Barbara Kingsolver

Greer Family, Book 1

In rural Kentucky, a young woman named Taylor Greer remembers a childhood event that left her terrified of tires. She recalls a friend, Newt Hardbine, who met a tragic end while they were still in school. Despite their matching backgrounds, Taylor manages to escape her small hometown life by working at a hospital, saving money, and buying an old Volkswagen. Five years after finishing high school, she bids farewell to her mother and leaves her small town. She starts her new adventure with a vow to rename herself based on where her car stops running. Her journey leads her to Taylorville, where her car breaks down and she adopts her new name. Unexpectedly, she is given a baby by a woman claiming to be the infant's aunt, who leaves without further explanation. In shock, Taylor decides to keep the baby girl, whom she names Turtle due to her clingy nature. The duo eventually ends up in Tucson, Arizona after a series of car troubles.

In Tucson, Taylor's life intersects with Lou Ann Ruiz, another Kentuckian, abandoned by her husband and caring for her newborn son. After a brief stint at a new job, Taylor finds herself without stable work and ends up renting a room from Lou Ann. The two women form a fast friendship and Taylor starts working for a kind woman named Mattie, who runs a tire shop. Through Mattie, Taylor and Turtle meet a pair of undocumented immigrants from Guatemala, Estevan and Esperanza. Over time, Taylor finds out about the couple's tragic past and how they had to leave their own child behind to save many others.

As the story progresses, Taylor finds herself falling for Estevan while dealing with the harsh reality that Turtle is actually three years old, her growth stunted due to past abuse. A police investigation reveals that Taylor has no legal claim over Turtle, further complicating their situation. Amidst these challenges, Taylor embarks on a trip to Oklahoma to help Estevan and Esperanza find a new sanctuary, while also seeking Turtle's relatives for possible legal adoption. Once in Oklahoma, Taylor hatches a plan for Estevan and Esperanza to pose as Turtle's biological parents. After a dramatic encounter with an Oklahoma legal authority, they bid farewell to each other. Taylor and Turtle then return to Tucson, the place they now consider home.

The Bean Trees

And Other Stories

Homeland

A Novel

Animal Dreams

Otra America

Another America

Greer Family, Book 2

Pigs in Heaven

Essays from Now or Never

High Tide in Tucson

Women in the Great Arizona Mine Strike of 1983

Holding the Line

25 Best Historical Fiction Books - Novels Inspired By History

60 Best Historical Fiction Novels of All Time | Reedsy Discovery

In 1959, a zealous Baptist preacher, Nathan Price, relocates his wife and their four daughters to the deep jungles of Congo with a mission to convert the local African tribes to Christianity. Each woman in the Price family has a unique perspective on this move. Orleanna, the mother, follows her husband's decision without protest, whereas their eldest daughter, Rachel, is disgruntled about being uprooted from her normal teenage life. The youngest, Ruth May, is a mix of thrill and fear. Leah, the enthusiastic 14-year-old, is the only one who fully supports her father's religious fervor. Lastly, there's Leah's twin Adah, who despite being physically challenged, is a keen observer. All of them, however, have a firm belief that their culture is far superior to that in the village of Kilanga, and that they will easily adapt and master their new surroundings.

However, their overconfidence quickly begins to crumble. The first hint of a reality check comes when Nathan is unsuccessful in planting a vegetable garden, as the North American plants don't adapt to African conditions. Then, their local help, Mama Tataba, leaves in anger because of Nathan's insistence on baptizing the locals in a river infamous for a recent crocodile attack. As the cultural shock continues to affect the women, Nathan remains stubbornly focused on his mission, refusing to adapt or learn from the locals. Even when the country is on the brink of gaining independence from Belgium, and the family is advised to leave due to an anticipated purge of Westerners, Nathan declines. As a result, Orleanna falls into a state of despair, and the older daughters must step up to take care of the family.

During this time, the family undergoes significant changes. Orleanna becomes more assertive towards Nathan and looks desperately for a way to escape Africa with her daughters. Leah loses faith in her father's rigid worldview while falling in love with the local teacher, Anatole. Rachel pretends to be engaged to a mercenary pilot to avoid marriage to a local chieftain. Adah develops a fascination for the local language. A bout of malaria leaves Ruth May a shadow of her former self. Tragedy strikes when a snake bite kills Ruth May. In the aftermath, Orleanna leads her daughters away from Kilanga. Rachel moves to South Africa, Adah and Orleanna return to the US, and Leah, recovering from malaria under Anatole's care, decides to stay in Congo and marry him. The women go on to lead different lives, with Orleanna always carrying guilt and seeking forgiveness from Ruth May, which is eventually granted in the afterlife.

Barbara Kingsolver Books in Order (17 Book Series)

The Bean Trees

Greer Family, Book 1

Homeland

And Other Stories

Animal Dreams

A Novel

Another America

Otra America

Pigs in Heaven

Greer Family, Book 2

High Tide in Tucson

Essays from Now or Never

Holding the Line

Women in the Great Arizona Mine Strike of 1983

The Poisonwood Bible

A Novel

Prodigal Summer

A Novel

Last Stand

America's Virgin Lands

Small Wonder

Essays

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

Our Year of Seasonal Eating

The Lacuna

Flight Behavior

Unsheltered

A Novel

How to Fly

(in Ten Thousand Easy Lessons)

Demon Copperhead

A Novel

What To Read Next

Barbara Kingsolver Books in Order (17 Book Series)

The Bean Trees

Greer Family, Book 1

Homeland

And Other Stories

Animal Dreams

A Novel

Another America

Otra America

Pigs in Heaven

Greer Family, Book 2

High Tide in Tucson

Essays from Now or Never

Holding the Line

Women in the Great Arizona Mine Strike of 1983

The Poisonwood Bible

A Novel

Prodigal Summer

A Novel

Last Stand

America's Virgin Lands

Small Wonder

Essays

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

Our Year of Seasonal Eating

The Lacuna

Flight Behavior

Unsheltered

A Novel

How to Fly

(in Ten Thousand Easy Lessons)

Demon Copperhead

A Novel

What To Read Next

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