Ada Public Library’s adult book group will be discussing "The Boat People" by Sharon Bala on Tuesday, April 2 at 7 p.m.

The book discussion is open to the public, and meets the first Tuesday of every month in the library. Copies of each month’s books are available for check-out the month prior to each discussion. Call the library at 419-634-5246 for more information.

Book synopsis

When the rusty cargo ship carrying Mahindan and five hundred fellow refugees reaches the shores of British Columbia, the young father is overcome with relief: he and his six-year-old son can finally put Sri Lanka's bloody civil war behind them and begin new lives. Instead, the group is thrown into prison, with government officials and news headlines speculating that hidden among the "boat people" are members of a terrorist militia infamous for suicide attacks. As suspicions swirls and interrogation mounts, Mahindan fears the desperate actions he took to survive and escape Sri Lanka now jeopardize his and his son's chances for asylum. The book is told through the alternating perspectives of Mahindan; his lawyer Priya, who reluctantly represents the migrants; and Grace, a third generation Japanese-Canadian adjudicator who must decide Mahindan’s fate. Inspired by real events, with vivid scenes that move between the eerie beauty of northern Sri Lanka and combative refugee hearings in Vancouver. "The Boat People" offers a deeply compassionate lens through which to view the current refugee crisis.

About the author

Sharon was born in Dubai, raised in Ontario, and now lives in St. John's, Newfoundland with her husband. 

In her past lives, she worked in PR, event planning, and enjoyed a brief stint as a British housewife. She now earns her bread with words. "The Boat People" is her debut novel.