“Lilli’s inspiring power and touching determination are timeless.”

“A brilliantly quiet novel with a spine of steel. ”

“Janet Benton’s remarkable novel LILLI DE JONG is historical fiction that transcends the genre and recalls a past world so thoroughly that it breathes upon the page. From the first sentence, Lilli’s sensitive, observant, determined voice casts an irresistible spell.”

“You would be hard-pressed to find a more intimate—even revolutionary—depiction of the emotional and sensory experiences of motherhood.”

“A new feminist classic for Trump-era America.”

“Benton has written a powerful work steeped in history, one that highlights the sacrifices, and rich rewards, of being a mother.”

“A gorgeous paean to the courage and ferocity of a mother’s love, Lilli de Jong pays homage to the solace of writing through troubling times and will haunt readers long after its denouement. ”

“The core of the narrative is the intense, heartfelt connection between a mother and her baby. This gentle love that Lilli and her daughter share and the distress they experience when separated are among the most powerful expressions of the parent-child relationship that I have encountered in contemporary literature.”

“A powerful, authentic voice for a generation of women whose struggles were erased from history. A heart-smashing debut that completely satisfies.”

“Writing with a historical eye akin to Geraldine Brooks and incisive prose matching that of Anthony Doerr . . . an unforgettable and important reflection on the maternal and ultimately the human bond.”

“Beautifully written, emotionally resonant, and psychologically astute . . . A gripping read.”

“Lilli de Jong is a virtual maternal hug of a novel that acknowledges the persistence of mothers everywhere.”

“A stunning read about the fierceness of love.”

“It’s not only a compelling, beautifully crafted historical novel, however: it’s also important. As a single young woman desperate to hold onto her baby, Lilli’s life-and-death struggle is shockingly common to women even today.”

“Benton has a degree in Religious Studies, and it shows. For a longtime bible student like myself, Benton’s questions and analysis show a respect for Christians often lacking in current literature, while questioning the areas that can be problematic.”

“Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Sojourner Truth and Margaret Sanger all made their mark as early American feminists. . . . Had she been real, Lilli de Jong would have been a kindred spirit.”

“A striking historical and feminist debut that highlights the power of motherhood and honors the silent strength of women.”

“Sentence by carefully crafted sentence, Benton ensnares the reader. ”

“A stunning ode to motherhood. LILLI DE JONG reminds us that there is no formula to being a good mother. Love is the essential ingredient, and only it gives everlasting life to our legacies.”

“In detailing the suffering of these women, Benton reminds us that they don’t exist in just the past. . . . Is Benton’s writing about breastfeeding a political act? Probably.”

“This is both a super lush historical novel and an amazing feminist manifesto. Buy this for your mom, buy this for your boyfriend, buy it for everyone.”

“Just when the reader is tempted to relegate the significance of this story to the past, an historical novel with a theme for another time, Benton calls forth the struggle of every mother. . . . To raise a child is to ask for heartache and happiness in equal measure, and this novel is a reflection on the sacrifices that all mothers have made for their families in the past and continue to make in the present.”

“[Lilli’s] clear-eyed view of her situation and her fearless questioning of a repressive system makes for exhilarating reading . . . LILLI DE JONG has real resonance in today’s battles over women’s reproductive health and the rights of working mothers.”