Libertie

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Trigger warnings: slavery, racism

Libertie is a young black girl with a physician mother living in Brooklyn during the Reconstruction Era.

Libertie begins with 12-year-old Libertie witnessing a man brought back from the dead. She later realizes her mother and friends helped the man escape slavery by faking his death. Young Libertie dreams of learning all about healing and joining her mothers' practice one day.

When Libertie's mother starts to see patients that are white women, Libertie discovers racism the hard way. Her mother is pale-skinned so the women see her as "not black enough," but Libertie is dark-skinned like her father and is told not to touch the patients.

When Libertie is older, she travels west to attend medical school. The school is black-owned and taught, with programs in law, medicine, teaching, and music. Libertie begins her scientific studies but quickly finds she is more drawn to two female music students than to medicine. She begins to realize that she is her own person, and her dreams and her mothers' may be different.

Libertie deals with jealousy as her mother writes of a new apprentice at her practice, and she also must navigate other students' feelings towards her because she was born free while most others were born enslaved. As Libertie's story continues, she deals with being "other" and feeling alone while surrounded by people.

Channie Waites is a good narrator who conveys Libertie's innocence as a young girl.

Recommended for historical fiction readers looking for diverse perspectives.

Kaitlyn Greenidge is a contributing writer for many publications, including The New York Times and Wall Street Journal. She lives in Brooklyn.

Publisher: Algonquin Books (print); Recorded Books (audio)

Narrator: Channie Waites

Running Time: 12 hours, 12 minutes

Length: 336 pages

Release Date: March 30, 2021

I received an electronic galley copy of this title from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I also received a digital audio recording of this title from the publisher through Libro.fm as a librarian review copy. I read the latter edition. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.