Frida Liu’s life is not what she expected. The protagonist in Jessamine Chan’s bestselling novel, The School for Good Mothers, is struggling in her career and marriage. Her only solace is her daughter. But when the government takes her, Frida must prove through a series of trials that she is fit to be a mother.
As part of Spotlight PA’s new book club pilot, Booklight PA, we read Chan’s debut novel and discussed it with readers across the state on Discord. (Join now!) Then, on Sept. 25, Chan joined us via Zoom to answer your questions on her Philly-based novel.
The School for Good Mothers made the New York Times Best Seller list, was chosen as a “Today” show book club pick, and was longlisted for the PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel and the Carnegie Medal.
This event was in partnership with A Novel Idea, a community-minded bookstore and event space based in East Passyunk, Philadelphia, run by Alexander Schneider and Christina Rosso-Schneider. Purchase your books here and find audiobook versions here.
If you enjoyed The School for Good Mothers, find book recommendations from author Jessamine Chan below:
Nonfiction:
Torn Apart - Dorothy Roberts
Invisible Child - Andrea Elliott
Investigating Families - Kelley Fong
Relinquished - Gretchen Sisson
We Were Once a Family - Roxanna Asgarian
Screaming on the Inside - Jessica Grose
Fiction:
Nightbitch - Rachel Yoder
Hum - Helen Phillips
The Women Could Fly - Megan Giddings
Man V. Nature - Diane Cook
Mercy Street - Jennifer Haigh
The Stepford Wives - Ira Levin
The Wilderness - Angela Flournoy
UPCOMING BOOKLIGHT PA EVENTS:
Oct. 23: Saturnalia, Stephanie Feldman
Nov. 18: If Sons, Then Heirs, Lorene Cary