A Novel by India Rows Marks
THE FIFTH PEARL
A journey across the world. A secret buried in the past. A legacy waiting beneath the sea.
When a Japanese American girl sets out on a journey from Georgia to Japan in search of her family’s past, she discovers that she has descended from generations of ama divers—and that the truth about who she is has been waiting beneath the surface.
Rich with history, mystery, and the beauty of Japan, The Fifth Pearl is a moving story about identity, inheritance, and the invisible threads connecting mothers and daughters across oceans and generations.
Launching December 5, 2026.
FOR READERS WHO LOVE
Multigenerational family stories
Strong and unforgettable women
Hidden histories
Japan, the sea, and pearls
Stories of identity, belonging, and self-discovery
Books that transport you to another place while bringing you closer to
your own story
The Fifth Pearl is especially suited for book clubs, mothers and
daughters, travelers, history lovers, pearl enthusiasts, and anyone who has
ever wondered about the women who came before her.
A JOURNEY ACROSS THE WORLD
Fourteen-year-old Skylark Smith cannot explain why the water feels like home. Her Japanese mother, Yumiko, will not even let her learn to swim and refuses to say why.
Then Skylark discovers a discarded letter from a grandmother she never knew existed. Convinced the answer lies in Japan, she secretly sets in motion a journey that will carry mother and daughter from Georgia to the seaside village Yumiko abandoned nearly twenty years before.
She also uncovers the meaning of the four pearls Yumiko guards, the accident that drove her mother from the sea, and the silence that separated three generations.
A LEGACY GENERATIONS IN THE MAKING
As Skylark takes her first dive, Yumiko must decide whether
returning home will drown her in the past or finally teach her how to breathe again.
Rich with family secrets, the beauty of Japan, and the enduring pull between mothers and daughters, The Fifth Pearl is a hopeful story of inheritance, forgiveness, and finding the courage to return to the life that still calls you home.
Pre-Order NOW
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FIVE PEARLS. GENERATIONS OF WOMEN. ONE STORY WAITING BENEATH THE SURFACE.
The Fifth Pearl is a story of:
Family secrets and unexpected discoveries
The courage and resilience of women
Japanese and Japanese American heritage
The remarkable history of Japan’s ama divers
Pearls and the stories they carry
The bonds connecting mothers and daughters
The search for belonging—and the discovery that our past may be closer
than we think
COME TO THE LAUNCH PARTY!!!
Saturday, December 5, 2026
12:00–4:00 p.m.
The Pearl Girls
548 Hawthorne Avenue
Athens, Georgia 30606
Come celebrate the launch of The Fifth Pearl with author India Rows Marks
at The Pearl Girls.
Pick up your preordered book, meet India, and join us as we send this story, years in the making, out into the world.
Meet The Author
India Rows Marks is the founder of The Pearl Girls, based in Athens, Georgia.
Through her shop on Hawthorne Avenue and ThePearlGirls.com, India creates
pearl jewelry and restores treasured heirloom pieces for customers around the world.
For India, every pearl—and every person who brings her one—has a story.
At heart, she is both a storyteller and a story listener. Whether she is creating something new, restoring a beloved piece, or tracing the history carried by a pearl, she helps those stories live on.
That love of pearls, women’s histories, travel, and the stories connecting generations inspired her first novel, The Fifth Pearl.
A Note from India....
For years, I have listened to the stories people carry with their
pearls—the women who wore them, the journeys they have made, and the memories
passed from one generation to the next.
The Fifth Pearl grew from my love of those stories, my fascination with
Japan and its remarkable ama divers, and my belief that the women who came
before us continue to shape who we are.
I am so thrilled to finally put this beautiful story out into the world.
Thank you for supporting me as I edit, produce, and launch my dream book. I
cannot wait to share it with you.
With love,
India
Pre-Order NOW
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Need help?
Frequently Asked Questions
The Fifth Pearl launches on Saturday, December 5, 2026.
The preorder price is $29.99 for a hardback signed copy with shipping.
Yes. Use code PICKUP at checkout to remove the shipping charge, then
collect your book at The Pearl Girls on December 5.
The launch party will be held at The Pearl Girls, 548 Hawthorne Avenue in
Athens, Georgia, from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 5.
Not at all. Pearls are an important thread in the story, but The Fifth
Pearl is ultimately about family, identity, belonging, courage, and the women
whose lives shape the generations that follow them.
The Fifth Pearl is positioned as adult historical fiction, with crossover appeal for mature teenage readers who enjoy history, cultural discovery, family mysteries, and stories about strong women.
Yes. The First Edition Fifth Pearl Necklace is available NOW!! Featuring 5 Japanese akoya pearls on 14K gold. Available here: https://thepearlgirls.com/products/founding-patron
Yes. India is now booking speaking engagements for 2027! Use contact form below to get in touch!
India is available for select bookclub conversations, library programs, cultural events, and speaking engagements.
Now Booking for 2027
Launching IN
THE FIFTH PEARL
A journey across the world. A legacy generations in the making.
Preorder your copy and be among the first to discover the story waiting
beneath the surface.