Title: The Berry Pickers
Author: Amanda Peters
Dates Read: Jan 1 - Jan 6, 2024
Bottlecap Rating (out of 5):
This book and beer pairing is bursting with dichotomy and berry goodness. The Berry Pickers chronicles the lives of two Mi'kmaq siblings and the lifelong trauma they endure after 4-year-old Ruthie goes missing. Each chapter alternates between the voices of Ruthie's brother, Joe who was the last person to see her alive, and Norma, a young girl with an overprotective mother and strange dreams of almost-familiar scenes.
I was so moved by this quietly beautiful book. The slow, lifelong haunting of both protagonists gracefully builds throughout the story and broke my heart. Still, a feeling of hope permeated the pages.
This story touches on family and identity, the trauma of loss, guilt, and secrets. For Joe, his trauma manifests through guilt, fear, and not knowing what happened to Ruthie. His search for answers and closure becomes a large part of his identity. In parallel, Norma's suspicions that her parents are keeping secrets from her follows her like a shadow as she grapples with her identity and her obvious differences. The dull ache of longing for answers and waiting for hope to be realized kept me turning the pages.
Beer Pairing: Frankenbooberry by Crooked Hammock
This mysterious brew is brewed with two berry cereals (like the dual POVs in the novel) in a smooth, fruited sour with lactose. Notes of blueberries will immerse you in the Maine fields of Joe and Ruthie's childhood, while the 10% abv sneaks up on you like the truth behind Norma's dreams and her overprotective mother's caginess.
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