Jessie Munro's beautifully written story of a radical nun who became a symbol of political commitment and caring for others was named Book of the Year in the 1997 Montana Book Awards.

French-born Suzanne Aubert arrived in New Zealand in the 1860s and set up the Sisters of Compassion at Jerusalem on the Whanganui River in 1892. But she also published a key Māori text, broke in a hill farm, manufactured medicines and supported families through the Depression. This story of a remarkable life, described as ‘an outstanding work of historical biography’ by former Prime Minister David Lange, has gone on to sell thousands of copies.