Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for this ARC of 'Black Cherokee' by Antonio Michael Downing.

This is a really wonderful fable in which a young mixed race woman - Black and Cherokee - descended from Black people who were first enslaved and then freed and granted membership of the nation by the Cherokee, tries to find her way from early childhood to young womanhood and to figure out where she belongs and to whom she belongs. Is she Black, is she Cherokee, does she have any place among the white community?

Abandoned by both parents (abandonment is a theme and trauma throughout) she's being raised by her grandmother - an elder who's despised by some of the Cherokee for not being Cherokee enough and by some black people for not being Black enough - by a (Mother) river outside a community that was once an almost reservation before the tribe, under the crooked urgings of a white lawyer, disbanded. Shipped off at seven years of age to her aunt's boisterous home and family in the city, she grows up into teen-hood with that same sense of not belonging in either or any world. Her father flits in and out of her life. Another aunt, a Francophile, also plays a role in her growth as a woman but is as harsh on the surface as her grandmother. This is a fractured (but inherently close) family until a singular event near the end of the novel brings them back together with a bang in the face of multiple and disparate threats to lifestyles and livelihoods from generations of the southern blue-blood white family that rules the roost in an around their community.

I learned a lot from this novel - especially the existence of Black Cherokee and their background. It's full of love and humor, hurt and heartbreak, replete with superbly created and developed characters, and wonderful writing, I highly recommend this one.

A complicated story within a complicated story, Black Cherokee satisfies in so many ways. The characters are beautifully portrayed, all very unique and wonderful individuals. The awful tension between Blacks and Native Americans forms the background of the inner story. A family separated because of these tensions reaches a point of crisis when a young teenager becomes pregnant.

This plays out in a battle for land rights. A Native American tribe was encouraged to disband by whites who wished to develop their land. The whites purchased the land and subsequently caused the river running through it to be contaminated. The legal battle for restitution causes long-held animosities between the two ethnic groups to spin out of control.

This is a fine story by a talented writer. My only quibbles are (a) that I had difficulty in several places with understanding who was speaking when there were too many “he saids” in one paragraph and (b) my feeling that the ending to the land-right battle came a bit abruptly.

This bittersweet coming of age tale is beautiful, heartbreaking, and hopeful, and just took my breath away.

When we meet Ophelia Blue Rivers, she is a seven-year-old girl growing up with her grandmother on the banks of the life-giving Etsi river - just discovered to be polluted by the industrial farm downriver - in a Cherokee community that pushes her to the margins. Ophelia descended from slaves owned by Cherokee elite, brought with them on the Trail of Tears and freedom upon Emancipation. Many of these former slaves stayed with the Cherokee and were granted membership into the tribes. But Ophelia's identity is made even more complex by her dual identities: she is half Black and half Cherokee.

As we watch her grow, different sides of her identity push and pull to be seen, hidden, coped with. We see her grapple with faith, poverty, exploitation, love, and loneliness. There is plenty of external conflict, but the biggest struggle Ophelia must overcome is accepting who she is and what it means to be part of a community and a family.

I found Ophelia's character and her journey of self- discovery to be deeply compelling. She was so relatable, and it was so easy to feel like a protective mama wanting to give her a hug!

I also learned so much about a history that I hadn't heard about before, and am now fascinated to read more about. I always love a book that opens my eyes to something I hadn't known before, especially in such a nuanced way.

This was also top-notch writing. I found the prose to be absolutely gorgeous, and some of the descriptions just took my breath away. I don't think there was a single superfluous detail - every scene was chosen with such care and served to reveal something about Ophelia, the people around her, or the world we live in.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC to read and review.

Thank you to the author and Simon and Schuster for the free eARC in exchange for my personal review.

*Black Cherokee* is a powerful, raw, and soul-stirring journey that left me deeply moved. Antonio Michael Downing weaves a story that is both personal and universal, blending themes of identity, heritage, and the struggle for self-acceptance in a way that resonates long after the last page.

The prose is vibrant and musical, almost like poetry in motion. Downing’s ability to craft sentences that cut to the core of human experience is nothing short of remarkable. The novel’s protagonist feels like someone you know—or perhaps someone you want to know better—with all their flaws, complexities, and triumphs. I found myself rooting for them even during their darkest moments.

What really sets *Black Cherokee* apart is its unflinching exploration of cultural identity and belonging. It’s a deeply emotional read, but it doesn’t wallow—it uplifts. That said, there were moments where the pacing felt slightly uneven, or where I wished for more context to fully grasp certain scenes. But these are minor critiques in an otherwise stunning novel.

This book won’t be for everyone—it’s introspective and asks readers to confront uncomfortable truths. But for those willing to engage, it’s a profoundly rewarding experience. A solid 4 stars from me—this is a novel that sings with heart, soul, and authenticity.

Overall I enjoyed the story. The first part of the book was the best and most interesting as we meet Ophelia Blue Rivers and her grandmother. Discovering their heritage, belief system, community, Cherokee way of life, and their community relationships. I especially enjoyed the relationship between grandmother and granddaughter.

As I reached the middle of the story it bogged down and moved slowly. There were prejudices and injustices along her life’s path. She frequently battles obstacles and always regains her footing. She has taken many life lessons with her from her grandmother’s childhood heritage teachings.

Her dad relocates her from her grandmother’s home, the only home she has ever known, and puts her in the care of an aunt that she has never met. Being half black and half Cherokee she is discriminated against from all sides. She was discriminated against at her grandmother’s house because she was part black even though her grandfather was a Cherokee Chief and respected leader in the community; at her aunts they discriminated because she was part Cherokee.

She’s a smart, respectful girl. Eventually she learns to stand up for who she is and what she wants in life. I gave this 3 star because although it was entertaining, I probably wouldn’t recommend it to a friend.

I received a free copy of Black Cherokee by Antonio Michael Downing from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Black Cherokee tells the story of a girl caught between multiple communities, only to face rejection from them all. Ophelia grapples with understanding why her family faces such widespread dislike—even from their own relatives. As she grows, she strives to meet others' expectations but repeatedly hears she isn't enough. Finally, she sheds these imposed standards and charts her own path. Ophelia's journey weaves through moments of heartbreak and triumph.

The history of the Cherokee Freedmen was entirely new to me, and this novel was an eye-opening experience. I deeply appreciate how Mr. Downing portrays the experience of Freedmen descendants through such beautiful prose.

Thank you to Netgalley for this arc. This is a short, but powerful story about a mixed race Black girl wanting to gain acceptance in a Cherokee Indian community.

This novel is a deeply moving story about identity, belonging, and the struggle to define oneself in a world that refuses to embrace complexity. Ophelia believes she can simply rid herself of her Native American heritage, but reality proves far more challenging. As she searches for a place to belong, she encounters rejection, confusion, and silence, making her journey even more painful. Family, history, and society place impossible expectations on her, forcing her to navigate a world that does not fully accept who she is.

Antonio Michael Downing beautifully weaves history, myth, and identity, bringing Ophelia’s world to life in a way that feels both vivid and deeply personal. The people around her fail her in different ways, leaving her lost and alone, yet she never stops searching for herself. Through heartbreak and resilience, her story becomes a powerful reminder of how complex identity is and what it truly means to find where you belong.

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.

"Black Cherokee" by Antonio Michael Downing tells the story of a search for identity and belonging. The protagonist, Ophelia, is both Black and Native American, descending from the Cherokee freedmen—Black individuals who fought alongside the Cherokee and were accepted into their band.

The narrative begins with a young Ophelia being raised by her grandmother, a widow of the chief, who teaches her the traditions and values of the tribe. As she grows, Ophelia attends school and stays with relatives, where she navigates Christianity, a predominantly white educational environment, and other influences.

This coming-of-age story emphasizes themes of family, autonomy, resilience, and self-discovery during the 1990s and early 2000s in the South. These themes make the novel relatable to readers. I highly recommend it, especially for its portrayal of the Cherokee freedmen and its exploration of issues surrounding citizenship and identity.

A special thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing the ARC.