If Sons, Then Heirs

Called a “well-paced, entertaining novel woven of many strands” by Kirkus Reviews and “a powerful take on family, history” by The Philadelphia Tribune, Lorene Cary’s brilliantly rendered tour de force explores the enduring bonds of blood, love, and the haunting consequences of the past. If Sons, Then Heirs sheds light on the largely untold story of African-American land ownership and racial hatred as seen through the eyes of the Needham family, whose members migrate north from South Carolina following the violent death of their patriarch, King. His devoted widow remains on the old home place to raise the children, but the responsibility to bring the family back together and save the land ultimately falls on King’s great-grandson, Rayne. Cary’s vividly drawn characters face challenges that mirror the experiences of families everywhere, but their distinct and unique voices will stay with readers forever.