I really enjoyed this part memoir, part travel narrative, and part history book. The bulk of the book is about the author's adventures working with archaeologists in many locations to uncover the history of the slave trade. I am a history buff, and found her discoveries and antidotes very interesting. I also really enjoyed how she didn't jump right into the exciting part of her journey. She spent time sharing the challenges it took her to follow this dream in detail which was inspirational. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary ARC. I will be following this author and hope to see more books on the topic in the future.

Written in the Waters is an evocative memoir that masterfully intertwines the author’s personal journey of self-discovery with the painful history of African slave ships. The narrative flows beautifully, as the author reflects on her experiences, blending them with poignant insights about the African diaspora. Through intimate personal dialogue, you feel as though you’re walking beside her, discovering truths not only about her own life but about the collective history of African peoples across the world.

Somewhere between a memoir and historical biography, this book offers a deep, reflective experience. It is more than just a recount of events—it’s a journey of understanding, as the author uncovers the layered complexities of identity, heritage, and resilience. Written in the Waters is a powerful read that invites you to reflect on the past while connecting it to the present in a profoundly personal way.

Written in the Water

Reading this upbeat, uplifting memoir feels like slipping into a warm bath. The author’s voyage of discovery begins when she sees a photo in a museum about an underwater archeology group seeking the wrecks of slave ships and starts to uncover her family history. She travels from her home in Washington, D.C. to a variety of far-flung locations across the world.

This is a good read for those of us that like memoirs.

⭐️⭐️.5 (rounded to 3)

I applied for this arc simply for the thrill of a historical adventure. I was always fascinated and curious about the stories that old relics and ruins tell. I found it quite inspiring and fascinating to learn about one of the few African American scuba divers, Tara Roberts, who pieced together the slave routes of the TransAtlantic Slave Trade. This is definitely for the adventure seeking junkie who gets off on the thrill of historical change. While I felt that this book was insightful and meaningful, it was a slow hitting story for me (pretty slow-paced) and I lost engagement from time to time throughout the book. I expected a bit more action and adventure, but also keeping in mind that this book is a memoir meaning there was more of an emphasis on the author’s thoughts and feelings.

Ultimately. something was missing in this book for me, but I finished it somewhat dissatisfied. Above all else. Thankful to @Nethalley - always appreciative of being selected for an eARC and recommend this book looking for a meaningful sentiment to learn about the insightful journey Ms. Roberts experienced underwater. .

A stunning exploration of Black history through the experience of scuba diving to document sunken slave ships. Tara Roberts weaves together historical events, the work of archaeologists and historians looking to record them, travel across the globe, and a variety of her own personal experiences to tell a gripping story about racism, legacy, and healing. A perfect choice for Black History Month reading (or any time!).

I loved this book! Getting to go on this incredibly impactful journey into her personal history and the larger history of the Atlantic Slave Trade and African diaspora along with author Tara Roberts was so powerful. I had never heard of Diving with a Purpose before reading her work but now I want to know everything. Roberts is a really talented writer and you could feel the care she put into each page. Highly recommend!

Written in the Waters tells an amazing story of Tara Roberts’ adult journey to find the meaning of home. I am always intrigued by the titles Nat Geo chooses to put out, and I was really thrilled to see that their newest novel would be covering such an interesting part of history that does not get enough attention. I learned a tremendous amount about the global slave trade from this memoir. I particularly enjoyed the first third of the book, where the author learns to scuba dive so that she can help document shipwrecks - vessels once used to capture people from Africa and transport them to the Americas. She does an excellent job communicating a diverse continent of unique cultures, and juxtaposing what it means to be Black in Africa and the United States.

I was a little disappointed that her diving stories really petered out halfway through the book. For me, this level of adventure drew me to the book in the first place. I found the second half to be in greater need of edits, as much of the text is devoted to Tara interviewing a number of archeologists, anthropologists, and activists. Not to say these conversations are not important, but I found her physical descriptions of each person and their background to take away from the reading experience. 3.5 stars!

A big thank you to NetGalley and National Geographic for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book is now available in U.S. stores!

Nearly two million Africans died in the Transatlantic slave trade, including on the thousand ships that sank.

Tara Roberts knew she wanted to be an adventurer and a storyteller. When she learned that divers studied the sunken slave ships she determined to be a part of Diving With a Purpose, learning to scuba dive so she could see the ships.

She obtained a grant to travel and see the shipwrecks and research ancestral stories. She spoke to Africans who admitted that the history had been forgotten, untaught in their schools. She learned about the impact of slavery on the environment and how it displaced Africans on the continent. She followed her DNA to her ancestral homeland. And she agonized over the devastating and cruel history of slavery, colonialism, and systemic racism.

The memoir follows Robert’s journey of discovery: learning to scuba dive, sharing how archaeologists research to find the shipwrecks, and traveling across Africa to find lost stories.

Roberts found herself transformed during this journey. In Africa, she was seen as an American. She had to alter her perception of the Africans she met. She met people who looked like her and her family.

A moving and unique story of exploration and self-discovery.

Thanks to the publisher for a free book through PW Grab a Galley.

Tara Robert’s’ IN THE WATER: A MEMOIR OF HISTORY, HOME, AND BELONGING is an ambitious book. In fact, I think the scope of the book widened even for the author, as she researched the subject matter, the Transatlantic Slave Trade. The book became a search for identity, the author’s place as an African-American in a global context. Any reader who takes seriously all the byways and dead ends she encounters in her search will be richly rewarded.

Roberts gets a National Geographic storytelling grant, focused on the ocean. What better subject than the three-legged slave trade route, Europe to Africa to the Americas, and back? These stories should be told by and to the descendants of this triangular decimation.

But she learns that fewer than 1% of maritime archaeologists are Black, and of the possible 1000 slave shipwrecks, very few have been fully documented. She takes scuba diving lessons to understand archaeological work and challenges better. She travels around Africa, the Caribbean, Central America and coastal USA. She meets the people involved in this work, on local and international levels. She is indefatigable in her research and honest in her self-exploration.

“Where is home for us?…I’m thinking about those two words: “African” and “American.” .. How do they butt up against each other?” This is the question that hovers over and under all the new (to me) and interesting historical information and all the incredible, inspiring people, working around these issues. These are identity struggles I never would have realized myself had I not been privileged to read this generous book.

With thanks to NetGalley and National Geographic for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

Written in the Waters was a beautiful exploration of Tara Robert's identity, the African-America diaspora, and what it means to connect to your history.

She has a beautiful way of capturing her emotions and the grandscale of the diving mission while still remaining readable. I cried multiple times because Roberts captured her own conflicting emotions so vividly. This isn't a memoir to quick read and set down—it challenges the way we think about history, the untold stories, and what it means to "go home."

Written in the Waters: A Memoir of History, Home, and Belonging by Tara Roberts is a heartfelt journey of self-discovery and exploration what it means to find your homeland when your ancestors were enslaved. Roberts learns to scuba dive in an effort to join a group whose mission is to document the wrecks of ships used during the transatlantic slave trade. Throughout the book Roberts finds her vision of who she is challenged - why don’t Africans welcome her with open arms? Is she too American? Ultimately, Roberts understands her power is in her storytelling. Written in the Waters is a story that anyone who has ever asked, “Where is home?” can identify with.

4.5 stars

This was really expertly crafted. I really felt all the emotions on the author’s journey. The writing is fantastic, and which things to include was extremely well done. There were a few parts that get somewhat repetitive for my taste, but that seems to be more of a stylistic choice. If you are someone who enjoys a narrative where the person is finding themselves, give this one a try.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy to form opinions from.

“My inner adventurer, which has been gathering courage these past few months, and my inner storyteller, which has been waiting quietly, finally meet and bow to each other.” 🗺️🤿📖✍🏾

a special thank you to Net Galley & National Geographic for allowing me access to an Advanced Reader’s Copy of Written in the Waters by Tara Roberts!! it’s an absolute privilege to receive an ARC & i’m so honored to be able to share a honest review in exchange.

🌊 publication date: january 28th, 2025
review: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (01/24/25)
without a doubt, great history has been shared through this incredible storytelling.

within only the first few pages, i can tell Roberts is cool like capitalized AND bolded cool. from her beautiful writing, readers can almost grow (& heal) vicariously through her journey. she is an amazing writer and inspiring person.

the pacing is absolutely perfect, it doesn’t dull and yet carries many details! i loved having clear explanations & details, it truly helped to fill the gaps i had as a reader.

i really enjoyed how Roberts analyzed the meaning behind her actions & thoughts, these little realizations made the story more authentic & relatable!

i found the “americanness” in her perspective to be fascinating, as it is something that’s been on my mind recently as an Indian-American. exploring one’s identity is not a simple task & being part of a diaspora certainly adds another layer of complexity!

i loved the reading about the beauty & pain held in the ocean or Yemayá as Roberts names her. i enjoyed reading about the deep, intricate, and often forgotten roots of shame imbedded in the past (ex. the Dahomey plantations in the 1800s) brought to light. and there are so so so many insightful questions raised on ideas like spirituality, parenthood, colonialism, ageism, Pan-africanism, and (of course) the Middle Passage and slavery.

this book has only broadened my interest learning more about the past, especially with how deeply it connects to the present. “But without exploring this history and these stories, we will always be stuck in this maze of racial trauma.”

Written in the waters is a memoir about belonging and finding herself. After Tara Roberts graduates college she is lost with what she wants to do. After attending a diving exhibit she finds something that is calling her to dive and explore. She goes through the training and meets so many interesting people along the way that help her find where she belongs. Getting to explore sunken slave ships she gets more curious about where she came from and where her "home" is. I truly enjoyed this one and getting to read about her incredible adventures.

"All my life, I've been shaping myself like water, writing myself within her waves"

very well writen memoir about identity and learning more about heritage from a nat geo explorer and researcher. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Finding yourself as you learn more about your ancestors is a truly remarkable journey. There were so many beautiful moments that happened throughout the author’s journey to figure out where her ancestors came from and learn more about herself. I learned a lot about scuba diving and what goes into becoming a great diver.

Written in the Waters is an incredibly powerful story about how one woman's chance decision to learn to scuba dive in order to work with an organization called Diving With Purpose leads her on a journey of self discovery and finding her sense of home in the world. Tara Roberts tells a captivating, informative, and moving tale of how she faced her fear of the ocean and learned to scuba dive so she could dive the wreck of slave ships with DWP. But in doing this, she decides that she wants to also focus her time and energy on telling the stories of the people lost to the seas in the slave trade. This takes her to numerous countries where she meets incredible characters. Each stop and conversation begins to not only shape her understanding of herself and the world around her, but also guide her to the next location and pursuit of information. In a the most heartfelt of ways, Roberts brings herself, and her readers, back home to a place of acceptance, understanding, and possibly even contentment with the past, present, and future. A must read for African Americans that struggle to feel connected to their roots - and certainly for every person to truly understand the intricate webs that the slave trade, colonialism, and paternalization has woven and continues to weave in the daily lives of all people.

Roberts pieces together her travels diving and searching for slave ship wreckages through her stint at National Geographic. A fascinating chronicle that covers genealogy and history from early slavery across the world. The diving experiences are interesting, satisfying the adventure seekers . And the addition to the African narrative is important. The writing is well done and the subjects covered are thoroughly explained. The water and the accomplishment make this a solid read.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

Thank you Netgalley and national Geographic for the ARC.

I had never heard of Diving With a Purpose before I read this book. It is just a great organization and more people should know about it.

Tara Roberts’ journey in this memoir is really inspiring.

A Biography About Exploring Slave Shipwrecks That Is Enclosed in Impassable Fluff

“Memoir by a National Geographic explorer recounts one woman’s epic journey to trace the global slave trade across the Atlantic Ocean—and find her place in the world. When Tara Roberts first caught sight of a photograph at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History depicting the underwater archaeology group Diving With a Purpose, it called out to her. Here were Black women and men strapping on masks, fins, and tanks to explore Atlantic Ocean waters along the coastlines of Africa, North America, and Central America, seeking the wrecks of slave ships long lost in time…” Tara is a podcaster, who was the first Black female explorer to be featured on the cover of Nat Geo, and she was the Rolex national Explorer of the Year in 2022; she is an Explorer-in-Residence at National. “She tells a story of exploration and reckoning that takes her from her home in Washington, D.C., to an exotic array of locales: Thailand and Sri Lanka, Mozambique, South Africa, Senegal, Benin, Costa Rica, and St. Croix. The journey connects her with other divers, scholars, and archaeologists, offering a unique way of understanding the 12.5 million souls carried away from their African homeland to enslavement on other continents… She decides to plumb her own family history and life as a Black woman to help make sense of her own identity…”
Again, this book is off to a bad start: the “Prologue” describes the Women’s March… with slow non-specific phrases. The author notes that at this time she was “moonlighting as a tour guide at a local museum for $10 an hour to pay my bills.” This is a bit relevant, but then she digresses into politics, and friends… Notes about grocery shopping follow. Then, the story gets to the “discovery” in a museum display of a Portuguese slave ship. Her “heart” is affected, and she starts on a new path. She digresses into her love of “fantasy books”. Many pages later: “Something calls me to Sri Lanka.” She has general ideas about it being “a friendly and welcoming place”. Paragraphs pass with nothing related, such as: “Relax, I think. One step at a time” (29). The blurb made a lot of promises. But this book mostly delivers questions, like, “Who are Africans in the Americas? Beyond a people who were enslaved in chains and sadness and sorrow” (42). When she mentions “Jack” Roberts, an enslaved person, she describes her emotional turmoil before she imagines his “rough skin, hairy knuckles” (46), instead of reporting the facts… The first quarter of this book passes before there is a mention of researching shipwrecks, and beginning a journey out there (94).
This is not a good book. It is too linguistically light, and structurally unfocused to handle the sensitive topic it undertakes. This seems to be an attempt of applying pop-fiction short sentences and paragraphs, and digressions to biography, and history. This combination always flops.
—Pennsylvania Literary Journal, Fall 2024: https://anaphoraliterary.com/journals/plj/plj-excerpts/book-reviews-fall-2024