I love this story of a Mi'kmaw family that travels from Nova Scotia to Maine to pick blueberries. One of the children, Ruthie, disappears, leaving a scar on the family that never heals. Meanwhile, Norma is raised in a distant wealthy family. She never really fits in and wonders about her birth story. Her mother refuses to answer her questions. Meanwhile, Ruthie's brother Joe never gives up searching for her. This is a beautifully written story that is full of heart. The narrator was great as well.

One of the best books I have read in 2023. Norma knows something is 'off' about her childhood. She grew up in a household where she was kept under very close supervision. Meanwhile, a family misses the daughter that went missing years ago while they were berry pickers in New England. Told in parallel points of view, we see the siblings slowly finding their way back to each other. I listened to this on audio and highly recommend this medium for reading this book.

I received an Advance Reader Copy via audio on NetGalley.
Review has been posted to Goodreads.

“Some wounds cannot be healed. Some wounds never close never scar, but the further away from the injury, the easier it became to smile.”

A Mi’kmaq family from Nova Scotia are in Northern Maine on their annual blueberry picking job when the youngest child, four-year old Ruthie, goes missing. After an exhaustive and painful search they must return to Canada with their despondency, setting a multigenerational story of trauma and regret into motion. The feelings of haunting and hope infuse a cast of characters, each touched in various ways by a single event. Told from the point of view of the child never found and the brother who continues to search for her, this slow and atmospheric family drama/mystery will surely be a publishing darling this Fall season. Originally released to acclaim in Canada this past April, I expect a huge reception in the US later this month for this debut author. Aaliya Warbus & Jordan Waunch expertly narrate the audiobook.

As a resident of Northern Maine, I will never drive by a blueberry field and not think about the characters in this gorgeous novel. Ruthie - the summer promise of ripe and sweet fruit, and Joe - autumn red, angry and vibrant. The tragedy and sadness among the extended family is only part of the plot, and the levity and beauty of the Maine and Nova Scotia settings create a balance and cadence so appreciated by this reader.

The Berry Pickers will resonate with readers who appreciate the writing of Tommy Orange (There There), William Kent Krueger (This Tender Land) and Margaret Verble (Stealing: A Novel)

Many thanks to Net Galley, Catapult Publishing and RB Media for the audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

I personally found the female narrator a flat reader who didn't relate to character in book at all. It made it dull for readers listening. However I really did enjoy the storyline to this book. Two different perspectives that show you their lives through decades. Was a good read just don't really recommend audiobook for this one

A four year old Indigenous girl goes missing on a bright summer day in the 1960s, literally vanishing without a trace. Local police are unwilling to help, and Ruthie's ghost will haunt her family for decades to come. Meanwhile, a young girl grows up nearby with a difficult mother, and though she is provided with everything she needs, she has restless dreams that pull at her and cause her to doubt her origins.

This one is a bit of a tearjerker, folks. The characters are written extremely well, and I forged an emotional connection with more than one of them. I really, really enjoyed this read and I highly recommend it to anyone that loves generational stories or family sagas. The audio narration is also excellent!

Thank you to Amanda Peters, Recorded Books, and NetGalley for my advance audio copy.

4.5 stars

I enjoyed this book so much. I loved the narrators for this book, and the writing was incredible. You could feel the characters’ feelings, such as grief and loss, so heavily. You see both sides of how the kidnapping of Ruthie/Norma affected people. There are so many questions Norma cannot seem to get answers to, and there is so much grief and hope that Joe and his family cannot let Ruthie go.

Side note- the cover is stunning.

I have not read any books relating to Native culture, so this was an interesting read. The premise caught my attention immediately and was definitely worth the read (listen).

The dynamics between family members were really interesting to read, especially how Joe used the tragedy of his sister's kidnapping to justify his actions later in life. I liked the dual-POV writing, and the narration was great. The first portion was admittedly a little hard to get into, but once the storyline got going, it was difficult to stop listening to.

The themes of grief, kidnapping, familial loss, tragedy, and discovering one's self were at times difficult to listen to, but overall this was a very impactful story.

Every year many Mi’kmaq families go to Maine from Nova Scotia to to pick blueberries for the summer to earn money.  One summer Ruthie, a four year old Mi’kmaq girl, goes missing and her close knit family never recovers from the loss.  
The novel is told from two perspectives - Joe, Ruthie’s older brother who was the last to see her before she disappeared and has never forgiven himself, and Norma - the girl/woman that Ruthie becomes after she was kidnapped.  Joe lives with the ghost of Ruthie and the aftermath of her disappearance while Norma/Ruthie lives with the ghost of her former self (that she doesn’t quite remember) and an unconscious belief that she never quite belongs in her current life.
I absolutely loved this book and the story; it is about loss, grief, and the unconditional love of family.  The characters were so well written and the story itself beautifully done.  It shows the long-lasting ramifications of one incredibly selfish action and the detrimental effects it has on so many lives.  I cannot wait to see what else this author writes.  I only had the audio for this which was wonderful, I do wish I had had the opportunity to read some of it as it was so beautifully written.

Thank you to Netgalley and RB Media for the ARC to review

A Mi’kmaq family from Nova Scotia work picking berries in Maine 1962 when their young daughter goes missing. The story is told from the POV’s of Joe who was seven at the time his little sister went missing and Norma, a girl growing up with well to do parents. The timelines go back and fourth from present day to unravel the mystery of what happened to Joe’s sister fifty years ago and what toll is taken from one family’s grief and another family’s dark secret.

This stunning debut is not to be missed. I absolutely loved the author’s storytelling. I listened to the audio and the narration by Aaliya Warbus and Jordan Waunch is excellent. The writing in this story that focuses on a family that has suffered so much loss and degradation is simply beautiful. The author shines a light on the importance of family, keeping a sense of humor for when it’s most needed and never losing hope. Thank you to @netgalley @amandapetersauthor for an advance audio copy of this brilliant novel. I plan to buy a hardcover copy for my library when it’s available.

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

Narrated by Aaliya Warbus, Jordan Waunch

Thanks to RB Media and NetGalley for the ARC audiobook of, The Berry Pickers.

A captivating debut told in alternating narratives between Joe and Norma.

An indigenous family living in Nova Scotia in the early 60’s are dealing with the disappearance of their four-year-old daughter and sibling, Ruthie.

The unjustifiable burdens of the indigenous people are depicted, along with the coping of loss, grief, guilt, and how differently each person deals with it. Hope, disappointment, secrets, love and forgiveness, are also touched upon.

A very good debut book that I enjoyed listening to. Certain parts I felt dragged on a bit and could have been shortened. I look forward to more books from this author. The narration was well done.

I decided to read the book when I saw that it is on a shortlist for The National Book Awards. After reading it, I understand why. The story is of a Native family, especially a brother and sister, endure a long separation due to the intervention of a childless white woman and the legal system that protects her.
It is a sweet, sad, and infuriating book that has left me with lasting impact.

We hear from two people, intimately connected by a crime that causes pain many years after its commission. But there's enough hope and happiness along with the pain to make the prose luminous. I learned a lot about the Mi’kmaq of eastern Canada. However, the focus was on individuals and families, the things that bind us together in love and in hardship. I recommend this book with a box of tissues.

3.5 stars rounded up. 'The Berry Pickers' by Amanda Peters is a quiet story, full of pain, but it's a very competent debut and an important voice to hear.

Premise - a 4 year old indigenous girl is stolen from her family when they're in Maine one summer, working as berry pickers. The white family that steals her raises her as their own, telling her that her memories of her real family are just dreams. Even so, she never feels like she belongs with them.

The story is told as a split narrative between Ruthie/Norma and her big brother, Joe. It was very easy to root for Ruthie/Norma, but Joe's chapters were difficult for me.... I know he isn't meant to be likable (he's an alcoholic deadbeat father who beat his wife and then left her to struggle and raise their child alone). Even so, he's so unlikable to me, and often seems like he believes his loss and pain justifies how he turned out, that I often had to grit my teeth through his chapters.

The complexity of families and love, specifically as explored through Ruthie/Norma's response to finding out that she was kidnapped, was really interesting. The writing is simple and beautiful, too.

I grew more invested in the story as it went on, but the first 20% or so were a slog for me... if it hadn't been an ARC I would have stopped reading. I'm glad I didn't! If you're struggling with the beginning, I recommend continuing - it'll suck you in and you'll be glad you stuck around.

Thanks, NetGalley and Catapult, for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, just wow. Not many books this year have packed quite a punch like this one. Alternating between Ruthie/Norma and her brother Joe (the last person to see her) this is a story of loss, kidnapping, grief and so much more. This was so hard and angering at times to listen to, because you know it has happened and could very well still be happening. I will definitely be recommending this to everyone. I thought it was well written and ended well.

I don't normally read audiobooks but I had been hearing a lot about The Berry Pickers so I figured I'd give it a try. I am so pleased with the outcome of my experience. I loved the chapters and how they alternated between characters. The narration for each was outstanding. But, the heart of the book, is the story. Peters has crafted a heartbreaking and touching portrait of family. I felt deeply for the mothers and daughters and it was wonderful to read about men with feelings!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. I give it five stars and have already messaged the book lovers in my life that they must read this!