Blindingly excellent ... These books should come with a disclaimer as once you start reading you aren’t going to want to walk away.

This is a story that a lot of people should read as it talks about a mixed raced community and how ideology destroyed it.
It's a thought provoking story a bit hard to follow as the style of writing is quite complex .
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

While an interesting and thought-provoking story, I had struggled really really getting into the novel because the author's writing style was hard to follow at time, with long sentences and meandering.

The subject matter was fascinating, based on an unknown-to-me real-life story of a small mixed-race island community of the coast of Maine and their forced resettlement at the height of the eugenics movement in the early 20th century. While is was an interesting and thought-provoking story, I had trouble really getting into the novel because the author's writing style was hard to follow at time, with long long sentences, etc.

Thought provoking and intriguing story!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review.

This is a beautiful, lyrical and heart wrenching story of the effects of racism and prejudice on a group of people in early 20th century America. Apple Island has long been a home to a disparate group of families who have made their home away from the pressures and prejudices of life on the mainland. Yes, they would appear to live in poverty and in a way that doesn’t fit with the social mores of the time, but they are happy, they love their children, and their lives in this enclave of peace and quiet. That is, until a good hearted missionary appears and begins to educate the children. No one could have predicted the far reaching effects of his intrusion into their lives. The writing here is fluid and poetic and draws the reader into the lives of the Apple Island people, their joys and sorrows, and their inevitable tragedies. A book to be savoured and remembered!

An isolated group of families, settled on an island off the coast of Maine for 6 generations. Until a well meaning teacher brings "civilization" and rips them apart. A well written novel based on a true story, with rich characters and unfortunate events.