I have enjoyed the past books I’ve read from Pink and this slightly speculative one I knew I had to read. We Are the Scribes is a story about finding our voice, but it’s also about family. This definitely is my favorite Randi Pink story! Keep reading this book review of We Are the Scribes for my full thoughts.
Summary
Ruth Fitz is surrounded by activism. Her mother is a senator who frequently appears on CNN as a powerful Black voice fighting for legislative social change within the Black community. Her father, a professor of African American history, is a walking encyclopedia, spouting off random dates and events. And her beloved older sister, Virginia, is a natural activist, steadily gaining notoriety within the community and on social media. Ruth, on the other hand, would rather sit quietly reading or writing in her journal.
When her family is rocked by tragedy, Ruth stops writing. As life goes on, Ruth’s mother is presented with a political opportunity she can’t refuse. Just as Senator Fitz is more absent, Ruth begins receiving parchment letters with a seal reading WE ARE THE SCRIBES, sent by Harriet Jacobs, the author of the autobiography and 1861 American classic, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl .
Is Ruth dreaming? How has she been chosen as a “scribe” when she can barely put a sentence together? In a narrative that blends present with past, Randi Pink explores two extraordinary characters who channel their hopelessness and find their voices to make history.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
We Are the Scribes is very much a story about how our voice feels stolen. It’s about all the things that take away our willingness, our ability, to speak and to speak our truths. How each word becomes precious when it takes a monumental effort to utter. We Are the Scribes is also a story about realizing when it’s important to use our voice. I loved the speculative tinge to this story. It’s a testament to the power of mentorship. Of imagining our success, having someone who believes in us, someone to look up to. We Are the Scribes also explores the intersection of family power and politics. Imani Jade Powers does a great job at narrating this book which emphasizes the power of the spoken word.
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If you like a story about finding our voice, confidence, and our family amongst the confusion and shouting, this is for you. We Are the Scribes is an audiobook which flew by. I needed to find out if our family could be saved, if we could find our voice to speak out, to converse with our ghosts. Find We Are the Scribes on Goodreads, Storygraph, Bookshop. org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.