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The Fallen Fruit
Combining history and fantasy, a sweeping multi-generational epic in the vein of Kindred and The Time Traveler's Wife about a woman who travels through time to end a family curse that has plagued her ancestors for generations.
On a rainy day in May 1964, history professor Cecily Bridge-Davis begins to search for the sixty-five acres of land she inherited from her father’s family. The quest leads her to uncover a dark secret: In every generation, one offspring from each Bridge family unit vanishes—and is mysteriously whisked back in time. Rules have been established that must be followed to prevent dire consequences:
Never interfere with past events.
Always carry your free Negro papers.
Search for the survival family packs in the orchard and surrounding forest. The ribbon on the pack designates the decade the pack was made to orient you in time.
Do not speak to strangers unless absolutely necessary.
With only a family Bible and a map marked with the locations of mysterious containers to aid her, Cecily heads to the library, hoping to discover the truth of how this curse began, and how it might be ended. As she moves through time, she encounters a circle of ancestors, including Sabrina Humbles, a free Black woman who must find the courage to seize an opportunity—or lose her heart; Luke Bridge, who traverses battlefields, slavery, and time itself to reunite with his family; Rebecca Bridge, a mother tested by an ominous threat; and Amelia Bridge, a young woman burdened with survivor's guilt who will face the challenge of a lifetime—and change Cecily's life forever. It is a race through time and against the clock to find the answers that will free her family forever.
Shawntelle Madison’s historical fiction debut is an enthralling, page-turning family saga about the inevitability of fate, the invincibility of love, and the indelible bonds of family.
This discussion guide was shared and sponsored in partnership with Amistad.
Book club questions for The Fallen Fruit by Shawntelle Madison
Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.
Black women’s roles in society have evolved significantly over time. How did the characters in the book navigate the expectations and limitations placed on them during their respective historical periods?
Cecily asks Amelia to change the timeline in the hope that Cecily might be reunited with her family. If you faced the same situation, would you alter the past to be with your loved ones?
If you knew you would fall through time like the Bridges, what would you do to prepare?
The Fallen Fruit Book Club Questions PDF
Click here for a printable PDF of the The Fallen Fruit discussion questions
“A crafty, page-turning spin on chronicling Black family history . . . Madison shows considerable skill and narrative control. To her credit, it’s hard not to be reminded of Octavia Butler’s Kindred, as well as The Time Traveler’s Wife and some of Ray Bradbury’s time-displacement stories.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Madison weaves in details from her own history and the real Free State to ground the more fabulous elements and give this world a fascinating depth. The family mystery, the generations spanned, and the misfortunes Cecily learns about will also appeal to fans of intricate, multigenerational tales like Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s classic One Hundred Years of Solitude.” —Booklist
“Madison expertly navigates the time jumps, weaving together a robust shared history for the Bridge family. Fans of complex historical speculative fiction will be pleased.” —Publishers Weekly
“A poignant and beautifully realized journey through time.” —Historical Novel Society
“What a clever, brilliant tale. Every time I thought I had the mystery of the Bridges puzzled out, Shawntelle Madison surprised me with another twist of this family’s tangled roots.” —Olivia Hawker, bestselling author of One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow
“I. Could. Not. Put. It. Down! I am in awe of the amount of research Shawntelle Madison put into The Fallen Fruit. All I can say is: More please!” —Kaia Alderson, author of Sisters in Arms
“I loved this book. I wish I could go back in time to read it again for the first time.” —Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of The Many Daughters of Afong Moy
“In this meticulously researched and beautifully written novel, Madison sweeps us on an adventure through time and history with characters you’ll love and secrets you can’t wait to uncover.” —Eliza Knight, USA Today and international bestselling author of Can’t We Be Friends
“A brilliantly written, spellbinding, and timeless tale spanning decades and centuries.” —Rochelle Alers, national bestselling author of Hideaway
“An Octavia Butler-esque page-turning saga . . . Brilliantly imaginative and wildly unpredictable.” —Stephanie Dray, New York Times bestselling author of Becoming Madam Secretary