WE LOVE YOU CHARLIE FREEMAN
NEW YORK TIMES CRITICS’ TOP 10 BOOKS OF 2016
2016 FORWARD INDIES BOOK OF THE YEAR
A FINALIST FOR THE 2016 CENTER FOR FICTION FIRST NOVEL PRIZE AND THE 2017 YOUNG LIONS AWARD
SEMI-FINALIST FOR THE 2016 BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY’S BROOKLYN EAGLES LITERARY PRIZE
The Freeman family--Charles, Laurel, and their daughters, teenage Charlotte and nine-year-old Callie--have been invited to the Toneybee Institute to participate in a research experiment. They will live in an apartment on campus with Charlie, a young chimp abandoned by his mother. The Freemans were selected because they know sign language; they are supposed to teach it to Charlie and welcome him as a member of their family. But when Charlotte discovers the truth about the institute’s history of questionable studies, the secrets of the past invade the present in devious ways.
The power of this shattering novel resides in Greenidge’s undeniable storytelling talents. What appears to be a story of mothers and daughters, of sisterhood put to the test, of adolescent love and grown-up misconduct, and of history’s long reach, becomes a provocative and compelling exploration of America’s failure to find a language to talk about race.
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Praise for We Love You, Charlie Freeman:
“ Skillfully tackles history and heavy subjects with both humor and thoughtfulness; this book proves Greenidge will be a literary force to be reckoned with.”
“Convincing and Utterly Engaging”
“Witty and provocative...for all the seriousness of its themes, Charlie Freeman is also caustically funny.”
“Fantastic...Charlie Freeman has so many elements of a great read: thoughtful construction, precise prose, and a beating heart.”
“Wonderfully audacious...buckle up for an unforgettable journey.”
“Gripping and gratifying...Greenidge tackles the risky terrain of ethnicity and race relations with confidence and grace, and has proven herself a writer to watch.”
“Sharp and powerful…[This] novel will floor you.”