​Hum If You Don't Know the Words

One of the Globe and Mail's Best Books of 2017

“Radiant… a stirring ode to a country’s painful maturation.” -O, The Oprah Magazine

“Richly drawn…[The characters’] journeys and eventual love poignantly demonstrate that nothing is simply black or white.” –USA Today

“In this standout debut Marais handles topics such as grief and racism with a delicate intensity that will make readers fall in love with her characters. From the first few heartfelt chapters to a fast-paced and heart-wrenching ending, Marais has created a stunning historical drama that shouldn’t be missed.”-Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Lyrical...A captivating story about finding family in unexpected places and maintaining culture in the face of adversity.”-Library Journal (starred review)
 
“Bianca Marais’ new novel, which was inspired by her own life, will sweep you up and not let you go until the final page.”—Bookish.com, Must Read Summer Books of 2017

"A deeply compelling story of love, loss, racism, sacrifice, and family." -Hello Giggles 

“Breathtaking...Intense, powerful and moving, Hum If You Don't Know the Words is an exalting anthem of love, family and humanity.”-Shelf Awareness 

“With its vivid, emotional scene-setting, alternating narration and tense plotting, this novel is a thoughtful, compelling page-turner.” –Goodhousekeeping.com

"Rousing quest for redemption... Hum If You Don't Know the Words is both delightful and deadly serious." -
The Toronto Star

"Comparisons to The Help and The Secret Life of Bees are apt, and fans of those two novels should immediately add this one to their "to read" lists." — The Globe and Mail

“[Marais] brings her homeland to life with compelling descriptions of both city and rural life and the great divide that separated people during the apartheid era.” –Cedar Rapids Gazette

One of Real Simple's Best New Books to Read This Month

Chosen as one of Library Journal's Writers To Watch and New York Post's Required Reading