Sweet Island Side of Me

Sweet Island Side of Me is a novel published in 2021 by American/Antiguan writer Lisset Bird-Pickens. It tracks the experience of visiting the island of Antigua through a little girl’s eyes as she learns about her Antiguan history. This little girl is guided through this discovery by her mother, who was raised by her parents in Antigua. The story is based loosely on the life of the author through her daughter’s need to complete a school project, the novel builds toward revelations about the country as well as her family, and about the unique relationships of family that persist through time. The story primarily follows Addysen, nicknamed Sugar , as she tries to gather information for a school project that at first did not capture her interest. However, as she maneuvers through her time spent in Antigua she comes to realize several truths about her family, the culture and most important of all, herself.