The American Daughters

“Bold and ambitious . . . Ruffin urges us to lay claim to an odds-defying legacy of determination and willful optimism.”—Los Angeles Times

“A riveting coming-of-age story . . . captivating and vividly rendered.”—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“Vividly told in the here and now.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune

“ A vibrant story of Black female empowerment that transcends time . .  . intimate and powerful The American Daughters do not wait for freedom to arrive. They have already defined freedom for themselves.”—Southern Review of Books

“A fascinating portrait of New Orleans in the mid-1800s—both its richness and its cruelty. Best of all, [Ruffin] brings alive the characters . . . and makes real their suffering, as well as their courage and their joy.”—Chapter 16

“An enthralling tale of a secret resistance movement run by Black women in pre-Civil War New Orleans.”—TIME

“If you love learning about unsung histories, hidden societies, and the antebellum South, you will love The American Daughters.”—Essence

“A coming-of-age story meets gripping historical thriller.”—Tertulia

“Interspersed with documents and transcripts that give the novel the feel of something sacred and discovered—which, of course, is exactly the point—Maurice Carlos Ruffin’s The American Daughters is a compelling tribute to his female ancestors.”—ELLE

“The always-inventive author of the Pen/Faulkner finalist We Cast a Shadow returns with an electrifying work of historical fiction centered on a gutsy former slave girl who joins a clandestine band of female spies working to undermine the Confederacy.”—Electric Lit

“A sobering yet liberatory portrayal of American slavery and of the courage, determination, and intelligence required to survive it.”—Booklist, starred review

“At once powerful and hopeful, daring and revelatory, this book is an unforgettable fight for freedom that is impossible to put down.”—Stylecaster

“Structured with a genius conceit, The American Daughters is a thoughtful, courageous, exciting invitation to look beneath the surface. . . . A splendid work.”—Robert Jones, Jr., author of The Prophets

“An absolute master of craft and genre . . . How has this book not been written before? Because we’ve never experienced a radical loving living talent like Maurice Carlos Ruffin. This is a forever book.”—Kiese Laymon, author of Heavy
 
“Ady is an unforgettable protagonist, a character who meets the crossroads of history with remarkable courage and enduring love.”—Imani Perry, author of South to America

“A tour de force. An intelligent and haunting novel.”—Lauren Wilkinson, author of American Spy

“[Ruffin] paints a vibrant picture of antebellum New Orleans. Readers won’t be able to resist this stirring story of freedom by any means necessary.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“A high adventure, a revealing history, and a chronicle of one woman’s self-realization. Black women as agents—literally—of their own liberation. Who wouldn’t be inspired?”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review