Commended for the 2004 Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice Selection, short-listed for the 2005 Red Maple Award and Rocky Mountain Book Award

When the Armenians of Turkey are marched into the desert to die in 1915, Mariam is rescued by her Turkish friend Rustem, and lives with mixed acceptance as a guest in his father's harem. Kevork is shot and left for dead in a mass grave in the desert, but is rescued by nomadic Arabs and nurtured back to health.

Both teens must choose between the security of an adopted home or the risk of death in search of...

When Mama goes to work,

She wears her working clothes.

She combs her hair,

She packs a lunch,

She takes her special bag.

When Mama goes to work,

I wear my playing clothes.

I comb my hair,

I pack a lunch,

I take my special bag.

When Mama Goes to Work follows several children and their working mothers as they move through their day. From morning to night, through the daily activities of work and play, children and parents keep each other in their thoughts even when they are apart.