‘So where are their parents?’ Puck asked.
I froze on the spot. ‘Whose parents?’
‘Those of your cousins’.’
‘Oh, them!’ For a moment my own mother came to mind. ‘Olive’s mother is visiting family. The others are dead.’
‘All of them?’
‘Yes. They’re buried up there, near the tree with the bitter leaves.’ I pointed to the umubirizi tree at the top of the hill.
‘Is it okay if I take a look?’ Puck’s voice carried a hint of hesitation.

Seventeen-year-old Maridadi works at the market in Rwanda. What she really wants is to attend university, but she lacks the money to pay for that. Every day is just a repeat of the day before, until the arrival of Puck, a Dutch student who enlists Maridadi’s help as an interpreter.

Seventeen-year-old Maridadi works at the market in Rwanda. What she really wants is to attend university, but she lacks the money to pay for that. Every day is just a repeat of the day before, until the arrival of Puck, a Dutch student who enlists Maridadi’s help as an interpreter.

This sets off a chain of events. Fourteen years after the genocide, Maridadi begins to ask questions about her past, particularly the death of her mother during those dark, terrible days. Did the adults tell her the truth? Maridadi then discovers a deeply disturbing family secret, and has to somehow figure out where she stands in the shady area between culprits and victims. Will she be able to find out what actually happened to her mother?

The Rwandan genocide (1994) is generally seen as the greatest tragedy to befall Africa in the 20th century. Approximately one million people were murdered over the course of one hundred days. During her visits to Rwanda, Ruth Erica wondered about the impact this has on young people. How does this trauma affect them today? These thoughts formed the basis for this impressive story.