The Berry Pickers: A Novel

I dove into another book without glancing at the synopsis, and since it was yet again a choice for my book club, it felt a bit like a necessary plunge. Historical fiction isn't typically my go-to genre, but wow, this one was beautifully crafted. The characters' experiences were so vividly portrayed that their trauma practically leapt off the pages. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrators truly breathed life into the story. Our main character, Ruthie, captures your heart from the beginning. She vanishes from the blueberry fields where her Mi'Kmaq community works during the summer, and through her journey, we witness her transformation and emotional depth, validating every feeling she grapples with. Ruthie's parents add a complex layer—especially her mother, whose gaslighting makes Ruthie question her own memories, painting her childhood with confusion. It's heartbreaking to see Ruthie leave her aunt with the burden of truth as she grapples with her family's well-intentioned but suffocating love. Then there's Joe, Ruthie's younger brother, who is only six when she disappears. His journey is infused with anger, and honestly, who can blame him? The weight of being the last to see Ruthie before her abduction casts a long shadow over his life, compounded by the tragic loss of his brother Charlie. The emotional fallout is palpable, leaving Joe's body and soul in disarray by the end. What I loved about the book's structure is how it seamlessly shifts between Joe and Ruthie's perspectives, allowing us to witness their character arcs—each battle and triumph, no matter how small. While the ending brought the family back together in an emotional reunion, I couldn't help but wish for a lighter finish. Joe's passing felt inevitable given his health struggles, yet I found solace in the fact that he experienced a precious bit of life with Ruthie before his journey's end. It's a bittersweet reminder of the resilience of family bonds, even in the face of heart-wrenching loss. This story will stay with me long after the last page.

This story is an interesting look into the horrible things people will do in the name of love. Also, personally if I was Ruthie/Norma I would have gone insane thinking about what my life could have been!

Beautifully written book

A very well-written, but tragic, book. It’s a shame that the woman who stole the life away of the young child was never brought to justice. The birth mother, I feel, didn’t seem to harbor the feelings that I would have had in from the kidnapping of Ruthie. But her Christian upbringing and forgiveness may have made her a better person than me. I was not much of a fan of Norma. I wonder if she’d been raised in her birth family, she might have been more likable. I loved most of her native family. They had far too much to deal with, but very glad things resolved with some degree of satisfaction.

I loved this book and would highly recommend it. It was hard to put down and very impressed that it was her first book.