While I was in college studying to get my degree in history, I took several English classes. I love to read of course, and I also enjoying writing, unsurprisingly. One class was called "The Novel" and centered around modern novels with a focus on African American authors. This was a very interesting class and one of my favorite books we read was a historical fiction piece. As a history student, I loved that genre and still do to this day.
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler is a thrilling story of heritage, culture, and time travel. The main protagonist of this story is Dana, a young African American woman who has just moved into a new home with her husband, Kevin, in the year 1976. All appears to be normal when suddenly Dana finds herself transported away to Maryland during the Antebellum period. When she saves a drowning boy, the boy's father threatens her with a gun and suddenly she is back home in the year 1976, saved from a gunshot. Shocked and confused she returns wet and covered in mud. She tries to explain to her husband what has happened but he says she was only gone for a few seconds and had somehow moved across the room without him seeing. When it happens again, Dana realizes this time travel must be for some purpose, but what?
This book is a thrilling read and explores racism not only in the 1800s but also in present day America. The characters are beautifully written and the attention to detail is evident with every description of Antebellum America given. I highly recommend reading this book if you enjoy time travel, historical fiction, or the exploration of topics such as gender and race.
~Abigail
It's rare that I see my name as a character- so cool!!!!