The Twelve Tribes of Hattie

by Ayana Mathis

Sarah's take

I wholeheartedly recommend *The Twelve Tribes of Hattie* for its exquisite portrayal of maternal strength and the intricate tapestry of identity woven through the lives of Hattie's children. Mathis beautifully captures the struggles and resilience of Black families in America, making it a poignant read for anyone interested in the intersections of race, survival, and the emotional complexities of belonging.

About the book

After losing her twin boys to pneumonia, Hattie Shepherd builds a fortress around her heart that shapes the lives of her nine surviving children across decades in Philadelphia. Each chapter reveals how one child carries the weight of their mother's grief and dreams deferred, creating a multigenerational portrait of Black family resilience amid systemic hardship and the complex inheritance of trauma and love.

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