She dreamed of finding a new life… Georgetown, Guyana 1970. Seven-year-old Rita has always known she was responsible for the death of her beautiful mother Cassie. Her absent-minded father allows her to run wild in her ramshackle white wooden house by the sea, and surrounded by her army of stray pets, most of the time she can banish her mother’s death to the back of her mind. But then her new stepmother Chandra arrives and the house empties of love and laughter. Rita’s pets are removed, her freedom curtailed, and before long, there’s a new baby sister on the way. There’s no room for Rita anymore. Desperate to fill up the emptiness inside her, Rita begins to talk to the only photo she has of her dead mother, a poor farmer’s daughter from the remote Guyanese rainforest. Determined to find the truth about her mother, Rita travels to find her mother’s family in an unfamiliar land of shimmering creeks and towering vines. She finds comfort in the loving arms of her grandmother among the flowering shrubs and trees groaning with fruit. But when she discovers the terrible bruising secret that her father kept hidden from her, will she ever be able to feel happiness again? A beautiful and inspiring story that will steal your heart and open your eyes. Fans of The Secret Life of Bees, The Vanishing Half and The Other Half of Augusta Hope will be captivated by The Far Away Girl. A beautiful and inspiring story that will steal your heart and open your eyes. Fans of The Secret Life of Bees, The Vanishing Half and The Other Half of Augusta Hope will be captivated by The Far Away Girl. What everyone is saying about The Far Away Girl: ‘Astoundingly beautiful, incredibly powerful, a powerhouse of a book. This author never ceases to amaze – book after book she stuns and beguiles with her beautiful prose and her wonderful stories… one of the most versatile writers I've read… This book is sheer perfection. Please read it. If you don't you're missing out.’ Renita D’Silva, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘An emotional, heart-warming, inspiring and absorbing story… totally unputdownable.’ My Reading Narnia, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I devoured this book in just a couple of days… brilliant storytelling, this book is sure to be a hit and has certainly become a firm favourite of mine.’ Jenny W Reads ‘I have really enjoyed reading this book by Sharon Maas it is a lovely story and draws you in and I can highly recommend it. 5 stars!’ Netgalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Maas’s books are always a delight, a chance to travel to some of the most beautiful parts of the world without ever leaving your home.’ Cayo Costa 72