We Rip the World Apart - by Charlene Carr

About the Book

"From the acclaimed author of Hold My Girl comes a sweeping multi-generational story about motherhood, race, and secrets. When 24-year-old Kareela discovers she's pregnant with a child she isn't sure she wants, her struggle to understand her place in the world as a person who is half-Black, half-white-yet feels neither-is amplified. Her mother, Evelyn, fled to Canada with her husband and their first-born child during the politically charged Jamaican exodus in the 1980s, only to realize they'd come to a place where Black men are viewed with suspicion-a constant and pernicious reality Evelyn watches her husband and son navigate daily. Years later, in the aftermath of her son's murder by the police, Evelyn's mother-in-law, Violet, moves in, offering young Kareela a link to the Jamaican heritage she had never fully known. Despite Violet's efforts to help them through their grief, the traumas they carry grow into a web of secrets that threatens the very family they all hold so dear. In the present day, Kareela, prompted by fear and uncertainty about the new life she carries, must come to terms with the mysteries surrounding her family's past and the need to make sense of both her identity and her future. Weaving the women's stories across multiple timelines, We Rip the World Apart reveals the ways that simple choices, made in the heat of the moment and with the best of intentions, can have deep and lasting repercussions-especially when people remain stay silent"--

Book Synopsis

"Page-turning and propulsive, heartbreaking and hopeful in turn. An important and necessary book that will stay with me for a long time." --Shelby Van Pelt, New York Times bestselling author of Remarkably Bright Creatures

From the acclaimed author of Hold My Girl comes a sweeping multi-generational story about motherhood, race, and secrets.

When 24-year-old Kareela discovers she's pregnant with a child she isn't sure she wants, her struggle to understand her place in the world as a person who is half-Black, half-white--yet feels neither--is amplified.

Her mother, Evelyn, fled to Canada with her husband and their first-born child during the politically charged Jamaican exodus in the 1980s, only to realize they'd come to a place where Black men are viewed with suspicion--a constant and pernicious reality Evelyn watches her husband and son navigate daily.

Years later, in the aftermath of her son's murder by the police, Evelyn's mother-in-law, Violet, moves in, offering young Kareela a link to the Jamaican heritage she had never fully known. Despite Violet's efforts to help them through their grief, the traumas they carry grow into a web of secrets that threatens the very family they all hold so dear.

In the present day, Kareela, prompted by fear and uncertainty about the new life she carries, must come to terms with the mysteries surrounding her family's past and the need to make sense of both her identity and her future.

Weaving the women's stories across multiple timelines, We Rip the World Apart reveals the ways that simple choices, made in the heat of the moment and with the best of intentions, can have deep and lasting repercussions--especially when people stay silent.

Review Quotes

"A beautifully executed portrait of what it means to be a family." -- Amita Parikh, author of The Circus Train

"Carr skillfully portrays the deep impact of this event, showing how grief and trauma affect each family member. The novel explores the complexities of biracial relationships, the damaging effects of both overt and covert racism, and the challenges of identity, activism, and trauma within a family. As secrets slowly come to light, the novel's focus on grief and resilience builds to a thought-provoking and deeply resonant crescendo. Fans of Brit Bennett's The Vanishing Half (2020) will appreciate this powerful and emotional multigenerational tale for its portrayal of identity, systemic racism, and enduring loss." -- Booklist

"A charged emotional epic and a gentle exploration of the nuances of love. Motherhood, autonomy, race, politics, grief--every brushstroke works to paint a complex and important picture of the world as it is, and as it could be. This novel is sure to inspire book club discussion and personal reflection, and to stay on your mind long after the final page is turned. Truly a can't-miss read." -- Marissa Stapley, New York Times bestselling author of Lucky

"A story of family and the decisions we make, We Rip the World Apart is a truly human exploration full of doubt, regret and most importantly, love. A remarkable story from a remarkable storyteller." -- Amanda Peters, Toronto Star bestselling author of The Berry Pickers

"A sweeping portrait of motherhood and a woman's right to choose.... We Rip the World Apart explores the experiences of interracial couples and their biracial children, telling a nuanced tale of hurt and hope, all about finding yourself and your community." -- William Ping, author of Hollow Bamboo

"A wrenching, deeply moving, yet hopeful story of a young woman caught in the push and pull of love, loss and identity." -- Charmaine Wilkerson, New York Times bestselling author of Black Cake

"Charlene Carr's eye for examining life's most complicated spaces is at its sharpest in this frank, fearless reflection on race, identity, and parenthood. Spanning generations and brimming with family secrets, We Rip the World Apart is page-turning and propulsive, heartbreaking and hopeful in turn. An important and necessary book that will stay with me for a long time." -- Shelby Van Pelt, New York Times bestselling author of Remarkably Bright Creatures

"Moving, intelligent and complex.... This novel is at times a raised fist, at others a much-needed embrace." -- Craig Shreve, author of The African Samurai