The Berry Pickers

2023 Barnes & Noble Discover Prize Winner
Winner of the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction
Finalist for the Clara Johnson Award
A Sarah Selects Book Club Pick

Named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon, Apple, People, Barnes & Noble, The New Yorker, Harper's Bazaar, Good Housekeeping, CrimeReads, Booklist, Debutiful, and more

"A harrowing tale of Indigenous family separation . . . [Peters] excels in writing characters for whom we can't help rooting . . . With The Berry Pickers, Peters takes on the monumental task of giving witness to people who suffered through racist attempts of erasure like her Mi'kmaw ancestors. 'White folks been trying to take the Indian out of us for centuries,' a character tells Norma. 'But now that you know, you gotta let people know.' Peters is letting people know." -Eric Nguyen, The New York Times Book Review

"The strength of Amanda Peters's novel lies in its understanding of how trauma spreads through a life and a family, and its depiction of the challenges facing Indigenous people . . . [A] powerful message about truth, forgiveness and healing." -Marion Winik, The Washington Post

"The Berry Pickers offers an unforgettable exploration of grief, love, and kin." -Jenny Bartoy, The Boston Globe

"The Berry Pickers displays a perceptive understanding of the lives of migrant workers in midcoast Maine . . . Although not marketed as a crime novel, The Berry Pickers generates its own brand of suspense. The alternating points of view propel the story forward in ways not easily allowed by a single perspective. Norma's and Joe's family members are seen from a distance, but the juxtapositions between the families-outsiders or insiders-are haunting. Readers will find Joe's and Norma's searches for the truth by turns heartbreaking, brave and often very funny, the humor off-setting the harrowing subject." -Michael Berry, Portland Herald Press

"A gripping read, a mystery and a moving narrative all in one book." -A New York Post Best Book of the Year

"A lucid and assured debut." -The New Yorker

"A stunning debut about love, race, brutality and the balm of forgiveness." -People, A Best New Book

"Peters beautifully explores loss, grief, hope, and the invisible tether that keeps families intact even when they are ripped apart. A poignant debut from a writer to watch." -Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Peters' debut combines narrative skill and a poignant story for a wonderful novel to which many readers will gravitate . . . Indigenous stories like this matter." -Booklist

"Enthralling ... Powerfully rendered ... [A] cogent and heartfelt look at the ineffable pull of family ties." -Publishers Weekly