Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidge

Release: March 30th, 2021
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Source: Algonquin Books
Find it at Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, Kobo, IndieBound.

The critically acclaimed and Whiting Award-winning author of We Love You, Charlie Freeman, returns with Libertie, an unforgettable story about one young Black girl’s attempt to find a place where she can be fully and only herself.

Coming of age as a freeborn Black girl in Brooklyn, Libertie Sampson is all too aware of her purposeful mother. She is a practicing physician, has a vision for their future together. Libertie is to go to medical school and practice alongside her. But Libertie, drawn more to music than science, feels stifled by her mother’s choices. And she is hungry for something else. Is there really only one way to have an autonomous life? And she is constantly reminded that, unlike her mother, who can pass, Libertie has skin that is too dark.

A young man from Haiti proposes to Libertie and promises she will be his equal on the island. Hence, she accepts, only to discover that she is still subordinate to him and all men. Libertie tries to parse what freedom actually means for a Black woman. She struggles with where she might find it for herself and for generations to come.

Inspired by the life of one of the first Black female doctors in the United States and rich with historical detail. Kaitlyn Greenidge’s new and immersive novel will resonate with readers eager to understand our present through a deep, moving, and lyrical dive into our complicated past.

“This is one of the most thoughtful and wonderful books I’ve read all year. Kaitlyn Greenidge is a master storyteller.”
—Jacqueline Woodson, author of Red at the Bone

About the Author:

Kaitlyn Greenidge received her MFA from Hunter College. Greenidge was the recipient of a Hertog Fellowship and the Bernard Cohen Short Story Prize. Also, she was a Bread Loaf scholar, a Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Workspace artist-in-residence, and a Johnson State College visiting emerging writer. Her work has appeared in the Believer, the Feminist Wire, At Length, and Fortnight Journal. She also published works in Green Mountains Review, Afrobeat Journal, the Tottenville Review, and American Short Fiction. Originally from Boston, she now lives in Brooklyn. Her debut novel, We Love You, Charlie Freeman, will be published by Algonquin Books in March 2016.

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Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidge Review:

The central aspect I enjoyed about the story was the characters and their relationships. Libertie is a beautiful character and a fantastic role model. She learns from her mistakes and becomes brave, even if it means coming out of her comfort zone. I loved reading through her various stages in life and thought the author poignantly wrote her. Moreover, I loved her friendship with Louisa and Experience. The three of them share an incredible bond, and I enjoyed their scenes.

Similarly, I also felt the author portrayed Libertie’s relationship with Emmanuel realistically. They both have striking personalities, and it was interesting to see how they would get along. Also, even Libertie’s conflicting relationship with her mother was a highlight, and I thought the author wrote their progress creatively through their letter correspondence.

Furthermore, the author also writes the tale personally where you feel like you are with the characters in the 1800s. The author covers so many topics, from racism to freedom, including mental health. I was glued to the pages right from the beginning when they save Mr. Ben and how Libertie learns more about her mother’s practice. Each chapter was like reading a different passage of Libertie’s life, which made it feel like I was reading a collection of her short stories. The story gets interesting when Libertie spends time with the Gradys. However, my favorite part of the tale was when she moves to Haiti with Emmanuel and faces hostility from the family members, particularly Ella.

Overall, I thought “Libertie” was a beautiful historical fiction, and I would recommend it if you are in the book for a powerful read with a strong female protagonist!