The Birthing Tree

by Amanda Peters

NATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR
Carnegie-Winning Author Winner of the Barnes & Noble Discover Prize A New Yorker Best Book of the Year

From the bestselling author of The Berry Pickers, an unforgettable novel about a woman who must confront her family’s buried truths and memories of passionate young love when her grandmother’s death leaves her as the only guide to her community’s future

Born under the shadow of a birthing tree sacred to generations of Mi’kmaq women, Aliet Paul grows up outside a small Nova Scotia town with her fierce, loving grandmother Kiju. Her mother died bringing Aliet into the world under that very tree; her father remains a mystery no one will name. Aliet’s childhood is shaped by seasonal apple pickers, the medicinal wisdom of the old ways, and the quiet, steadfast presence of John, a boy who becomes her anchor.

But the world beyond their community is changing. Traditional midwifery is condemned, prejudice deepens, and when the wrong person witnesses a birth, the consequences are disastrous. As Aliet comes of age, she navigates love, loss, and a personal tragedy that veers her from the path her grandmother wanted for her. She becomes a nurse trained in modern medicine, yet she carries Kiju’s teachings close, tucked beside memories of the tree that once welcomed new life.

Years later, when the call comes that Kiju has died, Aliet returns home to a crumbling house, a community scattered, and a past she thought she’d outrun. As Aliet restores the house room by room, something inside her stirs the threads of her lineage, the old ways of her grandmother, and the mystery of her own bloodline.

As Aliet digs to uncover who her family really is, each revelation pulls her deeper into a web of long-guarded silences, dangerous loyalties, and generational wounds that refuse to stay Someone knew the truth about her mother’s final moments. Someone knew what happened in the orchard all those years ago. And someone wants the past to remain undisturbed.

Spanning decades of loss and reclamation, this sweeping yet intimate novel follows one woman’s journey to protect the land, the traditions, and the memory of the women who came before her—and to decide which parts of her inheritance she will carry into the future.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Indigenous, Canada, Audiobook, Literary Fiction, Historical

Audible Audio

First published September 1, 2026

About the author

Amanda Peters is a writer of Mi’kmaw and settler ancestry. Her work has appeared in the Antigonish Review, Grain Magazine, The Alaska Quarterly Review, the Dalhousie Review, and filling station magazine. She is the winner of the 2021 Indigenous Voices Award (IVA) for unpublished prose and a participant in the 2021 Writers Trust Rising Stars program. Amanda has a certificate in creative writing from the University of Toronto and she is a graduate of the Master of Fine Arts program at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe New Mexico. Amanda is an Associate Professor in the Department of English and Theatre at Acadia University. She lives and writes in the Annapolis valley Nova Scotia with her fur babies Holly and Pook.

Reviews

[Shelley's Book Nook · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
The Book Review Crew Blog


⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Birthing Tree
Amanda Peters
Publication Date: September 1st, 2026
HarperCollins Canada | Harper Perennial
304 Pages
Amazon | Bookshop.org
Genre: General Fiction

This book was just over 300 pages, and it was epic. It's historical fiction that is very character-driven. It's set in Nova Scotia and it's about an Indigenous woman who was born under a birthing tree, a sacred oak where many generations have given birth. In Aliet's case, her mother died giving birth to her while a storm raged on. Aliet's grandmother, Kiju, raised her. She is a traditional midwife in the community and taught Aliet the way of Indigenous medicine. There is a lot of prejudice from outside the community, so the old ways of traditional midwifery were criminalized. Aliet turns her back on the tradition, leaves home, and becomes a nurse of modern medicine.

When her grandmother dies many years later, Aliet goes back home and starts to restore the house she grew up in. Aliet finds there are many family secrets along the way, including the mystery of her mother's death and her father's identity—not to mention the local orchard secrets that people have been trying to keep a lid on.

I enjoyed reading about the Mi'kmaq way of life and their traditions, especially midwifery. The author did a great job showing Aliet's confusion and the push and pull she feels between her heritage and the modern world. I was so happy Aliet reclaimed her heritage and learned to be proud of it.

There is a lot of generational trauma in the backstory, and it just goes to show that keeping secrets helps no one. The story is very emotional and atmospheric. The writing is wonderful, and what I liked most about it was the connection between community, the land, and one's heritage. The birthing tree in the title is like a character itself, bringing women together in an almost magical way.

The dual timelines move well between Aliet's upbringing by her fierce grandmother in the 1960s and her return home in the 1990s. It added so much more emotion to the plot knowing Aliet as a child, making finding the buried secrets feel that much more important.

Peters writes the different relationships among the women in a realistic way, with tiny details that make a big difference and feel very emotional at heart. This was a powerful read, but not the in-your-face kind; it's beautifully written as a tribute to identity, legacy, and family history. An excellent piece of literary fiction I won't soon forget. I haven't read The Berry Pickers yet, but I do have it on my shelf and am looking forward to it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.



Goodreads ratings reflect reader demographics and
popular enthusiasm rather than objective literary merit.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to receive an arc of Amanda Peters’ new book because I had enjoyed The Berry Pickers.

The focus is on holding onto the threads that connect us to our past and Peters reminds readers of the risk of losing a connection to our heritage; the ripple effects run through generations. She encourages us to live boldly AND keep our traditions.

Aliet Paul was raised in Nova Scotia by her grandmother and taught the Mi’kmaq medicinal wisdom. When her grandmother dies, Aliet returns to her hometown and is devastated when she discovers the extent of restoration needed. Aliet sets aside her journey toward modern medicine and rebuilds Kiju’s home and focuses on restoring the Mi’kmaq traditions under the birthing tree. Trauma may have pulled her on a different trajectory, but her love of her heritage pulled her home and gave her the strength to reconcile a broken heritage.

I appreciated reminders about:
🌳Choosing love over hate
🌳Sharing knowledge
🌳The danger in lies of omission
🌳Living with grief
🌳Belonging and purpose

As much as I enjoyed The Berry Pickers, I feel that this one will spend more time in the spotlight! It’s worthy of the silver screen and will resonate with a wider audience. The examination of what happens when we stop serving our purpose kept me spellbound.

I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Amanda Peter's first novel, The Berry Pickers, earlier this year thinking it could be one of the best reads of my year. In her second novel, she returns to the Nova Scotia area and to the indigenous history of the Mi'kmaw people. The timeline coincides her first novel, and there is even a nod to the earlier work within this story. Though the two stories are very different, there a similar theme running through both books. On its surface, The Berry Pickers was foremost about loss. The same can be said of The Birthing Tree, the difference being the young girl, Aliet, living without knowing the mother lost during her own birth. The similarity of these books is found in the sense of self and personal identity. A child could ask a thousand questions about who they are, yet like many they find their way through trial. The grounding force is her Grandmother and tradition, centered on what's called a birthing tree.

I enjoyed this novel, and look forward to Peter's next, whatever it may be. The Berry Picker's captured me in a way this one didn't, but I think that's only due to the time taken to build this story. By alternating between Aliet's present and past, there is an inherent wait for answers. In the end, answers are provided and quite satisfyingly well at that.

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

🍁🇨🇦—Another gorgeous Indigenous novel—this one about the women who assist with births at The Birthing Tree. The tree holds memories of the thousands of women who have given birth against the tree over the centuries in the traditional way of the Mi’kmaq. It takes place in rural Nova Scotia from early in the 20th century until the 1990s.

This is Peters’ second novel and her first novel—The Berry Pickers—is seamlessly mentioned at least a couple of times, considering the two stories share a timeline. It was a lovely surprise to read a little about the overlap.

The Birthing Tree is an absolutely beautiful story that I recommend wholeheartedly!!

5 “We–are–all–guests–on–this–land–—–nobody–owns–her” stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Susan's Reviews]

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the world through Aliet Paul's young - and later middle-aged - eyes. I first encountered the roots of this story in Amanda Peters' collection of short stories: Waiting for the Long Night Moon. Lat year I missed the boat on requesting the ARC for Waiting for the Long Night Moon. I remember at the time thinking that the short story on which The Birthing Tree novel is based would have made a riveting novel - and I was so right!



I loved The Birthing Tree : that ending was downright touching - and thoroughly appropriate! Totally full circle! Ben and Sally (I can hear her laughter even now!) became real friends to me and I was always happy when they reappeared in Aliet's life in this story.



The mystery of who Aliet's father could possibly be had me turning the pages late into the night. Aliet was suitably shocked when she learned the truth, but I began to suspect the truth by the midway point. Everyone who loved Aliet had wanted to protect her from the heartbreaking truth.



I'm rating this lyrical, visually and emotionally captivating novel 5 out of 5 glowing stars, even in its uncorrected proof format. Can't wait to read the final version of this book once it is published on September 1, 2026! My thanks to the author, Amanda Peters, her publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. I Absolutely Loved it!



HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!


AUDIOBOOK REVIEW:
I had already read the ebook when I was granted a copy oft he audiobook version of The Birthing Tree is narrated by the Julia Davis.

Listening to The Birthing Tree so soon after I had finished reading the ebook added another layer to the characters in this novel.

I enjoyed revisiting Aliet, Keju, John, Ben and Sally.
Highly recommended! (Please also see my main review of this unforgettable novel.)

My thanks to Amanda Peters, HarperCollins Canada Audio and NetGalley for an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
I absolutely loved The Berry Pickers so I am delighted to have received this arc from the publishers.

The ancient oak tree holds their stories, their traditions, and knowing your past means you know who you are.
Aliet is born under the sacred birthing tree where many indigenous Mi’kmaw women also give birth. Her mother dies giving life to Aliet and she is raised by her grandmother Kiju, as to who her father is, that remains a mystery. Kiju has a wealth of medical knowledge passed on by previous generations and is an unofficial midwife in the community but times are changing and modern medicine and attitudes alter everything.

Decades later, nurse Aliet returns to the home she is born in when Kiju dies and she is determined to reconnect to her Mi’kmaw heritage and in the process, learn about herself. The story is told in dual timelines which flows naturally and fluidly from one to the other.

This is a wonderful story which is beautifully told and the bond between Aliet and her grandmother tugs at the heartstrings. Parts of the storytelling are very moving and emotional and the pain of the injustice of dismissal of traditions is palpable and when everything these women hold dear is in jeopardy. This is counterbalanced by the deep relationships that denote who you are and give characters especially Aliet a sense of identity. The novel incorporates issues the Mi’kmaw face, the blinkered thinking, the prejudice, the disrespect given to tradition and suspicion and at these times, there is considerable tension. On the other hand, there are deep and lasting friendships that are formed over many years which gives Aliet the stability and healing that she needs.

I absolutely love the tradition of the birthing tree and am fascinated by indigenous traditions so this book is definitely in my wheelhouse. There are (mostly) wonderful characters that grace the pages, taking me on an emotional journey of love, friendship, grief, pain, resilience and identity. It’s a powerful book in an atmospheric setting and although I don’t love it quite as much as the authors previous novel, it’s still one I have no hesitation in recommending.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin General for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

[Lindsay L · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!

An inspiring and informative novel about family, heritage, second chances and love.

A woman moves back to her childhood home after her grandmother passes. It brings back many loving memories of living with her grandmother who raised her. Eager to lean into her Indigenous heritage and learn what true happiness means for her, she is pulled by these intense childhood memories heavily layered with Indigenous culture and tradition. With her late grandmothers wisdoms and teachings whispering in her ear, she starts on a new path forward to embrace a much slower, more focused and purposeful life.

This story unravels through dual timelines which I found equally compelling. The writing was strong and impactful, leaving a lasting impression of atmosphere, and cultural history. Plant medicine and natural healing were topics woven into many scenes that I enjoyed. Midwifery, and specifically several Indigenous natural birthing customs, were examined among these pages and I found these highly informative and insightful layers to the narrative. The Indigenous community honours many beliefs and rituals surrounding childbirth that I found fascinating and wonderful.

Pregnancy and birthing are main themes that were explored through these characters lives and customs. Strong women are front and centre in this book and I was rooting for every one of them. These characters were unique, memorable and endearing. Motherhood is examined from many thought-provoking angles.

There is a strong sense of community within this storyline. A sense of belonging and acceptance not only within the Indigenous community itself but surrounding it. Their determination to care for their community as their own was heartwarming and inspiring.

My main critique and why this wasn’t 5 stars is that my emotions were not stirred as much as I would have expected. I was impacted on many levels as a reader - palpable atmosphere, informative cultural history, continuous pique of curiosity, steady pace and flow. However, I would have liked to “feel” more for the characters and their situations.

Overall, this was a great reading experience that I thoroughly enjoyed and learned from. This, along with the authors previous book, The Berry Pickers, are two Indigenous focused books that I highly recommend. Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!

[Abby Farris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Amanda Peters has quickly become one of those authors I'll read without even looking at the synopsis. The Birthing Tree is a beautiful, moving novel that feels deeply rooted in place, family, and the stories that connect generations.

The Birthing Tree is set in Nova Scotia and follows generations of women whose lives are connected through ancestral traditions, exploring identity, family, and the lasting impact of history through dual timelines.

Having previously loved The Berry Pickers, I noticed several themes that have become hallmarks of Amanda Peters' writing. Once again, she draws on her Mi'kmaq heritage to thoughtfully explore identity, marginalization, discrimination, coming of age, and the ways the past continues to shape future generations. Yet this never felt repetitive. Instead, it felt like another deeply personal story told from a different angle.

What especially stood out to me was the exploration of women's autonomy in childbirth. Peters beautifully illustrates how the Mi'kmaq people honored a woman's right to choose her own birthing experience long before European settlement. The traditions surrounding birth serve as powerful symbols of trust, community, and the passing of knowledge from elders to younger women. The novel also thoughtfully considers what happens when those traditions meet modern medicine, asking what is gained, what is lost, and who gets to decide. I found those sections especially moving.

Nova Scotia came alive on the page, and the setting felt every bit as important as the characters themselves. The land, the changing seasons, and the deep connection between people and place created an atmosphere that quietly carried the entire novel.

One of my favorite parts was the ending. While I admired The Berry Pickers, I wished for something different in its conclusion. The Birthing Tree delivered exactly that for me. The main character was allowed to remain beautifully flawed, and the ending honored her choices, experiences, and humanity without forcing a resolution that felt too neat. It was deeply satisfying and emotionally true to the story.

Perfect for readers who love literary fiction, multigenerational family stories, Indigenous literature, and novels that linger long after the final page. If you're looking for the perfect book to begin your fall reading season, I can't recommend this one highly enough.

[Novel Visits · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

THE BIRTHING TREE by Amanda Peters [Thanks to @catapult for the gifted copy.]⁣
⁣
I loved Amanda Peters debut, The Berry Pickers, so was eager to read her second novel, The Birthing Tree. In both, the main characters are from the Mi’kmaw nation, living in Canada’s Nova Scotia province. Aliet Paul, had a sad start to life, as her mother died during her birth. She was raised by her loving grandmother who was herself a midwife, providing traditional, calm births to the women of her tribe under a large, beautiful oak tree. ⁣
⁣
The story follows two timelines. The first took place in the 60’s and 70’s and covered Aliet as she was growing from a child to a young woman, learning more about her people and more of her grandmother’s rich traditions. In the second, Aliet is in her 40’s and grieving the loss of her grandmother, while also reliving her past and longing for a more authentic life.⁣
⁣
While the premise of The Birthing Tree seemed like one that would work well for me, somehow the execution just didn’t wow me. Personally, I had two main issues. To begin, I could see where the story was going at every turn and the places it went were too familiar. This caused the entire story to be without tension which was my second problem. It wasn’t a hard story to stick with; it was able to hold my interest, but I always felt what it seemed to be lacking. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫⁣

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated the culture and tradition and the birthing tree but something fell flat for me.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Amanda Peters first book The Berry Pickers earlier this year and absolutely loved it. I was super excited to read The Birthing Tree, which again reflects on the steep Mi'kmaq history.

The ancient oak, "The Birthing Tree", holds the memory of generations, a reminder that to know where you came from is to know who you are. Born beneath its sacred canopy, Aliet enters a world her mother leaves in the same breath. Raised by her grandmother Kiju, a guardian of traditional medicine and unsanctioned midwifery, Aliet grows up with an absent father and an uncertain heritage. But as modern medicine encroaches on their secluded community, Kiju's ancestral knowledge faces an unprecedented reckoning.

There is a mystery involved, love gained and lossed, and finding out what family really is underneath this tree. It's about traditions and the lengths we will go to preserve them for future generations.

While this book wasn't as powerful as her first, I just love Peters writing. She writes with emotional depth and I will read anything she writes next!!!

[Sharon_🌺 · Rating 5 out of 5]

🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷
Amanda Peters’ newest novel since the 2023 debut of THE BERRY PICKERS!
I chose to read THE BIRTHING TREE for the Native American Heritage Challenge.

All the stars!⭐️🌟⭐️🌟⭐️


🌺 Read what you love! 🌺

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Birthing Tree is the second book by Amanda Peters. And I’ve decided despite her popularity, her books and I aren’t a good fit.
The Birthing Tree tells the story of a woman in the late 20th Century who is on a quest to discover who she really is. She was raised in Nova Scotia by her Mi’kmaw grandmother after her mother died giving birth to her. She never knew who her father was. As a “halfbreed” who looks white, she often feels apart from both cultures. It leads to her making some very poor decisions as a child and a teenager.
The birthing tree in the title refers to the tree under which her grandmother, in her role as a midwife, helped women give birth.
The story is told both when she’s in her early forties (1990s) and back in her youth (1960s/70s). Upon the death of her grandmother, she returns home to reclaim her grandmother’s home and property, including the Birthing Tree.
The story has lots to say about the attempts to wipe out the Mi’kmaw culture by whites and their prejudice against the indigenous people.
I struggled with this slow, often repetitive story. I thought it often dragged. Things came together at the end but by then my interest had waned.
I listened to this and it didn’t help that I found Julia Ulayok Davis’s voice too little girlish.

[Marcus (Lit_Laugh_Luv)]

I love when an author's catalog has cohesive covers <3

[Dianne Kraft · Rating 2 out of 5]

Am I the only person who believes this was a hastily put together first draft? The repetition, the re-using of the same words to describe things, the continuity errors (e.g..in one paragraph they are eating boiled potatoes and several paragraphs later the potatoes are mashed). I enjoyed the Berry Pickers very much, and was excited to begin this book, but I'm probably going to stop at 32% in because the clumsiness of the writing, the heavy handedness of the clues about what is to happen, and the sloppiness are driving me crazy. I know publishers can pressure authors to get things out to capitalize on earlier success, but jeez...

[My.bookish.diaries]

✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: 𝘱𝘳𝘦-𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘶𝘱𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦 :･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧
ARC received ✨ Won a giveaway!

Thank you HarperCollins Canada for the arc copy!

Full thoughts coming soon 💫

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Birthing Tree tells us the story of Aliet, a Mi’kmaq woman, who goes back to her childhood home following the death of her grandmother, Kiju. Through flashbacks, we get to see Aliet’s childhood and teenage years, her grandmother’s fierce attempts to hold onto their indigenous traditions, and the tragic events that led to Aliet leaving home.
This is a story about family, generational trauma, love, grief, healing, and forgiveness.

That being said, the historical and racial elements were interesting, but not explored deeply enough, in my opinion. Aliet said they lived in a Mi’kmaq community, but we never get to see or meet this community. The two characters seem to exist in a vacuum, except when friends from out of town come to visit. The indigenous traditions and customs are limited to birthing and some medicinal practices, but other than that and the racism the characters experience, we don’t see much about what it means to me Mi’kmaq.

Miriam and Susan, Aliet’s two friends, were tragically underdeveloped and underwhelming, considering they ended up playing a significant role in the story. We are told that Susan and Aliet were childhood friends, but Susan is barely mentioned in the flashbacks and she’s rarely a part of Aliet’s key moments, like her attack or her first boyfriend and subsequent heartbreak. Their reunion after 20+ years and the way they so quickly become friends again seems unearned. Similarly, we have a brief moment where Aliet and Miriam bond a little over their connection to midwifery, and then they’re suddenly such good friends that Miriam comes over in the middle of the night whenever Aliet needs her to, and even wants to move in at some point. We learn basically nothing about the two women, their backgrounds, their motivation, their feelings, etc.

As for William, he was just a plot device to get us the full circle moment that was very clearly coming.

[Stephanielikesbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this haunting, powerful story about Aliet, a Mi’kmaw woman in Nova Scotia, which traces her life from a young girl and teenager in the 1960s to a middle-aged nurse in the 1990s.

Aliet was born in a small town, beneath an old oak tree - The Birthing Tree - where generations of Indigenous women gave birth. The tree was sacred, connecting generations, and had cultural and spiritual meaning for the Mi’kmaw community.

As her mother died giving birth to her, Aliet was lovingly raised by her grandmother, Kiju, a traditional Indigenous healer and midwife. Aliet eventually left Kiju to go to college, returning infrequently. But after Kiju died, Aliet was pulled back to the community to settle Kiju’s affairs and to reconsider her future and what she left behind.

Aliet was a very likable character who I was rooting for as she came to terms with tragedy in her past, generational trauma, secrets, and the pull between her heritage and her life as a nurse in the city. Her relationship with Kiju was beautifully portrayed and I enjoyed learning about Mi’kmaw culture, traditional medicine, and the relationship with nature (as personified by the birthing tree).

The writing unfolded smoothly and captivatingly and I was pulled along by it. I felt fully invested in Aliet’s story.

The novel was an emotional one touching on issues around preserving Indigenous traditions, assimilation, racism, loss, grief, and belonging. Such a beautiful, moving story.

I also enjoyed this author’s previous novel, The Berry Pickers, and can’t wait to read more by her.

Thanks to the publisher for the complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.

[Olivia's Cpt 2 Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars - excellent

[Melodi | booksandchicks · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Thank you to @prhaudio for the gifted ALC. I quite enjoyed the audio experience read by Julia Davis.

This is a coming of age story of Aliet who’s raised by her grandmother in Nova Scotia. The Birthing Tree is often referenced in regards to traditions of the indigenous peoples and the value they gathered from it. This is countered by others who don’t understand the history, culture, and importance of it. We see through Aliet’s eyes how times are changing, (but aren’t they always)!

Secrets are hidden and discovered, love is lost and found, and learning to stand up for what is right is emphasized in this story of her life.

I thought the story was fine, but I found myself wanting for a stronger plot and/or a connection to the characters. When something big happened and I should have felt emotional about it, I didn’t at all. By the end, I was bored. Sadly. I really enjoyed the Berry Pickers and I think that had more intrigue, discovery, and mystery that pulled me in more than this one.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Told in interwoven dual timelines this story was completely captivating.
In 1955 Aliet's mother dies in childbirth beneath the birthing tree, where Indigenous women have given birth for many years. Aliet's grandmother Kiju, the local midwife, has successfully helped in the birth of babies under that very tree for what seems like forever. Yet tragedy strikes her own daughter while in her care.
Aliet is then raised by her grandmother and becomes her apprentice in midwifery and Indigenous medicine. When Aliet grows older she decides to leave home and become a nurse of modern medicine.
Years later when Kiju passes away Aliet returns home to a house in ruins and the memories she thought she had left behind. She also realizes that to start a new life there again she must come to terms with an old family secret and the grief of her past.
Narrator Julia Davis is superb!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Canada Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Birthing Tree

**Thank you to @prhaudio for the gifted audiobook. #PRHAudioPartner

Title: The Birthing Tree
Author: Amanda Peters
Format: Audio 🎧
Narrator: Julia Ulayok Davis
Running time: 10hr 1 min
Pub date: Sept 1, 2026
Rating: 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Aliet Paul, is born beneath a sacred Mi’kmaq birthing tree outside a small Nova Scotia town. Her mother dies during her birth, so Aliet is raised her grandmother, Kiju. Kiju is a midwife and keeper of Indigenous medicinal wisdom.

This story is told in dual time lines. One timeline revolves around Aliet’s childhood in the 1960s-1970s. The other timeline revolves around Aliet’s adulthood in the 1990s, as Aliet returns home upon her Kiju’s death. She returns home to find a suffering community and the old birthing tree neglected. Upon returning, Aliet is forced to decide what path she wants her life to take.

This was a quietly, beautiful story about lineage, love, loss, family legacy, Indigenous knowledge, and tradition. I enjoyed Aliet’s personal growth throughout this story. She is a person that has never felt like she belonged. I was happy to see her settle into who she was supposed to be.

There is also a tie-in to The Berry Pickers novel, which I enjoyed. However, it can be read as a standalone.

🎧Julia Ulayok Davis did a wonderful job narrating this atmospheric story. I highly recommend the audio format.

[Cherie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved The Berry Pickers so I was thrilled to receive an advanced copy of Amanda Peters new novel.

Aliet Paul was raised by her grandmother, Kiju, a Canadian native Mi'kmaq woman who was the town's midwife. Tradition dictated that the women she helped would give birth at the birthing tree, a majestic tree that they believed held the stories of all those who birthed at the tree. As time progresses, the old ways give way to more traditional medicine, and Kiju is forbidden from midwifery; the birthing tree becomes just another tree in a dense forest. When Kiju dies, Aliet returns home to a crumbling house and secrets that were left by Kiju.

This book was so beautifully written. Amanda Peters does such a wonderful job of telling the story and developing the characters in such a way that you feel fortunate to have known them. It wasn't a long novel - just at 300 pages - but each page was intentionally written to add important elements to the story. There were so many nuggets of wisdom from Kuji that I loved.

"We need to hold on to the threads that connect us to our past. Without knowing our past, we won't know who we are."
"Violence, whether with words or hands, is always a bad idea. But boy, did that feel good."
"It's a greedy thing, grief. You have to sit with it, let it do what it does, and then rise up and keep going."

The book was told in dual timelines - Aliet's childhood and teen years, and the present day. Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn't. This one worked very well because the historical story really informed the present day. And to be honest, both stories could have stood on their own; both had just the right amount of suspense to keep me interested. The book took me through a wide range of emotions - nostalgia for my grandmother and simpler times, grief at lost family members, excitement for new babies. It was so very well done.

This book has taken a well-deserved place in my list of top 2026 reads. 5 ⭐s!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Catapult, Counterpoint Press, and Soft Skull Press for an advanced copy of this novel. It's scheduled to be published on September 1, 2026.

[Luna and Co · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up. It is my first book by Amanda Peters, but I'll be reading her other books for sure. Her writing is just...Beautiful! The Birthing Tree was an experience. I appreciated how culture and traditions were represented and talked about, and put into perspective by the main character becoming a nurse but still coming back to her roots. The characters were so well described, all so unique that I'll miss them. I'm so grateful for this story. The audio narrator did an amazing job bringing it to life!

Thank you, Netgalley and HarperCollins Canada Audio , for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I stood under it, looking up into the branches, listening as the wind rustled the leaves, I could hear my Kiju's voice: "This tree holds our stories." Born under the shadow of a tree sacred to generations of Indigenous women, /aliet has been brought up outside a small Nova Scotia town by her fierce. loving grandmother, Kiju. Her father remains a mystery no one will name, while her mother died under that very tree, gently held by its cradle of roots as Alied came into the world. But beyond their community is changing, and although Kiju has a wealth of wisdom to share, local women are increasingly reluctant to follow traditional birthing rituals. At the local hospital, white doctors are sceptical of Indigenous practices, and Aliet and kiju are distraught to witness as prejudice turns to condemnation.

This is a beautifully written story. The characters develop throughout. It has a dual timeline - from Aliet's childhood and teenage years, and the present day. It's quite an emotional read. I liked learning about the Mi'kmaq, I didn't know much about them. This is a story about heritage, traditions and family. Some of the things I read in this book will stay with me forever.

Published 1st September 2026

I would like to thank #NetGalley #PenguinGeneralUK and the author #AmandaPeters for my ARC of #TheBirthingTree in exchange for an honest review.

[Tanis DeMille · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to imagine reading a better fiction in 2026!! The Birthing Tree is steeped in family, grief, and tradition. I'm a sucker for a dual timeline, which Peters does so well.
It's devastating to read about how Indigenous practices and wisdom were systematically erased, but also so necessary.
I think anyone could read this book and would find something to love about it!!
Best book of 2026??

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars. 📖🎧

[Auburn · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

The Birthing Tree
by Amanda Peters

I was pumped with excitement when I saw that Amanda Peters had written a second novel. I just loved The Berry Pickers so much that I put Peters on my Must Read Authors List as soon as I finished reading it.

What I loved:

1. Peters’ writing is simple and beautiful, and the novel kept my interest all the way through. I was turning the pages.

2. Peters brings the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia alive. She gives a rich exploration of Mi’kmaq heritage, land preservation, and generational matriarchal bonds. I thoroughly enjoyed the close immediate relationships among the women in the story as well, particularly among Kiju, Aliet, and Sally.

3. The dual timeline really worked for me, and I enjoyed the short, periodic, italicized interjections of the birthing tree’s thoughts. It really brought alive the Mi’kmaq view of nature and the personified role it takes in their lives. Although some viewers found these interruptions disruptive to the pacing, I looked forward to what the tree would say next. Peter’s artistic license here caused me to be even more immersed in their world, not the opposite.

4. The novel deals powerfully with generational trauma, land rights, and the erasure of indigenous midwifery by modern medical systems.


What I didn’t love:

• The author frequently jarred me out of the Mi’kmaq world with her PREACHY political monologues. How many times do we have to say SHOW!! DON’T TELL.

I was going to give it 4.25⭐️, but there was so much preaching in this novel that I have to take away half a ⭐️, so I give it 3.75 ⭐️.

Despite this critical flaw in the craft of her writing, I will STILL definitely read her next novel as the positives far outweigh the negatives. I highly recommend!

[Lorien Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peters has definitely earned the honor of “if she writes it, i will read it” in my world. I adored Berry Pickers & this follow up novel did not disappoint. Highly recommend!

[Sandra Roy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book but it was a bit slow in sections.