A fateful incident at an antiwar protest pits sister against sister in this family saga about the longstanding cost of commitment.
In August of 1968, Rosa and Esther—sisters with matching red star tattoos—march together through downtown Detroit to protest the war in Vietnam. When a bloodied teenager reports that mounted police are beating protestors a few blocks away, the young women hurry to offer assistance. But their attempt to stop the violence has devastating consequences that will alter the course of both of their lives.
When the sisters are arrested, Rosa sees an opportunity to protest the war in court. With an infant daughter to protect, Esther will do anything to avoid prison—even testify against Rosa. Estranged for decades, their family story takes a new turn when their daughters finally meet. Told from multiple points of view and through the sisters’ never-mailed letters, Her Sister’s Tattoo explores the thorny intersection of family loyalty and political conviction.
Ellen Meeropol is the author of three previous novels: Kinship of Clover (Women’s National Book Association Great Group Read, and literary fiction finalist for the Best Book Award), On Hurricane Island (semifinalist for the Massachusetts Book Award), and House Arrest. Recent essay publications include the Boston Globe, The Writer, and Guernica. Ellen’s dramatic script telling the story of the Rosenberg Fund for Children was produced most recently in Manhattan featuring Eve Ensler, Angela Davis, and Cotter Smith. A founding member of Straw Dog Writers Guild, Ellen leads their Social Justice Writing project. She lives in Northampton, MA.