Provocative and irreverent, author Gail Sidonie Sobat breaks traditional boundaries in this imaginative fictionalisation of the life of Mary. From staid Joseph of Nazareth to the hip Three Wiseguys, Sobat employs humour and a blend of contemporary and historical voice to bring an ancient tale into the realm of the wholly original. Through journal entries, Mary gives us her story as a young Jewish girl whose flair for drama settles into wisdom in the face of a solidly patriarchal society. Her personal growth is beautifully portrayed as her voice transforms from that of giddy girl to a woman of great inner strength who learns to balance a keen sense of social justice for women with an intensely personal quest for the spiritual in life. In a society where adulterous women and unmarried mothers are routinely stoned, Mary must do some quick thinking when she finds herself with child. To save her own life and that of her child, she spins a miraculous tale of immaculate conception. Little does she know that it will spread like wildfire, with unforeseen consequences. While fleeing King Herod with her new-born son, Mary meets up with Izel, a Bedouin member of a network of women who dedicate their lives to helping and healing women in trouble. With the influence of the sisterhood, Mary develops a maturity and focus that will direct the course of her life. In this unorthodox portrayal of the world of women during the time of Jesus of Galilee, Sobat side-steps traditional stereotypes to breathe life into a character who has too often been reduced to a symbol.