It took me two tries before I could fully immerse myself in the story, but once I did it was a great read! Rivers Solomon came up with such an original and well-executed concept. The idea that the Wajinru were born from pregnant African slaves thrown overboard is fascinating. I enjoyed the exploration of community, collective trauma, the importance of knowing one’s history, the weight of responsibility to yourself and your people, and whether both can coexist. It was emotional and relatable.

I recommend listening to the song by Daveed Diggs’ band, Clipper, that inspired the novella. Though it’s not my musical taste, the lyrics were insightful.