A review by victoriaboyce
The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I actually changed this from 4.75 to a 5 star read because over a month later I’m still thinking about how great this book was. It tells an incredible story of an Indigenous family whose 5-year-old daughter goes missing in the berry fields of Maine from the perspective of their youngest son. Chapters alternate with a girl’s perspective who seemingly has no pictures or memories before about age 5. It takes a long time together but is so brilliantly told that it’s absolutely worth it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Colonisation

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Blood, Vomit, Dementia, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol

Minor: Animal death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail