Breena Clarke crafts historical novels that immerse readers in the rich tapestry of Georgetown, Washington D.C. Her narratives often delve into the lives and experiences of women, exploring their journeys with depth and empathy. Clarke possesses a unique ability to weave historical context with compelling personal stories, offering a vivid and resonant portrayal of the past. Her distinctive prose is celebrated for its atmospheric richness and evocative power.
The narrative follows Sewing Annie Coats and her son, Gabriel, who, despite gaining their freedom, face ongoing challenges and hardships in a tumultuous environment as war looms on the horizon. Their journey is one of resilience and determination amidst the trials of their new life.
Focusing on the intertwined histories of characters from "Angels Make Their Hope Here," this narrative delves into the resilience of Russell's Knob against the backdrop of slavery, war, and the Jim Crow era. Breena Clarke vividly portrays the struggles and triumphs of the community, emphasizing their enduring spirit and the impact of historical challenges on their lives.
Five-year-old Clara Bynum is dead, drowned in the Potomac River in the shadow of a seemingly haunted rock outcropping known locally as the Three Sisters. River, Cross My Heart, which marks the debut of a wonderfully gifted new storyteller, weighs the effect of Clara's absence on the people she has left behind: her parents, Alice and Willie Bynum, torn between the old world of their rural North Carolina home and the new world of the city, to which they have moved in search of a better life for themselves and their children; the friends and relatives of the Bynum family in the Georgetown neighborhood they now call home; and, most especially, Clara's sister, ten-year-old Johnnie Mae, who must come to terms with the powerful and confused emotions stirred by her sister's death as she struggles to decide what kind of woman she will become. This highly accomplished first novel resonates with ideas, impassioned lyricism, and poignant historical detail as it captures an essential part of the African-American experience in our century.