Kris Holloway, often referred to by her given Malian name of Fatumata, is the author and first-person narrator of the story. As a 21-year-old white woman, Holloway joins the Peace Corps and finds herself in a life-changing opportunity in the village of Nampossela. Her friendship with the community’s midwife, Monique Dembele, is the focal point of the book.

Holloway brings her Western mindset about gender equality to Mali and inspires Monique to look differently at women’s access to birth control, genital mutilation, and women’s rights in general. Holloway is in awe of Monique, who she views at first as all-knowing but comes to see as a young woman with struggles in life, just like her.

The author impacts the village by being the driving force behind the updated birthing house and by supplying Monique with updated medical information and materials. Holloway is witness to life and death in Mali, and along the way she forges an incredible friendship with Monique that changes both their lives forever.

Monique Dembele is the 24-year-old midwife and health-care worker for the small Malian village of Nampossela. Monique strives to provide the best care possible for the women and children of a culture that is dominated by patriarchal views and beliefs.