The town of Kolkata in India is experiencing flooding, famine and intense heat. Ma, her two year old daughter and elderly father are planning to soon leave and join her husband in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Their passports finally arrive, their flight is booked but the next morning Ma discovers that her purse with the three passports in it has been stolen. Ma learns who the thief is , but her family’s passports and escape from India seem lost forever.

Megha Majumdar’s second novel is tense and exciting with twists and turns throughout. It seems that Ma and the thief continue to make bad decisions that result in more problems for both of them. A Guardian and a Thief would be a good choice for book clubs. There would be lots to discuss.