
The American Daughters
A Novel
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Narrated by:
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Lynnette R. Freeman
About this listen
“An enthralling tale of a secret resistance movement run by Black women in pre-Civil War New Orleans.”—Time
“Stirring . . . In telling this important, neglected history with imagination-fueled research, The American Daughters offers an inspiring story of people who show a way forward with their perseverance, bravery and love.”—The New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice)
AN ELECTRIC LIT AND KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
Ady, a curious, sharp-witted girl, and her fierce mother, Sanite, are inseparable. Enslaved to a businessman in the French Quarter of New Orleans, the pair spend their days reminiscing about their family’s rebellious and storied history and dreaming of a loving future. When mother and daughter are separated, Ady is left hopeless and directionless until she stumbles into the Mockingbird Inn and meets Lenore, a free Black woman with whom she becomes fast friends. Lenore invites Ady to join a clandestine society of spies called the Daughters. With the courage instilled in her by Sanite—and with help from these strong women—Ady learns how to put herself first. So begins her journey toward liberation and imagining a new future.
The American Daughters is a novel of hope and triumph that reminds us what is possible when a community bands together to fight for their freedom.
©2024 Maurice Carlos Ruffin (P)2024 Random House AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
“Bold and ambitious . . . Ruffin urges us to lay claim to an odds-defying legacy of determination and willful optimism.”—Los Angeles Times
“A riveting coming-of-age story . . . captivating and vividly rendered.”—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Vividly told in the here and now.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune
Beautiful fictional tale based on lived experiences
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Great Characters
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Love love love!
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Engaging story that made rethink how I reflect on history
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RECOMMENDATION: SKIP IT
Redundent
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