A Kirkus Most Anticipated Book of the Fall One of
The Millions' Most Anticipated Titles of 2023
Included in
Ebony's "August Required Reading"
One of
Bookish's "30 Summer Books to Have on Your Radar"
Included in Essence's "15 New Books We Can't Wait to Read This Summer" Included in
Lone Star Literary Life's "Augugst 2023 Texas Books Preview"
"Powerful...
Holler, Child, with equal fidelity, visits the extraordinary and the ordinary, the neglected and the grave... In Watkins' very capable hands, grief often shines a light on the labyrinthian quality of love."
–San Francisco Chronicle "The stories explore themes of love, betrayal and forgiveness and leave you wanting more."
–The Root, "Books by Black Authors We Can't Wait to Read" "Riveting...Race, power, and inequality is woven throughout each of these stories featuring men and women alike."
–Upscale Magazine "Watkins (
Perish) portrays West Texas characters faced with loss, disappointment, and betrayal in this stunning collection... Adding to the fierce characterizations, Watkins beautifully conveys a sense of place...These kinetic stories are no less powerful than Watkins's marvelous debut novel."
–Publishers Weekly, *starred review* "Eleven searingly alive stories about Black men and women from West Texas explore the ways remorse and resentment can coexist in secrecy...Granular yet transcendent storytelling."
–Kirkus, *starred review* "These tales explore fractured relationships between mothers and sons, couples grappling with the aftermath of infidelity, and children rejected by their families because of their choice of partner...Recommend Watkins to fans of Brit Bennett, Angela Flournoy, and Lakeshia Carr."
–Booklist, *starred review* "Watkins' second book is packed full of intriguing, fully realized characters– a real feat, give that they appear only for the length of a short story–living in the middle and aftermath of personal crises and discoveries...If you are looking for expertly crafted writing in your summer reading, this is an obvious choice."
–Jezebel, "11 Books You Should Read This Summer" "Every story, every character, every line of LaToya Watkins's
Holler, Child is a revelation. But it's the devastating voices of her characters that linger most. I got lost, in a good way, in these pages, in the complex, intimate worlds Watkins conjures so beautifully. Alluring, intense, and utterly original, this collection is a treasure!"
–Deesha Philyaw, author of the National Book Award finalist The Secret Lives of Church Ladies "With her debut book
Perish, LaToya Watkins proved herself to be a masterful novelist right out of the gate. Now, with
Holler, Child, Watkins shows herself to be a master of the short story as well. Each of these gorgeous, note-perfect stories packs the full-bodied punch of a novel, but with an economy and compression that are nothing short of miraculous. How does she do it? I don't know, but what I do know is that I very much want her to keep doing it."
–Ben Fountain, author of National Book Award-finalist Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk "
Holler, Child is a triumph of storytelling. With compassion, urgency, and exhilarating craft, Watkins plunges headlong into the voices, hearts, and minds of these unforgettable characters. This collection is outstanding–fearless, timely, and beautifully layered."
–Kimberly King Parsons, author of National Book Award-nominated Black Light "
Holler, Child forced me to stop everything I was doing and surrender to its stories–richly turbulent with faith, violence, sorrow, reckoning, and exquisite tenderness. LaToya Watkins weaves together character and place with a poetry that evokes Toni Morrison's
Song of Solomon. A heart-stopping collection."
–Cristina García, author of Dreaming in Cuban and the forthcoming Vanishing Maps "LaToya Watkins is a singular and fearless storyteller. She writes masterfully about moments of terrible, impossible choice, when everything that makes life worth living is on the line. These are intimate, richly textured portraits of West Texas life, full of longing and tenderness, inevitably tethered to betrayal and heartache. Every story in
Holler, Child will confront you–heart, mind, and soul–and hold you, in its deep beauty. You won't be the same after reading this extraordinary book!"
–Jean Chen Ho, author of Fiona and Jane