The Berry Pickers is an immersive and stunningly written debut novel by Amanda Peters.
Synopsis
Every summer, a Mi’kmaq family travels from Nova Scotia to Maine to pick berries. A few weeks into the season, the youngest child, Ruthie, vanishes without a trace. Her older brother Joe was the last person to see her. That fact will sit heavy with him for years to come.
Norma grows up in a wealthy household but is plagued with dreams that she cannot understand. And her loving but controlling mother refuses to discuss them. As Norma grows older, she realizes her parents are hiding something from her.
Review of The Berry Pickers
This beautifully written novel follows Joe and Norma’s perspectives. This is a moving and powerful story with sprinkles of Indigenous humour here and there.
It discusses the loss of language and culture, the threat of residential schools, and MMIW. But it also shines a light on the importance of family. Even with the heavier topics, there is a sense of hopefulness by the end.
The story slowly drew me in, and by the end, I wished there were more pages. Both of the main characters completely captured my heart.
I highly recommend adding this wonderful debut to your TBR as soon as possible.
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Expected Publication: 04 April 2023
Thank you to Harper Perennial for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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