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GirlChild
The Singleton family of Huguenot Island, South Carolina are a proud but humble one. They work to drive the legacy of their once enslaved ancestors through ownership of a restaurant and land. Life seems fulfilling for the Gullah family but Sparrow Singleton is not happy. She is tired of being ridiculed for her native creole and she is fed up with bad spirits leeching off her innocent little sister at night. At the age of eighteen, Sparrow leaves home after graduation, vowing that nothing short of a miracle can make her return.
Little Dove Singleton has struggled with infertility all of her adult life. She has endured her share of miscarriages and stillbirths. Finally, ten years after Sparrow ran away, she carries a girl child to full term. The family deems the birth the miracle needed to get Sparrow to visit home.
Upon her return home, Sparrow is immediately faced with tragedy when Little Dove dies from postpartum complications; her dying wish being that Sparrow raises her baby the Gullah way. As if facing her sister’s death and taking on a newborn wasn’t enough, Sparrow learns that real estate developers have been aggressively pursuing her family’s sacred land.
Sparrow faces the dilemma of disregarding her sister’s dying wish and returning to the new life she spent years building. But the spirit of her ancestors and the fading memory of her Gullah roots tug at her heart. Will Sparrow face her new reality or abandon her family again?
GirlChild is a poignant story about the preservation of culture, the spirit of heritage, and the resiliency of family.
Little Dove Singleton has struggled with infertility all of her adult life. She has endured her share of miscarriages and stillbirths. Finally, ten years after Sparrow ran away, she carries a girl child to full term. The family deems the birth the miracle needed to get Sparrow to visit home.
Upon her return home, Sparrow is immediately faced with tragedy when Little Dove dies from postpartum complications; her dying wish being that Sparrow raises her baby the Gullah way. As if facing her sister’s death and taking on a newborn wasn’t enough, Sparrow learns that real estate developers have been aggressively pursuing her family’s sacred land.
Sparrow faces the dilemma of disregarding her sister’s dying wish and returning to the new life she spent years building. But the spirit of her ancestors and the fading memory of her Gullah roots tug at her heart. Will Sparrow face her new reality or abandon her family again?
GirlChild is a poignant story about the preservation of culture, the spirit of heritage, and the resiliency of family.
192 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 2, 2024
7 people are currently reading
173 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 2, 2024
Oh my goodness this book felt like the embodiment of Black southern familial roots. I specifically loved the glimpses into Gullah culture and the moments where we get to hear the story from the ancestors’ point of view. I also really appreciated how the author touched on the predatory behavior of developers who prey on and pressure Gullah people to sell their land, which unfortunately is the reality for many Gullah people in South Carolina in present day.
I would’ve loved to hear more from the ancestors at the conclusion of the story and would’ve enjoyed hearing more of the storyline about the hag. But overall, this story was a heartfelt look into the ways that self-hate can cause destruction in the family line for generations to come and the main character’s journey to accepting and appreciating her roots. The story is short and sweet but it packs a punch! The characters felt so real and familiar that it was hard not to relate to or feel like you know them. (There were 2 characters in this story that I would’ve liked to lay hands on, personally, but that’s just me 👊🏾😂)
Thank you so much Morenike’ for sending me an ARC of this book!
I would’ve loved to hear more from the ancestors at the conclusion of the story and would’ve enjoyed hearing more of the storyline about the hag. But overall, this story was a heartfelt look into the ways that self-hate can cause destruction in the family line for generations to come and the main character’s journey to accepting and appreciating her roots. The story is short and sweet but it packs a punch! The characters felt so real and familiar that it was hard not to relate to or feel like you know them. (There were 2 characters in this story that I would’ve liked to lay hands on, personally, but that’s just me 👊🏾😂)
Thank you so much Morenike’ for sending me an ARC of this book!
January 7, 2026
1.25 Stars. This book had so much potential but it truly struggled from so many basic writing essentials that by the end I was honesty so disappointed.
1) The author described nothing- and I truly mean nothing. I cannot even tell you what the color of their house looks like, I have no idea what kind of car they drove, and I don’t even know what the bars they frequented looked like. It’s so glaring and unnatural to storytelling. At first I appreciated the stripped down approach to the writing in the beginning because it was different and I thought descriptors were coming. However, when it became clear the author didn’t include descriptors, the LACK of placement in the setting took me out of the story. It’s like the author was afraid to use an adjective-that’s how little they were in the story. Additionally, the author used SO many cliche writing phrases (ex. “Fell asleep in no time” 🫠) that the story suffered. It felt unsophisticated and naked when the potential was there to tell the exact same story and make it feel fuller.
2) PLOT HOLES- so many insane plot holes. What about work? What about the life you always wanted? How are you going to make it work now you are down here? NOTHING was explained. Not even Heir’s Property until later in the story. What did the ancestors think of the ending? Where was that convo? What happened to Winter? The book should have been called Sparrow instead of Girlchild.
3) JUSTICE FOR DAVID. The book SPECIFICALLY mentioned that SPARROW’S fear of facing conflict put David in really awkward situations. And rather than talk about it like an adult, she lashed out AT DAVID and allowed her family to lash out at David even though they all AGREED it was SPARROW’S FAULT for not explaining things to him. Sparrow’s inability to have adult conversation (while repeatedly saying she craves it 🫠) allowed David to go for YEARS thinking he understood her and her way of life. It’s also really irritating how the Singletons act like they are incapable of extending grace when you know someone clearly means well but is ignorant. It was a weird element of control regarding their culture and way of life when presented with someone a family member is romantically involved with AND when that potential partner is willing to learn. That whole situation presented the Singletons disgracefully (and by extension Gullah people) as hot-tempered, unreasonable people who will literally start a fight because of an ill timed remark. I high key get insulted by that portrayal tbh. The Singletons “said grace” so many times they had none left to extend to a different person. And David even mentioned to Sparrow “We are adults, we have to be able to talk things out” without blowing up. Instead Sparrow continues to yell at David and her parents support it. The Singletons were portrayed as children in adult skin and I REALLY disliked that.
4) Repetition - This author SERIOUSLY needed an editor. There were so many corny lines it actually made me cringe. HOW many time was the author going to say “of sorts”? HOWW many times was she going to say “Gentry couldn’t hold water.” HOWWW many times is the author going to say “it was a sight to see” AND THEN PROCEED TO NOT DESCRIBE THE SIGHT?!
5) Lack of time period specific research - it’s clear the author thinks the only thing different between 1997 and 2024 is the ubiquitous use of pay phones and landlines. The author did zero research into language common in the ‘90’s which is why she uses words like “bromance” or “vibes”. A quick google search will tell you language like that didn’t become ubiquitous in American English until 2005. It was seriously distracting and took me out of the story.
There were so many other things but this review is already getting so long. It’s frustrating because this book has so much potential (hence the 1.25 star rating instead of 1) but I honestly had to fight to finish it. Overall I would not recommend.
1) The author described nothing- and I truly mean nothing. I cannot even tell you what the color of their house looks like, I have no idea what kind of car they drove, and I don’t even know what the bars they frequented looked like. It’s so glaring and unnatural to storytelling. At first I appreciated the stripped down approach to the writing in the beginning because it was different and I thought descriptors were coming. However, when it became clear the author didn’t include descriptors, the LACK of placement in the setting took me out of the story. It’s like the author was afraid to use an adjective-that’s how little they were in the story. Additionally, the author used SO many cliche writing phrases (ex. “Fell asleep in no time” 🫠) that the story suffered. It felt unsophisticated and naked when the potential was there to tell the exact same story and make it feel fuller.
2) PLOT HOLES- so many insane plot holes. What about work? What about the life you always wanted? How are you going to make it work now you are down here? NOTHING was explained. Not even Heir’s Property until later in the story. What did the ancestors think of the ending? Where was that convo? What happened to Winter? The book should have been called Sparrow instead of Girlchild.
3) JUSTICE FOR DAVID. The book SPECIFICALLY mentioned that SPARROW’S fear of facing conflict put David in really awkward situations. And rather than talk about it like an adult, she lashed out AT DAVID and allowed her family to lash out at David even though they all AGREED it was SPARROW’S FAULT for not explaining things to him. Sparrow’s inability to have adult conversation (while repeatedly saying she craves it 🫠) allowed David to go for YEARS thinking he understood her and her way of life. It’s also really irritating how the Singletons act like they are incapable of extending grace when you know someone clearly means well but is ignorant. It was a weird element of control regarding their culture and way of life when presented with someone a family member is romantically involved with AND when that potential partner is willing to learn. That whole situation presented the Singletons disgracefully (and by extension Gullah people) as hot-tempered, unreasonable people who will literally start a fight because of an ill timed remark. I high key get insulted by that portrayal tbh. The Singletons “said grace” so many times they had none left to extend to a different person. And David even mentioned to Sparrow “We are adults, we have to be able to talk things out” without blowing up. Instead Sparrow continues to yell at David and her parents support it. The Singletons were portrayed as children in adult skin and I REALLY disliked that.
4) Repetition - This author SERIOUSLY needed an editor. There were so many corny lines it actually made me cringe. HOW many time was the author going to say “of sorts”? HOWW many times was she going to say “Gentry couldn’t hold water.” HOWWW many times is the author going to say “it was a sight to see” AND THEN PROCEED TO NOT DESCRIBE THE SIGHT?!
5) Lack of time period specific research - it’s clear the author thinks the only thing different between 1997 and 2024 is the ubiquitous use of pay phones and landlines. The author did zero research into language common in the ‘90’s which is why she uses words like “bromance” or “vibes”. A quick google search will tell you language like that didn’t become ubiquitous in American English until 2005. It was seriously distracting and took me out of the story.
There were so many other things but this review is already getting so long. It’s frustrating because this book has so much potential (hence the 1.25 star rating instead of 1) but I honestly had to fight to finish it. Overall I would not recommend.
December 20, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up. There was a lot that I liked about this. I loved learning about Gullah culture, the discussions of self hatred due to bullying, accepting ourselves and our families, building roots and connections, and the family dynamics. The addition of the POV of the ancestors in heaven was super interesting and unique and what hooked me from the start of reading.
I struggled at times with the writing style. The author mainly stuck with actions, events and dialogue. There weren't many descriptions of the scenery or how people looked. I found myself longing to be more immersed in the environment, to be able to "See" what the FMC saw.
There was also a lot of telling rather than showing. Many times the author would tell us how the characters felt or how we should feel about the characters rather than simply laying the story out to allow us to come to our own conclusions.
I also found at times the FMCs actions were too abrupt. She changed her mind so quickly, it gave me some whiplash. But I related to her in a lot of ways - her desire for more in life, to want better for her family - that is something I've also experienced.
Despite my issues with the writing I really enjoyed the story. It was different from anything I've read, and the ending was very satisfying. Matory should be very proud!
I struggled at times with the writing style. The author mainly stuck with actions, events and dialogue. There weren't many descriptions of the scenery or how people looked. I found myself longing to be more immersed in the environment, to be able to "See" what the FMC saw.
There was also a lot of telling rather than showing. Many times the author would tell us how the characters felt or how we should feel about the characters rather than simply laying the story out to allow us to come to our own conclusions.
I also found at times the FMCs actions were too abrupt. She changed her mind so quickly, it gave me some whiplash. But I related to her in a lot of ways - her desire for more in life, to want better for her family - that is something I've also experienced.
Despite my issues with the writing I really enjoyed the story. It was different from anything I've read, and the ending was very satisfying. Matory should be very proud!
February 9, 2025
GirlChild is a poignant story about the preservation of culture, the spirit of heritage, and the resiliency of family.
The Singleton family of Huguenot Island, South Carolina are a proud but humble one. They work to drive the legacy of their once enslaved ancestors through ownership of a restaurant and land. Life seems fulfilling for the Gullah family but Sparrow Singleton is not happy. She is tired of being ridiculed for her native creole and she is fed up with bad spirits leeching off her innocent little sister at night. At the age of eighteen, Sparrow leaves home after graduation, vowing that nothing short of a miracle can make her return.
Little Dove Singleton has struggled with infertility all of her adult life. She has endured her share of miscarriages and stillbirths. Finally, ten years after Sparrow ran away, she carries a girl child to full term. The family deems the birth the miracle needed to get Sparrow to visit home.
Upon her return home, Sparrow is immediately faced with tragedy when Little Dove dies from postpartum complications; her dying wish being that Sparrow raises her baby the Gullah way. As if facing her sister’s death and taking on a newborn wasn’t enough, Sparrow learns that real estate developers have been aggressively pursuing her family’s sacred land.
Sparrow faces the dilemma of disregarding her sister’s dying wish and returning to the new life she spent years building. But the spirit of her ancestors and the fading memory of her Gullah roots tug at her heart. Will Sparrow face her new reality or abandon her family again?
Thoughts
This book really makes you think or at least it did for me. I can relate with infertility, sudden loss of a sister and the grief that goes along with that. I cried multiple times while reading.
This story held me captive the whole time. I just wanted to know what was going to happen next, what the ancestors were going to do. I loved learning about the Gallah culture.
FMC was very back and forth causing my thoughts to be all over the place. And I feel it ended abruptly!
But that didn’t matter so much. It was a great read! There really is no place like home.
The Singleton family of Huguenot Island, South Carolina are a proud but humble one. They work to drive the legacy of their once enslaved ancestors through ownership of a restaurant and land. Life seems fulfilling for the Gullah family but Sparrow Singleton is not happy. She is tired of being ridiculed for her native creole and she is fed up with bad spirits leeching off her innocent little sister at night. At the age of eighteen, Sparrow leaves home after graduation, vowing that nothing short of a miracle can make her return.
Little Dove Singleton has struggled with infertility all of her adult life. She has endured her share of miscarriages and stillbirths. Finally, ten years after Sparrow ran away, she carries a girl child to full term. The family deems the birth the miracle needed to get Sparrow to visit home.
Upon her return home, Sparrow is immediately faced with tragedy when Little Dove dies from postpartum complications; her dying wish being that Sparrow raises her baby the Gullah way. As if facing her sister’s death and taking on a newborn wasn’t enough, Sparrow learns that real estate developers have been aggressively pursuing her family’s sacred land.
Sparrow faces the dilemma of disregarding her sister’s dying wish and returning to the new life she spent years building. But the spirit of her ancestors and the fading memory of her Gullah roots tug at her heart. Will Sparrow face her new reality or abandon her family again?
Thoughts
This book really makes you think or at least it did for me. I can relate with infertility, sudden loss of a sister and the grief that goes along with that. I cried multiple times while reading.
This story held me captive the whole time. I just wanted to know what was going to happen next, what the ancestors were going to do. I loved learning about the Gallah culture.
FMC was very back and forth causing my thoughts to be all over the place. And I feel it ended abruptly!
But that didn’t matter so much. It was a great read! There really is no place like home.
July 27, 2025
4.5
GirlChild by Morenike blends ancestral guidance, cultural preservation, and personal growth. The ancestors' perspective served as a powerful reminder that we do have unseen forces guiding us. At its core, this novel is a story about self-discovery and embracing your roots.
I found myself on Sparrow’s side most of the time, though I couldn’t help but feel she gave David too much room to speak on things he didn’t fully understand especially when it came to her family and her Gullah heritage. I was really over that buckra.
What’s very real today and shown clearly in this story is how calculated and predatory developers can be in trying to strip Gullah people of their ancestral lands and stop communities from preserving their legacies.
I also appreciated the emphasis on getting your affairs in order. The importance of knowing about deeds, wills, and land titles especially in communities where generational wealth and land are at risk cannot be overstated.
I would love to read an update on what really became of Winter, GirlChild’s life, Sparrow’s career trajectory, and, most of all, what’s next for the Singleton family. If you’re a fan of shows like Queen Sugar, you’ll enjoy this book.
GirlChild by Morenike blends ancestral guidance, cultural preservation, and personal growth. The ancestors' perspective served as a powerful reminder that we do have unseen forces guiding us. At its core, this novel is a story about self-discovery and embracing your roots.
I found myself on Sparrow’s side most of the time, though I couldn’t help but feel she gave David too much room to speak on things he didn’t fully understand especially when it came to her family and her Gullah heritage. I was really over that buckra.
What’s very real today and shown clearly in this story is how calculated and predatory developers can be in trying to strip Gullah people of their ancestral lands and stop communities from preserving their legacies.
I also appreciated the emphasis on getting your affairs in order. The importance of knowing about deeds, wills, and land titles especially in communities where generational wealth and land are at risk cannot be overstated.
I would love to read an update on what really became of Winter, GirlChild’s life, Sparrow’s career trajectory, and, most of all, what’s next for the Singleton family. If you’re a fan of shows like Queen Sugar, you’ll enjoy this book.
December 14, 2024
“Nonsense. If God didn’t trust you, you wouldn’t be here.”
A Literary Fiction novel that Follows the Singleton family of Huguenot Island, GirlChild was a coming-of-age story that left me feeling educated & empowered.
Our Main Character is Sparrow, The “Black Sheep” of the Singleton family who’s tired of feeling trapped by her culture.
First off, I loved how Educational this story was! As someone who knew next to nothing about the Gullah culture, this novel was rich with knowledge! From the Food, to The Folklore and dialogue , GirlChild felt like an education in preserving history & heritage.
The only negatives I would give to GirlChild is the pacing & the amount of times i was told “how” to feel about certain characters. It felt like the narrative tried too hard to push specific judgments onto Sparrow or other members of the Singleton family instead of letting the story & characters speak for themselves.
Ultimately, GirlChild is a solid novel that left me wanting to read more from this author. A story of growth, culture, family, faith, & resilience!
A Literary Fiction novel that Follows the Singleton family of Huguenot Island, GirlChild was a coming-of-age story that left me feeling educated & empowered.
Our Main Character is Sparrow, The “Black Sheep” of the Singleton family who’s tired of feeling trapped by her culture.
First off, I loved how Educational this story was! As someone who knew next to nothing about the Gullah culture, this novel was rich with knowledge! From the Food, to The Folklore and dialogue , GirlChild felt like an education in preserving history & heritage.
The only negatives I would give to GirlChild is the pacing & the amount of times i was told “how” to feel about certain characters. It felt like the narrative tried too hard to push specific judgments onto Sparrow or other members of the Singleton family instead of letting the story & characters speak for themselves.
Ultimately, GirlChild is a solid novel that left me wanting to read more from this author. A story of growth, culture, family, faith, & resilience!
November 21, 2024
Congratulations to Morenike' on this novel and thank you for sending me this ARC.
I really enjoyed how we dove straight into the story. The world was built, explained, and we just jumped in with both feet. I think for the length of the book that the characters were flushed out well and I really liked Sparrow as a character. I felt like she was a very realistic take on someone who is not proud of where they come from/family, but also someone who really wants to strive for something new. Her character growth was great! I loved learning about the family history and while there were a lot of characters, I didn't have a hard time keeping up with who is who!
My biggest qualm is that I feel like little dove's situation wasn't played out well enough. The bad spirit wasn't explained as well as I was hoping and it just kind of died out. The ending wasn't my favorite, but I was happy to see Sparrow stand up for herself and her family!
Congratulations again and I hope everyone gives this book a go!!!
I really enjoyed how we dove straight into the story. The world was built, explained, and we just jumped in with both feet. I think for the length of the book that the characters were flushed out well and I really liked Sparrow as a character. I felt like she was a very realistic take on someone who is not proud of where they come from/family, but also someone who really wants to strive for something new. Her character growth was great! I loved learning about the family history and while there were a lot of characters, I didn't have a hard time keeping up with who is who!
My biggest qualm is that I feel like little dove's situation wasn't played out well enough. The bad spirit wasn't explained as well as I was hoping and it just kind of died out. The ending wasn't my favorite, but I was happy to see Sparrow stand up for herself and her family!
Congratulations again and I hope everyone gives this book a go!!!
November 20, 2024
GirlChild is a literary novel that I absolutely loved!😍Our MC, Sparrow…whew chile😮💨 that girl there although I loved her she definitely had me bout ready to throw hands (with her)😂 but besides that being able to watch her grow/ learn to love/accept not only herself but her heritage was amazing🙌🏾 and Moreniké the author was able to beautifully portray the importance of family/community and how sometimes that’s all we truly need🥹💖
December 3, 2024
LOVED
Thank you for providing me with an advanced copy for this book!
Girl Child by Morenike beautifully captures the journey of self-discovery and learning to embrace your roots while finding yourself. This story gave me all the feels—from laughing to crying to moments of pure awe. Morenike did an incredible job weaving a narrative that feels both authentic and inspiring. This is a must-read for anyone who loves stories about growth, culture, and love.
Thank you for providing me with an advanced copy for this book!
Girl Child by Morenike beautifully captures the journey of self-discovery and learning to embrace your roots while finding yourself. This story gave me all the feels—from laughing to crying to moments of pure awe. Morenike did an incredible job weaving a narrative that feels both authentic and inspiring. This is a must-read for anyone who loves stories about growth, culture, and love.
January 5, 2026
3.5 Stars! A very important tale about a subsegment of Black American Culture that is not talked about enough. I really loved learning more about Gullah culture through this novel! However, there were a few plot holes and elements of magical realism in the beginning of the novel (such as the Hag) that I wished were fleshed out a bit more throughout the story. But overall I still really enjoyed the read!
December 23, 2024
I sat with this book for a minute. I tend to read fast but wanted to take my time. Rating 4.5. I enjoyed this book. This coming home/ coming of age story. The fight to understand who you are and be proud of it. Beautiful.
February 28, 2025
3.5- I really liked the story- it was a really well done examination of preserving history and heritage, and the importance of family bonds. I withheld stars because parts of the writing style were a bit to direct to me and were very focused on dialogue and not as much context.
May 11, 2025
Heartfelt
This book really reminds you how important having family and community is. It shows the importance of legacy and how we our ancestors wildest dreams as they guide us through this life. It’s a story of tragedy, resilience, and forgiveness. 10/10!
This book really reminds you how important having family and community is. It shows the importance of legacy and how we our ancestors wildest dreams as they guide us through this life. It’s a story of tragedy, resilience, and forgiveness. 10/10!
November 10, 2024
I enjoyed reading GirlChild. This book felt like home and that feeling that always draws us back to our roots!
December 31, 2024
GirlChild is a beautiful coming of age story about the Singelton Family of Huguenot South Carolina. This book was so beautifully written with pride of the Gullah culture, which I knew nothing about prior to reading this book. Sparrow Singleton is the FMC of this novel and she is a stubborn one that girl. She leaves home once she turns 18 and doesn't look back. She has shame in her
January 15, 2025
Cute Read
This was a great book, and I LOVED the way the story developed but I didn’t like the rather “simple” ending!! I wanted more!!😩
This was a great book, and I LOVED the way the story developed but I didn’t like the rather “simple” ending!! I wanted more!!😩
February 24, 2025
I really don’t have much to say. I cried a lot and had to take a break but came back to it. The ending though I wished it was longer it seemed over so fast after the solution.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews