Queen Sugar: A Novel

An intimate story of mother-daughter reinvention, endurance, and hope amid the complexities of the contemporary South.

An intimate story of mother-daughter reinvention, endurance, and hope amid the complexities of the contemporary South.

When Charley Bordelon, an African American single mother, unexpectedly inherits eight hundred acres of sugarcane land. She and her eleven-year-old daughter say goodbye to the smog and sprawl of Los Angeles and head to the tropical expanse of Louisiana. She soon learns, however, that cane farming is always going to be a white man’s business. As the sweltering summer unfolds, Charley struggles to balance the overwhelming challenges of a farm in decline with the demands of family and the startling desires of her own heart.

‘An irresistible tale of family, community … and personal reinvention … Smart and heartfelt and highly recommended.’ Karen Joy Fowler, New York Times bestselling author We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves

‘Heartfelt … A nuanced evocation of contemporary black life.’ San Francisco Chronicle

‘Queen Sugar delivers complex characters and a hint of bayou magic … A captivating first novel.’ Minneapolis Star Tribune