Set in Maine and Nova Scotia, Peters centers her novel on the 1962 disappearance of a 4-year-old girl from a farm in Maine where her family worked as migrant berry pickers. The girl was a member of the Mi’kmaq tribe from Canada. Her family was devastated, none more so than the slightly older Joe who was watching his sister when she vanished. Authorities refused to investigate the case of the missing child of Native migrants. The child’s body was never found and the family refused to accept her death. As the decades went by, the loss continued to haunt the family.

In Maine a young girl called Norma grows up in an overly protective household. Her mother has a stranglehold on the girl’s interactions with others and it’s stifling. She’s distraught over her mother’s strict control, although she knows her mother suffered greatly from the deaths of her earlier children. Norma is also haunted by snippets of visions that she can’t understand.

Secrets and loss are the central themes. Both families have suffered losses that trouble them over the years. The details of the Mi’kmaq family in Nova Scotia show a family that has reluctantly moved on. Joe becomes a central character who shows how guilt can erode one’s sense of decency. Norma’s life is restricted, but not destroyed, by her mother’s controlling behavior. Yet she too struggles for answers and some peace.

The premise of the novel held such promise but the delivery fell a little short of expectation. The characters lacked the emotional pull to really draw the reader in and their behavior is hard to relate to. Racism is touched on, but could have been more integral to the tension. Predictability is another problem in that detracts from the buildup of anticipation. While an enjoyable read, it could have been so much more. Unfortunately, the audio version did not add to the telling. Narration often enhances the reading experience but here it failed to heighten my interest.

A compelling story about the stories our families tell us about our origins and histories. We are at their absolute mercies (or lack thereof)!

Ruthie and Norma's story, and the parents of each are the POVs that switch back and forth in this read. It was well woven around how families deal with devastating crises, with the silky threads of culture, class and motivation. I especially loved the power of siblings in the support of their parents, each other and faith in final outcomes.

Highly recommended, all the stars, and am looking forward to more from this new author!

*A sincere thank you to Amanda Peters, RB Media, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and independently review.* #TheBerryPickers #NetGalley

This seemed to start out slowly for me but gradually picked up. The writing is exquisite with wonderful descriptions and a great use of language. Even if I hadn't liked the story, I would have enjoyed the book just for the excellent writing. Luckily, I also liked the story. I haven't read anything quite like it before and I found the characters sympathetic - on both sides of the kidnapping.

The narrative picked up towards the end and I was pleased with the bittersweet ending.

A little slow start, but great story about siblings love qnd mothers love as well as obsetion. This is a story about how obe tragic event can change not just people tgat were involv3d but alos people around them. If you like Firekeepers Daughter this is a perfect book for you.

I loved this book. It was a realistic look at an indigenous family that lost their baby Ruthie on a continent where child removal happens far too often. The characters were complex and made mistakes, their childhood trauma guiding them like a devil on their shoulder. The audiobook narrators were interesting and kept the book moving along.

3.5 stars
I received an audiobook copy for review from NetGalley. Everything was there for a great book- solid historical fiction plot that addressed indigenous/race and class issues in a time gone by that sadly could almost have taken place in the present day. Unfortunately, I felt the narration affected my experience of the story. Neither narrator worked for me so it was hard to let the story take me away. Maybe it would have been a difference experience to read it. I’ll definitely check out this author’s next book!

Thank to NetGalley, RB Media and Amanda Peters for an audio arc of The Berry Pickers in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis quoted below with review following.

Synopsis: "July 1962. A Mi’kmaq family from Nova Scotia arrives in Maine to pick blueberries for the summer. Weeks later, four-year-old Ruthie, the family’s youngest child, vanishes. She is last seen by her six-year-old brother, Joe, sitting on a favorite rock at the edge of a berry field. Joe will remain distraught by his sister’s disappearance for years to come.

In Maine, a young girl named Norma grows up as the only child of an affluent family. Her father is emotionally distant, her mother frustratingly overprotective. Norma is often troubled by recurring dreams and visions that seem more like memories than imagination. As she grows older, Norma slowly comes to realize there is something her parents aren’t telling her. Unwilling to abandon her intuition, she will spend decades trying to uncover this family secret."

The stunning cover of this book is what initially caught my eye. This was more of a historical fiction read, which is not usually a genre I care for, but with the buzz this book was getting and the eye-catching cover, I decided to give it a shot.

I am extremely picky with my historical fiction since I read so little of it, but I'd rate this book a solid 4 Stars. From the synopsis, I think any reasonable person could figure out that Norma is Joe's sister who disappeared, so I do not feel like mentioning that is a spoiler, plus it is addressed and made known VERY early in the book.

The story is told from dual POVs of both Norma and Joe, both in the past and present. The story is just extremely heartbreaking for the most part, but also shows us how compassion and forgiveness so important to any healing process. If someone stole my child and I didn't see her again until she was in her 50s, I'm not sure I could be so forgiving.

Again, I'm not a historical fiction fan, normally and I enjoyed this books, so this is a definitely must-read for lovers of the genre. I will definitely recommend.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Amazing! One of my top reads of all time

Set in Nova Scotia and Maine from the 1960's through 2010's, this book tells the story of a First Nation Mi'kmaq family who travel to Maine to work the annual blueberry harvest. When 4 year old Ruthie dissappears, the trajectories of each of their lives is changed forever.

I loved this story about love, family, identity, and loss. I rarely give 5 stars and this is one of those books. The two voices, Ruthie (the missing child) and Joe, her older brother (by two years) are very powerful in demonstrating how this tragedy presents itself differently for each family member. The historical settings and information were a treat, but I just really loved how each of the voices were beautifully written and how the story unfolded. Ruthie's story especially, as memory has so many facets, even in young children, was highly compelling to me.

This book was more family saga than historical fiction, but with added historical setting that was quite integral. I read it pretty quickly and definitely got quite emotional in parts.

The narrators, Aaliya Warbus and Jordan Waunch, did a great job. Their inflections were perfect in conveying emotion when needed.

Thank you to RB Media, NetGalley, and author Amanda Peters for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. The Berry Pickers is out October 31, 2023.

4.5⭐

In the early 1960s, four-year-old Ruthie, the youngest daughter of a Mi’kmaq family from Nova Scotia, disappeared from a blueberry field in Maine where her family was employed for the summer. With almost no help from the authorities on account of their “transient” status, Ruthie’s family and their coworkers desperately search for her but to no avail. Ruthie’s brother Joe, six years old at the time, was the last to see her and her disappearance would haunt him for years to come. Devastated and heartbroken, Ruthie’s family struggles to hold on to hope that she is alive and will return to them someday.

Norma has vague memories of her life before she was five years old. Growing up in Maine, the only child of a judge who is a tad distant and an overprotective mother, she is an inquisitive and perceptive child. Her vivid dreams, hushed conversations between her family members and her mother’s nervous reaction to her questions about their family do not escape her attention. She senses that there is much about her life that does not feel right – a belief that follows her into adulthood. Years later, after both her parents have passed on, her aunt shares the truth about their family – a revelation that will leave fifty-four-year-old Norma with more questions than answers.

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters is an incredibly moving story that revolves around themes of family, identity, loss, hope and grief. Spanning fifty years, the narrative is shared from dual perspectives in alternating chapters. Despite the non-linear transitions between past and present timelines, the narrative flows well and is not difficult to follow. Please note that there is no mystery here, and it is the journey of these characters that takes center stage in this novel.

The structure of the narrative allows us to explore the contrast between the trajectories of Norma’s and Joe’s lives and how one traumatic event impacts their individual worldviews. The author’s strength lies in her character development and depiction of complex human emotions. Losing Ruthie casts a shadow on Joe’s life and his being the last one to see her before she disappears haunts him throughout his adult life, and though there are aspects about adult Joe that might not arouse sympathy there's no doubt that he is a broken man and the author compels us to take a deeper look into his heart despite his flaws. Norma’s life is one of searching for a sense of belongingness despite growing up in the security of an affluent family who cares for her deeply. Given her trajectory, Norma’s reactions were commensurate with her character, though at times, especially toward the end, I thought Norma’s perspective could have been explored in more depth. However, this does not detract from the overall impact of the novel. The author approaches sensitive topics such as grief, the loss of a child, alcoholism, discrimination, and terminal illness, among others, with much sensitivity and compassion. Overall, I found this novel to be a thought-provoking, compelling read that I would not hesitate to recommend to those who enjoy emotionally charged family sagas.

I look forward to reading more from this talented debut author in the future.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Aaliya Warbus and Jordan Waunch, who have done a wonderful job of breathing life into these characters and setting the tone for this beautifully written story.

Many thanks to RB Media and NetGalley for ALC of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The Berry Pickers was published in the United States on October 31, 2023.

The Berry Pickers was lovely. Alternating between the past and present, and between two narrators, it tells the story of a Native family whose daughter goes missing one day. A character sketch into these two characters and their families, this is a slow burn.

In this highly anticipated debut, author Amanda Peters offers a multilayered narrative that interweaves themes of loss, trauma, resilience, and the enduring power of love across time.

It begins in 1962 when a Mi’kmaq family takes their annual trip from Nova Scotia to Maine to pick blueberries for the summer. Tragically, weeks later, they’re devastated to learn that their four-year-old daughter and sister, Ruthie, has disappeared from the fields.

What follows is a gripping mystery that spans nearly 50 years, unraveling a tale of haunting loss, unanswered questions, and family secrets.

The story further unfolds as Norma, a young girl raised as the only child of an affluent Maine family, grapples with a troubled upbringing. Her parents guard a mysterious secret, and Norma's persistent dreams and visions hint at a deeper connection to the past than she could have imagined.

As she matures, Norma becomes determined to unearth the truth behind her family's hidden history, setting off on a decades-long quest to unravel the enigmatic puzzle.

Overall, "The Berry Pickers" audiobook is an enthralling journey through time, skillfully narrated and richly woven with mystery, uncovering the persistence of love and the search for truth that transcends decades. Our narrators, Aaliya Warbus and Jordan Waunch, deliver exceptional performances in the face of adversity, leaving an indelible mark on listeners.

Special thanks to RB Media for granting access to early access to this audiobook via the NetGalley app.

Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters, in audio format. An indigenous family goes from Nova Scotia to Maine in the summer of 1962 to pick berries. They have done this for many years, but this year, tragedy strikes, and Ruthie, the 4 year old daughter, disappears. The story goes between the sorrow and grief of Ruthie’s family, and especially her brother Joe, as they move through life, and the story of Norma, the new name given to her by the woman who has been experiencing infertility, spots her sitting by herself on a rock and decides that she and her judge husband will bring her up. Norma grows up in privilege but in a very lonely and sad home, her “mother” keeps her inside and away from other people most of the time. The mystery is never solved, until Ruthie is an adult, and knows that something in her life is missing and not right. It gives good coverage to the way that native people are discriminated against. It is a sad story with a kind of happy ending. I listened to this on audio. #theberrypickers #audiobook #amandapeters #debutnovel #netgalley #advancedreadercopy #bookstagram #booklover #reader #bookblog #lovetoread #fictionreader #bookreview #bookrecommendation #readersofinstagram #bookloversofinstagram #takeapagefrommybook #readallthebooks #booksbooksbooks #booksofinstagram #bookwormproblems #bookaholic #booknerd #whattoread #readingtime #bookaddict #ilovetoread #ilovebooks #needtoread #readallday

This story was heavy! There is joy mixed in but the main characters endured so many hard things throughout their lives and this story highlights many of them.

Despite the heavy emotions, this story was beautiful and helps shine a light on the atrocities in both our present and history.

The dual narrators did a fantastic job conveying the emotions of the book. At times they were detached because the characters were detached from their lives. In some pivotal scenes the emotion in their voices came through perfectly.

Thank you to the Author, publisher, Netgalley for the chance to listen to this early. All opinions are my own.

This was one of my most anticipated releases of the fall and I’m glad to say that it did not disappoint. The Berry Pickers is heartbreaking and infuriating, but so well written. There are unlikeable characters and other characters who you wish you could protect, but the author does a fantastic job of making their motivations clear. The mystery element isn’t really a mystery as it becomes relatively obvious what’s going on fairly early in the book, but the emotional impact is so significant that it makes up for it. Well done!

Thank you to @netgalley for the Advanced Listeners Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The story revolves around the disappearance of a 4 year old Mi’kmaq girl, who seemed to vanish into thin air. The story is told from 2 different POV's, that of Norma, a girl who was raised by a very over protective mother and a distant father, and also from Joe, the brother of the missing girl. Joe is now dying and is looking back over his life as this story unfolds. Pretty quickly we come to realize that Norman is really Ruthie, the little girl who went missing. I loved watching this all play out and seeing how the two lives of Ruthie/Norma would eventually come together. Overall, a really enjoyable read/listen. The dual narration was also very good. This is out of my normal reading genre, but so glad I gave it a try!

Impressive debut. You can read the synopsis elsewhere, but I will say the narrators (two voices) did a splendid job. I listened for hours at a time without wanting a break. The story leaves you gut wrenched for families that such crimes are inflicted upon. I highly recommend this book, print and audio version, and look forward to more from Amanda Peters.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to listen to The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters. This is a heartfelt story about how a family is impacted when a daughter goes missing. It was hard to listen to all of the hardships that this family experienced, but it also shared their resilience to continue to live.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a highly anticipated book for me, and it did not disappoint. Following the story of Ruthie, a four-year-old Mi'kmaq girl who was stolen from the blueberry fields of Maine her family used to work summers at, was captivating. The story followed her growing up as Norma, the daughter of the white family who stole her. It also follows the story of one of her brothers, Joe, as he grows up without her.

This story was extremely sad, and left me with a bittersweet ending. Definitely a must read for anyone interested in Indigenous literature or adoption stories.

I have somewhat mixed feelings about this one and the biggest reason for it is that it didn't go where I thought it would go (which is definitely a personal problem unrelated to the book)
On one hand the story was heartbreaking and emotional. But on the kidnapped girls' side... her reluctance to dig into her past when there were so many red flags was strange. Her "family" gaslit her for years and years and her mother reminded me deeply of Mother Gothel. The timeline was set to obstruct her being able to figure things out early in life but I would have liked to see her figuring things out in a younger age and delving deeper into her identity. I think this was still written very well and I liked the audio production.
Thank you so much to Recorded Books for the ALC.

This book is precious. Great read for Native American heritage month! This is the story of two families, one abducted girl, and, more broadly, about loss and finding your place, anger and connections. There are many endearing characters despite the overall sad tone and lots of grieving in the book. I listened to the audio and did need to speed it up but appreciated both narrators voices and accents. I can’t put my finger on what other stories this reminds me of. It has some almost Forrest Gump vibes. Heart wrenching (but no tears!) and I would recommend.