Ada, a young Englishwoman in early-1940s Singapore, is about to be married to Michael, a well-educated Anglo-Indian from a wealthy family. She dreams of a life of security and fulfilment. Instead, when the Japanese invade, her family struggle to cope under occupation, while she is interned in Changi gaol. Separated from her baby daughter and her beloved Michael, who is torn between loyalty to his family and duty to his country, she needs all her will-power to survive.
After the war, Ada must decide how best to protect her child. She leaves Singapore in search of a better life only to experience prejudice and unkindness. But her journey will also bring compassion and hope.
This moving and engaging story is an insightful depiction of people deeply affected by the horrors of war, a mother's bond with her child, and the momentous challenge of rebuilding one's life in peace-time. A challenge which requires, above all, self-belief, the capacity to forgive, and the courage to love again.