Betty

Set in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains during the mid-twentieth century, the narrative follows Betty Carpenter, one of eight siblings born to a white mother and a Cherokee father. The family navigates extreme poverty and the violent impulses of their rural Ohio community. Betty’s father, Landon, serves as her moral compass, teaching her traditional Cherokee storytelling and herbalism as defense mechanisms against the racism and sexual abuse that fracture their household. As Betty grows, she documents her family’s cycles of trauma and hidden secrets by burying her written stories in jars underground.

This book is intended for readers of historical fiction who prioritize lyrical prose and specific cultural mythology over lighthearted plots. It attracts those interested in the intersections of Indigenous heritage and systemic Appalachian poverty. Readers finish the book with a visceral understanding of how intergenerational patterns of violence shape identity. The story provides a stark look at how marginalized daughters use creative expression and oral history to survive environments where they are socially and physically vulnerable.

Balanced in tone; a moderate read.

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