The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters (2023)

The novel opens with a prologue featuring a dying 57-year-old Joe, who is grappling with regrets and attempting to reconcile with his past. His sister Mae informs him that someone is there to see him.

The primary narrative then shifts to the 1960s, focusing on an Indigenous family from Nova Scotia who work as berry pickers in Maine. The family, consisting of parents Mom and Pop, and children Mae, Charlie, Ben, Joe, and young Ruthie, live in a run-down shack provided by the farm owner, Mr. Ellis. Ruthie, a lively and spirited child, goes missing while playing in the woods, leading to a frantic search by the family. The community, including Mr. Ellis and the police, offers little support, and the family is devastated. Eventually, they return to Nova Scotia, holding onto Ruthie’s belongings in hopes of her return.

Over the years, the family experiences more tragedy. Charlie is killed in a fight, and Joe, burdened by guilt, becomes self-destructive. He marries, abandons his wife and daughter Leah, and spends years working odd jobs. During this time, he occasionally visits Mr. Ellis’s farm, hoping Ruthie might return. In a powerful scene, Joe confronts Charlie’s killer, unaware of his identity.