Margot has for her, and as Margot's ambitions start to become more and more difficult to sustain, the lives of all three women are in jeopardy.
The author is from Jamaica, and her deft writing brings this story to life. She captures the distinct dialect of the characters, as well as the setting. This story definitely illustrates how Jamaican tourists see the seaside village of River Bank as a beautiful place, but don't see at all that the native people are suffering and barely getting by. Margot's decisions and sacrifices are especially keen, and by the end, it's clear that she hasn't chosen the easy (or right) way to do things. The author really captures the problems of intergenerational decisions that do damage, and how the cycle just seems to continue on.
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