Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver
Gutekunst book club read the novel "The Bean Trees" in October. In that story, Taylor Greer is leaving her home and mom in Kentucky determined to make her way in the world. While stopped at a remote cafe in Oklahoma, a woman places a baby in Taylor's car and tells her to take her. Taylor is stunned, but when she realizes the child has been abused, she agrees. Taylor names the little girl Turtle because her grip is so strong. Taylor adopts Turtle and they live a quiet life together in Arizona. In this sequel, three years have passed. When Turtle is six, she and Taylor witness a bizarre accident and because of that they have national television exposure. And then the unthinkable happens. An attorney with the Cherokee Nation sees them on TV and immediately recognizes that Turtle is likely Cherokee. And since Taylor is white, there is no way she could have legally adopted Turtle. This is because of the Indian Child Welfare Act put into law in 1978. The law states that Indian children must be raised by members of their Tribe. The attorney locates Taylor and explains the situation, which frightens Taylor so much that she tries to disappear with Turtle. In parallel, we read of the other side of the situation by meeting the attorney and the people in her tribe. I found this story to be fascinating. It was both heartbreaking and heartwarming. What will be best for Turtle? Stay with her mom and know nothing of her culture? Be torn from her mom to be surrounded by a Cherokee family she doesn't know? You'll have to read this wonderful book to find out!
