Children of Sugarcane

By: Joanne Joseph

Narrated by: Roshina Ratnam

“Shanti is a heroine that the reader will not easily forget. The story that is told here is worth not only knowing but also remembering.” (Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu, author, filmmaker, and academic)

Vividly set against the backdrop of 19th-century India and the British-owned sugarcane plantations of Natal, written with great tenderness and lyricism, Children of Sugarcane paints an intimate and wrenching picture of indenture told from a woman’s perspective.

Shanti, a bright teenager stifled by life in rural India and facing an arranged marriage, dreams that South Africa is an opportunity to start afresh. The Colony of Natal is where Shanti believes she can escape the poverty, caste, and troubling fate of young girls in her village. Months later, after a harrowing sea voyage, she arrives in Natal only to discover the profound hardship and slave labor that await her.

Spanning four decades and two continents, Children of Sugarcane demonstrates the lifegiving power of love, heartache, and the indestructible bonds between family and friends. These bonds prompt heroism and sacrifice, the final act of which leads to Shanti's redemption.

©2021 Jonathan Ball Publishers (P)2023 Jonathan Ball Publishers

New subject for me, I never knew…

I had never heard about indentured servants from India that went to South Africa during the British rule. It was a fascinating journey following Shanti through that experience. I hope the author does more books like this one. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Exquisite writing of a life journey.

A story rarely told. Exquisitely written. A rare treat. I can’t wait to read another of this authors books.

A poignant story about love and friendship.

Children of Sugarcane is a story that has been waiting to be told. Joanne Joseph captures a historical event in South African history (the arrival of indentured Indian labourers) on such an intimate level that you feel the hope, suffering, pain and joy of the characters. It’s simply beautiful.

Children of Sugarcane

A must read. Beautifully written, unexpected twists and turns. Love, tragedy and hope. I am better for having read this book.

What if the ship never docked in Tongaat

As a third-generation immigrant, with my paternal grandparents arriving in Port Natal as indentured sugar cane cutters, this book offered a perspective on their lives, as well as my father's, that I had never considered before. It stirred up so many emotions, particularly anger. I found myself reflecting on how we are all created equal, yet the color of our skin dictates our experiences and treatment in life. Despite this anger, I also felt a deep sense of pride in how far we’ve come. Congratulations to Joanne Joseph for writing this powerful story for us!