A People's History of Heaven

The language [takes] on a musicality that is in sharp contrast to the bleak setting . . . refreshing . . . a strong debut.New York Times Book Review ';Subramanian writes with empathy and exuberance, offering a much-needed glimpse into a world that too many of us dont even know exists. This is a book to give your little sister, your mother, your best friend, yourself, so together you can celebrate the strength of women and girls, the tenacity it takes to survive in a world that would rather have you disappear.'NylonInthe tight-knit community known as Heaven, a ramshackle slum hidden betweenluxury high-rises in Bangalore,India, five girls on the cusp of womanhoodforge an unbreakable bond. Muslim, Christian, and Hindu; queer andstraight;they are full of life, and they love and accept one another unconditionally.Whatever they have, theyshare. Marginalized women, they are determined totranscend their surroundings. When the local government threatensto demolish their tin shacks in order to build a shopping mall, thegirls andtheir mothers refuse to be erased. Together they wage war on the bulldozerssent to bury their homes,and, ultimately, on the city that wishes thatfamilies like them would remain hidden forever. Elegant, poetic, andvibrant,A People's History of Heaventakes a clear-eyed look at adversity andgeography--and dazzles in its depictionof these women's fierceness and determination not just to survive, but totriumph.