This Ain't No Promised Land - by Tina Shelton (Paperback)

About the Book

"When her husband dies, Charlotte can't face the things she's done, things that could tear her family apart. So she drops a goodbye letter in the cookie jar and flees south to escape everything-her life, her three daughters, the mistakes she's made, and the secrets that have been eating her alive. She's desperate to find the peace she's looking for somewhere out there. Now Gracey and her sisters are alone on Chicago's South Side with nothing but their home and their belongings, not a parent to be seen. They're doing everything they can to stay together as a family. But three young girls-sixteen, fourteen, and twelve-aren't meant to parent themselves. The close-knit community gathers around them to keep them fed and clothed with the utilities on, but it isn't enough. The girls are struggling, falling into the same destructive decisions that trapped their mama in the first place. Hundreds of miles away, Charlotte is trying to keep her own head above water. She's made a close friend who talks to her about God in a way Charlotte's never heard before. But when her demons catch up to her, she must face her past head-on. Will she be able to find the courage to embrace motherhood? And will that be enough not to lose her family altogether? Debut author Tina Shelton drops readers straight into 1980s South Side Chicago. Her warm, authentic writing welcomes those who love to cry and laugh with characters dealing with generational trauma and the importance of community. Ain't No Promised Land will appeal to readers of Black Cake, Miss Pearly's Girls, and Michelle Obama's Becoming"--

Book Synopsis

2025 CHRISTIANITY TODAY BOOK AWARD WINNER
2024 FOREWORD INDIES GOLD WINNERr
2024 ECPA TOP SHELF BOOK AWARD WINNER

"With stellar storytelling skills, Tina Shelton reminds us that while love isn't always enough to erase the hurts, it's the only way to survive them. A powerful read!"

--Julie Cantrell, New York Times & USA Today best-selling author of Perennials

When her husband dies, Charlotte can't face the things she's done that could tear her family apart. So she drops a goodbye letter in the cookie jar and flees south to escape everything--her life, her three daughters, the mistakes she's made, and the secrets eating her alive.

Now Gracey and her sisters are alone on Chicago's South Side with nothing but their home and belongings. They're doing everything they can to stay together, but young teens aren't meant to parent themselves. Their close-knit Black community gathers around them to keep them fed and clothed with the utilities on, but that's not enough to fix the damage of abandonment.

Hundreds of miles away, Charlotte is struggling to keep her own head above water. She's made a close friend who talks to her about God in a way Charlotte's never heard before. But when her demons catch up to her, the shaky peace she tried to build shatters. Even if she's able to find the courage to embrace motherhood again, will it be enough to save the family she left behind?

"Deeply evocative of The Women of Brewster Place, Shelton's storytelling masterfully draws us into the landscapes of place and heart, demonstrating that the thread of love is what finally saves us, even if we don't know why."

--Dr. Stephen G. Ray Jr., former president of the Society for the Study of Black Religion

Review Quotes

This Ain't No Promised Land captures several sweet, yet gritty coming-of-age stories. Some take me back to my childhood and others give me a glimpse into other teens' lives as they wrestle with life and family issues. Tina Shelton has creatively woven together these stories to create an excellent novel that invoked several emotions. A job well done!--Katara Patton, author of Navigating the Blues (12/1/2023 12:00:00 AM)

Every once in a while, I come across a novel with such an unexpected, unique voice that I can't help but keep reading. Tina Shelton's This Ain't No Promised Land is that type of novel. Compelling, raw, vulnerable, and set firmly in reality, Gracey and Charlotte's story will grip readers from first page to last. Fans of Robin W. Pearson, Katie Powner, and Angela Jackson Brown will be moved by this redemptive, hopeful story about what it means to be a family.--Susie Finkbeiner, author of The All-American and The Nature of Small Birds (12/1/2023 12:00:00 AM)

In This Ain't No Promised Land, Tina Shelton delivers a fresh voice, examining how wounds can get in the way of relationships. With stellar storytelling skills, she reminds us that love isn't always enough to erase the hurts, but it's the only way to survive them. A powerful read!--Julie Cantrell, New York Times & USA Today best-selling author (12/1/2023 12:00:00 AM)

This book tells a story of the rich textures of family, unraveling, and finding redemption. Told through the experiences of three generations of Black women, This Ain't No Promised Land evokes the unique challenges and wells of resilience that sustain them and their families. Deeply evocative of The Women of Brewster Place, Shelton's storytelling masterfully draws us into the landscapes of place and heart, demonstrating that the thread of love is what finally saves us, even if we don't know why. A wonderful read.--Dr Stephen G Ray Jr., former president of the Society for the Study of Black Religion (12/1/2023 12:00:00 AM)

Tina Shelton's This Ain't No Promised Land is a powerful story about family--especially mothers and their daughters. How we are hurt, how we unwittingly pass on that hurt, and how we can heal too. It's gritty and unafraid to ask hard questions, all while being nestled in a vibrant 1980s South Side Chicago setting.--Janyre Tromp, best-selling author of Shadows in the Mind's Eye (12/1/2023 12:00:00 AM)