The number of times this story broke my heart and turned my blood white-hot over and over again from pure rage was astronomical. Before I get any further into my review, I’m letting you know right now that you need to stop what you’re doing and read this book. 

Going into this, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I will say that I got more than what I could’ve imagined. There are so many conversations and themes surrounding anti-Blackness (specifically internalized) and how playing into respectability politics will not save nor free you no matter how much you think it will, as well as how and why trying to bury the past is far more dangerous than facing it head-on. Similar to Mira, I used to actively avoid stories that focused on slavery because of how uncomfortable it made me and how angry I would/still get, but this story forced me to understand that you cannot do that and those who were enslaved and endured the horrors that fell upon them on the plantation, the journey to it, and beyond deserve to have their stories/names be heard and never forgotten.

McQueen is an eloquent and descriptive writer. I could picture the plantation grounds, the heartbreaking and nauseating gruesome scenes, as well as picture/feel the sweltering heat due to the North Carolina sun. I think we as the reader get two modes of horror; the paranormal (I was genuinely creeped out/scared by the visions Mira experienced and the ghosts she came across) and of course learning about some of the horrific and wicked acts that took place - and how we’re still dealing with lasting effects to this day.

The notion “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” has never been more true after reading this. If you want an authentic, horrifying read for this time of year then this is it. This little novel packed an intense punch and it’ll stick with me forever.