Instant National Bestseller | An Amazon Editors' Pick | A Los Angeles Times Best Book of September | A People Book of the Week | A Goodreads Big Book for Fall | A Town and Country Must Read Book for Fall | Named a Most Anticipated Book by Literary Hub, Kirkus Reviews, BookPage, & Zibby Owens
“A wonder of elegant prose and deep insight, a multi-generational mystery that is absorbing, fascinating and ultimately redemptive.” - Mona Susan Power, author of A Council of Dolls
“The Birthing Tree is a love letter to the strength of Indigenous traditions, stories, and love in all their forms. Aliet decides to return, not only to the home to the home and land on which her grandmother raised her, but to the tree under which she and generations of babies from her community were born. A beautiful book. You’ll be thinking of that tree for a long time to come.” - Michelle Porter, author of A Glacier's Guide to Dying
“[A] grounded, glimmering, earthy yet mystical novel . . The Birthing Tree will enchant readers with its resplendent portrait of heritage, tradition, and home.” - Julia Hass, Lit Hub
“Peters draws on her Mi’kmaq heritage for this nuanced depiction of the tribe and its threatened traditions . . . The alternating storylines gradually converge, and the narrative builds to a satisfying resolution. It’s a tender story of self-discovery and the power of generations of women.” - Publishers Weekly
“The Birthing Tree offers a full-circle narrative that weaves together an individual, her family, Indigenous culture, the Americas, and nature. With its translucent sentences and strong structures, this richly dimensional story will deeply affect readers.” - Booklist
“Without being directly addressed, the matriarchal feminism of that culture comes through loud and clear. A quietly compelling portrait of a young woman finding her truth.” - Kirkus Reviews
“The emotional responses stirred up by her, Kiju, and the supporting matriarchs had me in tears just eight pages in, and every 20 pages after that. I credit this to Peters’s earnest, immersive, scenic writing. The way she captures the waffling precociousness of young Aliet as she comes of age is particularly exceptional... I hope she’ll continue to populate this world with powerful characters and too-long-overlooked stories.” - Quill & Quire
“Seeking a highly regarded, award-winning writer? Then try The Birthing Tree by Amanda Peters.” - Library Journal
“A gripping, heartstring-tugging novel that takes on the tension between tradition and modernity.” - Lizz Schumer, People
“A gorgeous, historical work of literary fiction that explores family, legacy, and the secrets that bind us.” - Ameema Saeed, She Does the City
“Peters follows up her excellent 2023 debut, The Berry Pickers, with another dive into Nova Scotia’s M’ikmaq first peoples, this time focusing on Aliet Paul, a nurse whose grandmother Kiju taught her a great deal about their tribe’s midwifery. Aliet decides, after Kiju dies, to return permanently to her homeplace. Her reasons for leaving involve both the recent and far-off past, which the author brings to a powerful place in her conclusion.” - Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times
“Peters explores the importance of maintaining a connection to one’s heritage, the effects of secrets and trauma that ripple down through future generations, and the impacts of grief. This one is a great fit for fans of literary fiction and stories with a strong sense of place.” - Cindy Burnett, The Buzz Magazines
