THE BIRTHING TREE

From the internationally bestselling author of The Berry Pickers a powerful intensely moving novel of family and legacy following one woman as she confronts buried truths and the fragile future she alone must protectAs I stood under it looking up into the branches listening as the wind rustled the leaves I could hear my Kiju s voice This tree holds our stories Born under the shadow of a tree sacred to generations of Indigenous women Aliet has been brought up by her fierce loving grandmother Kiju Her father remains a mystery and her mother died under that very tree gently held by its cradle of roots as Aliet came into the world But now the world beyond their small community is changing Local women are increasingly reluctant to follow traditional birthing rituals and at the hospital white doctors are sceptical of Indigenous practices Aliet and Kiju are distraught to witness their prejudice turn into condemnation but decades later Aliet too will move away and work as a nurse in the city administering modern medicine while still holding her grandmother s wisdom dear When Kiju passes away suddenly grief stricken Aliet understands that she must return to the tree only these roots can help her reconnect with her heritage and discover long buried sec