Go-Between Girl - by Andrea Gunraj (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Uncover a deeply moving exploration of identity, legacy, and self-determination through the lens of one woman's history in this inspiring collection of essays. Andrea Gunraj invites readers on an evocative journey marked by poignant reflections and cultural critique. In Go-Between Girl, Gunraj delves into the under-told legacy of indentured servitude and its lasting impacts on descendants across the diaspora. As a second-generation Indo-Caribbean woman, she intimately captures the complexities of belonging and the challenges of navigating cultural dichotomies. Through the concept of "go-betweenness," Gunraj illustrates her path from the intersections of race, class, and cultural identity to a broader understanding of colonial histories. This profound collection encompasses personal narratives highlighting the struggles and resilience of ancestors subjected to indentured servitude, reflective essays on the reclaiming of derogatory terms within cultural communities, insightful critiques on societal expectations and the model minority stereotype, challenges faced in interracial relationships and the quest for genuine feminist solidarity, and celebrations of heritage through cultural practices, food, and community connections.

At once intimate and political, Gunraj presents an enlightening perspective that prompts a reconsideration of heritage and shared histories. Her essays are a touching testament to the enduring quest for justice and identity, offering a powerful contribution to discussions of race, feminism, and the modern-day consequences of colonialism. A gripping read that fosters deep conversations, Go-Between Girl is a valuable asset for anyone interested in memoir, cultural studies, and social justice. Gunraj's writing is both accessible and profound, making it suitable for a wide audience eager for powerful insights and emotional depth.

About the Author

She is a national feminist leader and innovator with an award-winning career in human rights, gender justice, and social justice movements. She is winner of a Grant's Desi Achievers Award (2023) and has been featured at The Walrus Talks (2022). She was lead of the team presented with a 2023 Governor General's Innovation Award for the globally celebrated Signal for Help.

Gunraj writes about hidden stories of equity-seeking people and their convergence across social lines and boundaries. She is author of the ReLit shortlisted The Lost Sister (Vagrant Press, 2019) and critically acclaimed The Sudden Disappearance of Seetha (Knopf Canada, 2009). Her short fiction has been published in The Ex-Puritan and FreeFall Magazine and has been longlisted for the CBC Short Story Prize. Her non-fiction centres on equity, inclusion, and safety. It includes a chapter in Subdivided Building Inclusion Into the Global City (Coach House Books, 2016) and articles in WIRED, Spacing Magazine, and The Philanthropist Journal.

Gunraj has worked in gender and racial justice, gender-based violence and homelessness prevention, and sexual and reproductive health for over two decades. She hosted the Canadian Women's Foundation's Alright, Now What? podcast with a listenership of approximately 4,000 listeners per episode. Gunraj holds a Masters in Criminology from the University of Toronto.