Dystopian novel about motherhood
This is not one of the majors (school for good mothers keeps coming up when I search plot details).
It’s the near/alternate future. Conception is a challenge and needs scientific help. Motherhood is a huge commitment/investment. Children are rare and prized, which is why the standard of parenthood (but really motherhood) is super high. Government monitoring. And “bad” parents lose their kids. Obv these parents are not bad. The state has actually rigged the system and kids are taken away on purpose.
There are community informants. Main character gets called out/sanctioned at a park/playground.
Main character loses her kid and in process of trying to get child back learns she herself was a “stolen” baby. She has a sister, which is very unusual. Main character becomes part of the system and a community informant, issuing situation to “bad” mothers as price for keeping her own.
Red and black cover from what I remember. With pregnant? woman and birds? on cover?
Help!
Posted Jul 9, 2026, 7:45 PM UTC