Read this when
Homegoing
Two sisters. One marries the governor of the slave castle. One is locked in the dungeon beneath her. 300 years later, their families finally meet.
Who it's for
Each chapter follows a new descendant of two half-sisters, Effia and Esi, one married to a British governor at Cape Coast Castle and one imprisoned in its dungeon and sold into slavery.
Feelings it meets
What it is
Yaa Gyasi's 2016 debut novel follows the descendants of two half-sisters across about 300 years, in Ghana and the United States. Effia marries the British governor and lives in the upper levels of Cape Coast Castle, while Esi is held in the dungeons below before being enslaved in America.
Where to find it
In print; widely available from libraries (Libby/Hoopla) and as an audiobook. Not public domain in the US.
Before you start
Heads up: Sexual assault and children dying in fire.
Age: Ages 16+
The roots below the earth claim no rewards for making the branches fruitful.Rabindranath Tagore, Stray Birds, no. 134
