A Teaspoon of earth and sky by Dina Nayeri

Set in post-revolutionary Iran this is the story of Saba whose mother and twin sister “disappear” in the airport while on their way to America. Saba spends the next 10 years trying to piece together what happened on that day. The village women become her surrogate mother, her father – although grief stricken by the loss of his wife and daughter – does his best to give to Saba all that she needs. What I loved about the book is the practical ways in which the average person tries to live within a system that is oppressive. The characters are all touched by one tragedy or another – yet they manage to find life in spite of it all. The book is suspenseful, hope filled and the characters are totally believable (even quite witty at times!). Would be a great book club read!