Genres: Fiction, Historical
Buy on Amazon
ChatGPT
"The Berry Pickers" by Amanda Peters is a captivating debut novel that weaves together the lives of two families against the backdrop of a blueberry farm in Maine. Set in July 1962, the story follows the Mi’kmaq family from Nova Scotia who arrive in Maine to pick blueberries for the summer. Tragedy strikes when four-year-old Ruthie disappears, leaving her brother Joe haunted by her disappearance for years to come.Meanwhile, in Maine, young Norma grows up as the only child of an affluent family. Despite her privileged upbringing, Norma feels the weight of her parents' secrets and struggles with recurring dreams and visions that hint at something hidden in her past. As she grows older, Norma becomes determined to uncover the truth about her family's past and the mysteries that have haunted her since childhood.
Peters' storytelling is spellbinding, drawing readers into the lives of her characters and the richly atmospheric setting of the blueberry farm. Through alternating perspectives, she explores themes of family, trauma, and the search for identity, keeping readers guessing until the very end.
"The Berry Pickers" is a compelling and thought-provoking read that will appeal to fans of literary fiction. With its lyrical prose and complex characters, it is a testament to the power of storytelling and the enduring strength of love and resilience in the face of adversity. Peters' debut marks her as a vibrant new voice in fiction, and readers will eagerly anticipate her future works.
About Amanda Peters
Amanda Peters is a writer of Mi’kmaw and settler ancestry. Her work has appeared in the Antigonish Review, Grain Magazine, The Alaska Quarterly Review, the Dalhousie Review, and filling station magazine. She is the winner of the 2021 Indigenous Voices Award (IVA) for unpublished prose and a participant in the 2021 Writers Trust Rising Stars program. Amanda has a certificate in creative writing from the University of Toronto and she is a graduate of the Master of Fine Arts program at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe New Mexico. Amanda is an Associate Professor in the Department of English and Theatre at Acadia University. She lives and writes in the Annapolis valley Nova Scotia with her fur babies Holly and Pook.