The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline

 In the 1840's England and Ireland made a practice of emptying the inmates of  prisons like notorious Newgate  onto ships and sending them to the island colonies - in this case Tasmania then called Van Diemen's Island. The story of one such experience begins with Evangeline, falsely accused of theft to preserve the reputation of a wealthy family in London and ends with her daughter Ruby almost 30 years later.  In between we learn of the horrific conditions in prisons, slaver ships, and orphanages. But there is also the gift of friendship. Olivia, tough and big hearted, nurtures baby Ruby.  Hazel, the healer becomes both protector and mother to the child. Dr. Dunne observes the horrible situation of all the women and becomes a reformer.  
But that is just one side of the Tasmanian history examined here.  There is also the story of the Aboriginal people whose culture was destroyed by the British colonists.  We learn about Mathinna.  Although Palawa royalty and English educated, she is kept as a "trained pet" by the local British governor and then discarded - no longer able to fit in either world. 
A large portion of the white population on the continent of Australia is descended from these early convict settlers. Kline has done extensive research to explore the affect this history has had on this part of the world as well as the social injustice inherent anywhere that embraces the notion of social entitlement.