From the internationally bestselling author of The Berry Pickers: a powerful, intensely moving novel of family and legacy, following one woman as she confronts buried truths and the fragile future she alone must protect
As I stood under it, looking up into the branches, listening as the wind rustled the leaves, I could hear my Kiju’s voice: “This tree holds our stories.”
Born under the shadow of a tree sacred to generations of Indigenous women, Aliet has been brought up by her fierce, loving grandmother, Kiju. Her father remains a mystery, and her mother died under that very tree, gently held by its cradle of roots as Aliet came into the world.
But now the world beyond their small community is changing. Local women are increasingly reluctant to follow traditional birthing rituals, and at the hospital, white doctors are sceptical of Indigenous practices. Aliet and Kiju are distraught to witness their prejudice turn into condemnation, but decades later, Aliet too will move away and work as a nurse in the city, administering modern medicine while still holding her grandmother’s wisdom dear.
When Kiju passes away suddenly, grief-stricken Aliet understands that she must return to the tree: only these roots can help her reconnect with her heritage, and discover long-buried secrets about herself. It is the start of Aliet’s journey to protect her land, her traditions, and the memory of the women who came before her, as she decides which parts of her inheritance she will carry into the future.
"A tender story of self-discovery and the power of generations of women" - Publishers Weekly
"Grounded, glimmering, earthy yet mystical . . . The Birthing Tree will enchant readers with its resplendent portrait of heritage, tradition, and home" - Literary Hub
"A full-circle narrative that weaves together an individual, her family, Indigenous culture, the Americas, and nature. With its translucent sentences and strong structures, this richly dimensional story will deeply affect readers" - Booklist
"Peters punctuates the chapters of Aliet’s narrative with brief italicized comments on her journey; by the end, their source is clear, and roots the novel even more firmly in traditional culture. Without being directly addressed, the matriarchal feminism of that culture comes through loud and clear. A quietly compelling portrait of a young woman finding her truth" - Kirkus Reviews
"Sometimes the most urgent mysteries come from our ancestors, as Amanda Peters expertly demonstrates in this triumphant follow-up to her powerhouse first novel, The Berry Pickers. The Birthing Tree is a wonder of elegant prose and deep insight, honoring the lives of generations of Mi'kmaq women born beneath the tree's arms. The death of a beloved grandmother sweeps us into a multi-generational mystery that is absorbing, fascinating, and ultimately redemptive. Peters excels at understanding the complexities of human connections — our guarded secrets and shames, our loyalties and prejudices" - Mona Susan Power, author of A Council of Dolls
"The many fans of Amanda Peters’s breakout debut, The Berry Pickers, will want to put her sophomore novel at the top of their TBRs" - BookPage
"Seeking a highly regarded, award-winning writer? Then try The Birthing Tree by Amanda Peters" - Library Journal