Heaven is a Bangalore slum populated with women who got left behind - widowed, abandoned, escaped. The central characters are five girls with big dreams who support each other through the trials of their hand-to-mouth existence.

A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF HEAVEN shines a light on a community of people who are ignored and overlooked - brown girls, poor girls, gay girls, trans girls. The flowery language of the novel brings the beauty of each girl's life to the surface as they learn to make the best of their situation, often by seeing the talents the others have and working to lift them up.

The chapters read like vignettes - brief glimpses into the life of each girl and her family. I was often left wanting more. I feel like I got the bird's eye view of this community rather than a deep knowledge of any one character. I think this is a book whose imagery will stay with me long after I've forgotten the plot details. I've never even been to that side of the world, let alone to Bangalore or a slum within it, and I still felt as though I could see it right there with the characters.

I do feel like I have to say there was some clunky handling of Joy's coming out as trans. I think it was an attempt to illustrate the rest of the community making the switch with her name and pronouns, but to me, the use of her deadname and incorrect pronouns lasted too long and began to feel like deliberate misgendering to make a plot point.