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The Mapmaker's Children: A Novel Audiobook
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Publisher Description
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Two women from different generations face challenges that test their bravery and resilience in this “lovingly constructed [and] passionately told” (The Washington Post) novel from the author of The Baker’s Daughter.
“Poignant and deeply absorbing. McCoy weaves this moving tale of two women finding their way with style and thoughtfulness.”—Madeline Miller, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Circe and The Song of Achilles
When Sarah Brown, daughter of abolitionist John Brown, realizes that her artistic talents may be able to help save the lives of slaves fleeing north, she becomes one of the Underground Railroad’s leading mapmakers, taking her cues from the Slave Quilt codes and hiding her maps within her paintings. As the country steers toward civil war, Sarah faces difficult sacrifices that could put all she loves in peril.
A century and a half later, Eden Anderson, reeling from personal disappointment, moves with her husband to an old house in suburban Washington, D.C., a last-ditch effort to save their marriage and start a family. In the house’s cellar, she discovers a long-hidden porcelain doll that holds extraordinary secrets from the days of the Underground Railroad.
Sarah and Eden’s connection soon bridges the past with the present, forcing each of them to define courage, family, love, and legacy in a new way, illustrating the ways in which history and destiny are interconnected on one enormous, intricate map.
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"“In vibrant yet unassuming prose, McCoy tells a story of womanhood past and present, asking big questions about family, courage and love. Readers will enjoy solving the historical puzzle of the doll's origins, but the book's true strength is its portrayal of Eden and Sarah: two brave women bound together by the difficult, noble work of building worthwhile lives."
— Shelf Awareness
Quotes
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“The Mapmaker’s Children is marked by rich, closely observed storytelling full of warmth and heart.”
— Charles Frazier, New York Times bestselling author of Cold Mountain -
“I love the way this novel connects the past to the present. At first, these two heroines from different centuries seem to have little in common. But defining moments of bravery and resilience echo across generations for a truly satisfying story.”
— Laura Moriarty, New York Times bestselling author of The Chaperone -
“Poignant and deeply absorbing. McCoy weaves this moving tale of two women finding their way with style and thoughtfulness.”
— Madeline Miller, author of Orange Prize winner The Song of Achilles -
“Linking a contemporary woman named Eden with the daughter of abolitionist John Brown is a provocative idea, and McCoy has the skills to pull off something talk worthy.”
— Library Journal -
“Sarah McCoy has illuminated a forgotten corner of American history with her signature empathy and spirit.”
— Mary Doria Russell, author of Doc and Epitaph -
“Abby Craden and Cassandra Campbell voice these captivating women as they develop their independence and find meaning in their lives…Recommended for lovers of historical fiction.”
— Library Journal (audio review) -
McCoy deftly intertwines a historical tale with a modern one… lovingly constructed… passionately told… The Mapmaker’s Children not only honors the accomplishments of a little-known woman but artfully demonstrates how fate carries us in unexpected directions, no matter how we might try to map out our lives.
— The Washington Post -
McCoy carefully juxtaposes the past and the present, highlighting the characters’ true introspection, and slowly revealing the unusual similarities in the two woman’s lives, which leads to a riveting conclusion.
— Publisher's Weekly -
"El Paso writer Sarah McCoy mined the archives for information about Brown’s daughter Sarah, an artist who is the titular character of her latest novel, The Mapmaker’s Children. The lacing of the two plots is seamless… [McCoy]’s unquestionably a gifted author.
— Dallas Morning News -
The Mapmaker’s Children is marked by rich, closely observed storytelling full of warmth and heart.
— Charles Frazier, New York Times bestselling author of National Book Award winner Cold Mountain -
I love the way this novel connects the past to the present. At first, these two heroines from different centuries seem to have little in common. But defining moments of bravery and resilience echo across generations for a truly satisfying story.
— Laura Moriarty, New York Times bestselling author of The Chaperone -
Poignant and deeply absorbing. McCoy weaves this moving tale of two women finding their way with style and thoughtfulness.
— Madeline Miller, New York Times bestselling author of Orange Prize winner The Song of Achilles -
Sarah McCoy has illuminated a forgotten corner of American history with her signature empathy and spirit.
— Mary Doria Russell, author of Doc and Epitaph -
Linking a contemporary woman named Eden with the daughter of abolitionist John Brown is a provocative idea, and McCoy has the skills to pull off something talk-worthy.
— Library Journal, Hot Book Club Reads for Summer 2015 -
Engaging and emotionally charged…Eden’s realization that ‘what fable and history could agree upon was that everyone was searching for their ever-after, whatever that may be’ neatly sums up the novel’s heart—it’s about the family and the life we create, not always the ones we imagine for ourselves.
— Kirkus Reviews -
“A fascinating peek into the personal life of the legendary John Brown and keep the pages turning. The Mapmaker’s Children serves as a reminder of how objects persist, such as Sarah’s doll, and how memories connected with those objects can last through generations.
— BookPage
Awards
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A Library Journal Editor’s Pick for Hot Book Club Reads for Summer 2015
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About Sarah McCoy
Sarah McCoy is the author of five novels of historical fiction, including New York Times and USA Today bestsellers. She hosted the NPR WSNC-radio monthly program “Bookmarked with Sarah McCoy” and is the founder of The McCoy Grant. Her work has been featured in Newsweek, Real Simple, the Huffington Post, and other publications. She has taught English and writing at Old Dominion University and at the University of Texas at El Paso. Connect with her on Instagram at @SarahMMcCoy, on her Facebook Fan Page, Goodreads, or via her website, www.sarahmccoy.com.
About the Narrators
Abby Craden has been a professional actress and voice artist for over sixteen years and can be heard in numerous television and radio commercials, video games, and audiobooks. She has twice won the AudioFile Earphones Award.
Cassandra Campbell has won multiple Audie Awards, Earphones Awards, and the prestigious Odyssey Award for narration. She was been named a “Best Voice” by AudioFile magazine and in 2018 was inducted in Audible’s inaugural Narrator Hall of Fame.