Hello Meltingpot Community,
It’s time for the announcement of our summer My American Meltingpot Book Selection!
The MAMP Book Club
If you recall, the My American Meltingpot Book club was launched last year and we read books that meet the following criteria:
“Books are written by authors of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds who tell stories that explore cross-cultural connections. Books are selected because of the quality of the writing, the uniqueness of the story told and the possibility for a transformative experience after reading. Both fiction and nonfiction titles will be selected.”
We’ve read some beautiful stories that explore cross-cultural connections and we’ve also had the pleasure of hearing from the authors on the MAMP podcast. For the summer book pick, I wanted to find a story that obviously meets our book club criteria, but would also be a balm of sorts for the times we find ourselves in today. I wanted to find a book that explored American history from a multicultural perspective and that challenged a lot of assumptions we have about race, identity and culture. And that’s why when I heard about the recently released, Book of the Little Axe, I knew it was the perfect choice.
Book of the Little Axe
Book of the Little Axe by Lauren Francis Sharma tells a story that is so unique my mind was blown when I first heard about it.
From the publisher, Grove Atlantic:
“In 1796 Trinidad, young Rosa Rendón quietly but purposefully rebels against the life others expect her to lead. Bright, competitive, and opinionated, Rosa sees no reason she should learn to cook and keep house, for it is obvious her talents lie in running the farm she, alone, views as her birthright. But when her homeland changes from Spanish to British rule, it becomes increasingly unclear whether its free black property owners—Rosa’s family among them—will be allowed to keep their assets, their land, and ultimately, their freedom.
By 1830, Rosa is living among the Crow Nation in Bighorn, Montana with her children and her husband, Edward Rose, a Crow chief. Her son Victor is of the age where he must seek his vision and become a man. But his path forward is blocked by secrets Rosa has kept from him. So Rosa must take him to where his story began and, in turn, retrace her own roots, acknowledging along the way, the painful events that forced her from the middle of an ocean to the rugged terrain of a far-away land.”
So, we have Caribbean history, Native American history, colonialism, and ultimately, American history all wrapped up in this one fascinating tome. I for one, cannot wait to dive into this story.
#GetLit
Please join us as we read Book of the Little Axe. Buy the book. Stay tuned for the podcast episode with the author. Dive into a remarkable story.
Peace!
