An excellent collection of stories/essays. This memior is a reminder of the varied communities and individulas we have here in New England. That it isn't always a lovely little rural experience, even when it is. Emily Bernard's use of time with the juxtaposition between herself as a mother, her mother, and her own youth creates a nice flowing narrative. Navigating New England and particulary Vermont as a black woman, her discomfort with her chosen home vs. her discomfort with the south, the home she considers home. This memoir is beautifully written and a wonderful read. ( )

Masterfully written. The frankness in which Emily Bernard shares her experiences and her grapple to understand them is deeply refreshing and intellectually rewarding to read and re-read. This is a book I would add to my personal collection and plan to return to often. ( )

For book club. Local professor of black studies writes observational essays. I liked the shout-outs to Vermont, at first. It gradually became clear though that she does not feel at home here, and I started to feel judged. As an adoptee, I also enjoyed the segments about adopting her twins. Other than that, it was hard to feel interested. ( )

An eloquent collection of essays that function as both autobiography and cultural analysis. The author did a wonderful job of illuminating large-scale issues by examining them through the lens of personal experiences of herself and her family. ( )