Our Current Read

Meeting on August 5, 2025 @ 12pm

In the Upper Country by Kai Mortimer

The fates of two unforgettable women--one just beginning a journey of reckoning and self-discovery and the other completing her life's last vital act--intertwine in this sweeping, powerful novel set at the terminus of the Underground Railroad.

In the 1800s in Dunmore, a Canadian town settled by people fleeing enslavement in the American south, young Lensinda Martin works for a crusading Black journalist.

One night, a neighboring farmer summons Lensinda after a slave hunter is shot dead on his land by an old woman who recently arrived via the Underground Railroad. When the old woman refuses to flee before the authorities arrive, the farmer urges Lensinda to gather testimony from her before she can be condemned for the crime.

But the old woman doesn't want to confess. Instead she proposes a barter: a story for a story. And so begins an extraordinary exchange of tales that reveal an interwoven history of Black and Indigenous peoples in a wide swath of what is called North America.

As time runs out, Lensinda is challenged to uncover her past and face her fears in order to make good on the bargain of a story for a story. And it seems the old woman may carry a secret that could shape Lensinda's destiny.

Traveling along the path of the Underground Railroad from Virginia to Michigan, from the Indigenous nations around the Great Lakes, to the Black refugee communities of Canada, In the Upper Country weaves together unlikely stories of love, survival, and familial upheaval that map the interconnected history of the peoples of North America in an entirely new and resonant way.
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St. Jude's Book Club
What we have read and are planning to read next...
Date Title Author Rating Comments
Dec 2025 The Messy Lives of Book People Phaedra Patrick    
Nov 2025 Coronation Year Jennifer Robson    
Oct 2025 Family Family Laurie Frankel    
Sep 2025 The Book of Lost Names Kristin Harmel    
Aug 2025 In The Upper Country Kai Thomas    
Jul 2025 The Clementine Complex Bob Mortimer 2.5/5 Members were very split in their feelings about this book. Some thought it was hilarious, with many laugh-out-loud moments. Others found it impossible to connect with the characters and didn't enjoy the frequent swearing in the dialog. We were all able to appreciate the detailed descriptions and silly moments with the squirrels.
Jun 2025 The Jane Austen Society Natalie Jenner 5/5 We were incredibly priviledged to be joined by author Natalie Jenner for this meeting. She shared the story of how this book came to be, and inspired us all. The group definitely wants to read the next book in the series.
May 2025 The Reading List Sara Nisha Adams 5/5 We were all really touched by this book. It brought up some incredible discussions about loneliness, grief, mental health struggles, and the importance of community.
Apr 2025 The Rose Code Kate Quinn 5/5 This book was loved by everyone, even those who were reading it for the second and third time!
Mar 2025 Anxious People Fredrik Backman 3.5/5 This was a re-read for some of the group, which gave us the opportunity to discuss what a second reading of a book can bring. The way that the narrator omitted descriptions of many of the characters until later in the book added to the mystery and caused some confusion. 
Feb 2025 The Lost Apothecary Sarah Penner 4.5/5 Another big hit with our group! This book spawned a lot of discussion about difficult marriages, women's roles in society, and when/if murder is ever acceptable.
Jan 2025 Remarkably Bright Creatures Shelby Van Pelt 4.5/5 This was a great choice for our first book. Many people in the group said that this isn't something they would normally pick up, and they were pleasantly surprised at how much they enjoyed the book.

Our ratings:

5 - Loved it! A new favourite!
4 - Really liked the book. Would recommend to others.
3 - It was a good book but not my favorite.
2 - It was just okay.
1 - I really didn't enjoy this book at all.