Based in Toronto, Canada, author Sam Mukherjee grew up in a typical Indian high-rise. Constantly walking in and out of neighbours’ homes, he was always surrounded by children his own age. The protagonist in his latest novel, The Perfect Tangerine: The Gift of Miracle Daley, however, is destined to lead a much more solitary life. Placed on a pedestal for being the miracle baby born three years after the world in this dystopian novel has given up hope on the survival of newborns, Miracle loses his standing soon after the baby drought ends. Labelled a ‘has-been’, he must learn to cope with bullies, and earn the acceptance of the children at school.

Author Sam Mukherjee’s novel is based in a world without babies