The Twelve Tribes of Hattie

Ranked #69 in Oprah, Ranked #99 in African American

A debut of extraordinary distinction: Ayana Mathis tells the story of the children of the Great Migration through the trials of one unforgettable family.

In 1923, fifteen-year-old Hattie Shepherd flees Georgia and settles in Philadelphia, hoping for a chance at a better life. Instead, she marries a man who will bring her nothing but disappointment and watches helplessly as her firstborn twins succumb to an illness a few pennies could have prevented.  Hattie gives birth to nine more children whom she raises with grit and mettle and not an ounce of the tenderness they crave.  She...
more

Similar Books

If you like The Twelve Tribes of Hattie, check out these similar top-rated books:


Learn: What makes Shortform summaries the best in the world?