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Written in the Waters: A Memoir of History, Home, and Belonging
This searing memoir by a National Geographic scuba diver recounts one woman's epic journey to trace the global slave trade across the Atlantic Ocean—and find her place in the world.
For fans of adventurous women’s memoirs like Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat Pray Love, Cheryl Strayed's Wild, and Jesmyn Ward's Men We Reaped.
When Tara Roberts first caught sight of a photograph at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History depicting the underwater archaeology group Diving With a Purpose, it called out to her. Here were Black women and men strapping on masks, fins, and tanks to explore Atlantic Ocean waters along the coastlines of Africa, North America, and Central America, seeking the wrecks of slave ships long lost in time. Inspired, Roberts joined them—and started on a path of discovery more challenging and personal than she could ever have imagined.
In this lush and lyrical memoir, she tells a story of exploration and reckoning that takes her from her home in Washington, D.C., to an exotic array of locales: Thailand and Sri Lanka, Mozambique, South Africa, Senegal, Benin, Costa Rica, and St. Croix. The journey connects her with other divers, scholars, and archaeologists, offering a unique way of understanding the 12.5 million souls carried away from their African homeland to enslavement on other continents. But for Roberts, the journey is also intensely personal. Inspired by the descendants of those who lost their lives during the Middle Passage, she decides to plumb her own family history and life as a Black woman to help make sense of her own identity.
Complex and unflinchingly authentic, this deeply moving narrative heralds an important new voice in literature that will open minds and hearts everywhere.
For fans of adventurous women’s memoirs like Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat Pray Love, Cheryl Strayed's Wild, and Jesmyn Ward's Men We Reaped.
When Tara Roberts first caught sight of a photograph at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History depicting the underwater archaeology group Diving With a Purpose, it called out to her. Here were Black women and men strapping on masks, fins, and tanks to explore Atlantic Ocean waters along the coastlines of Africa, North America, and Central America, seeking the wrecks of slave ships long lost in time. Inspired, Roberts joined them—and started on a path of discovery more challenging and personal than she could ever have imagined.
In this lush and lyrical memoir, she tells a story of exploration and reckoning that takes her from her home in Washington, D.C., to an exotic array of locales: Thailand and Sri Lanka, Mozambique, South Africa, Senegal, Benin, Costa Rica, and St. Croix. The journey connects her with other divers, scholars, and archaeologists, offering a unique way of understanding the 12.5 million souls carried away from their African homeland to enslavement on other continents. But for Roberts, the journey is also intensely personal. Inspired by the descendants of those who lost their lives during the Middle Passage, she decides to plumb her own family history and life as a Black woman to help make sense of her own identity.
Complex and unflinchingly authentic, this deeply moving narrative heralds an important new voice in literature that will open minds and hearts everywhere.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 28, 2025
146 people are currently reading
14346 people want to read
About the author
Tara Roberts
9 books62 followersTara Roberts breathes passion and vision into her work as a writer and editor and publisher. Her directive and personal mission is to use the power and influence of the media to empower and uplift women and girls, give shape and substance to original ideas, and encourage bold action and achievement.
Starting her career at Essence magazine as an editorial assistant in the Arts and Entertainment department in 1993, Tara immediately began writing youth-oriented social and cultural commentary on issues relevant to young women. One such article, "Am I the Last Virgin?" was so controversial and drew so many responses from readers across the country that Simon & Schuster contracted Tara to write a book on the topic. The result, Am I the Last Virgin? Ten African American Reflections on Sex & Love, offers heart-wrenching first-person essays by young black women exploring their own sexual coming-of-age experiences. The American Library Association nominated Am I the Last Virgin? for its Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers Award, and the New York Public Library chose it as one of the best books in 1998 for teenagers. Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and the School Library Journal hailed it as fresh, soulful, and earnest work.
While working on the book, Tara quickly rose to the ranks of lifestyle editor. After three years, she became the editorial director of Essence Online. Soon after, Heart & Soul magazine approached Tara and hired her as their lifestyle editor.
In 1999, Tara began teaching journalism at the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Information at Syracuse University. The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc., honored her for being the first African American woman to be hired there on a full-time basis.
Tara published Fierce magazine, a bold, pro-female, socially conscious magazine that encourages women ages twenty-one to forty-plus to throw aside convention and excavate for their authentic, wild, and powerful selves. Fierce was nominated by Utne magazine as one of the best new magazines in 2003.
Tara has conducted workshops for young women at Spelman College, Mount Holyoke College, Howard University, North Carolina A&T State University, the Adolescent Connection Outreach Center for At-Risk Adolescents in Greensboro, North Carolina, and "Young Ladies on the Move," a self-esteem workshop in New Rochelle, New York.
Her lectures and speaking engagements include the City University of New York (CUNY), Crossroads Theater Company in New Jersey, the Third Wave feminist organization, the Asian American Journalist Association, Borders Bookstore, the Connecticut Governor's Mansion, Nkiru Books (Brooklyn), Shrine of the Black Madonna (Atlanta), Hillside Chapel & Truth Center, National Association of Black Journalists, and the Media and Democracy Congress I and II (San Francisco).
Tara's appearances on numerous radio and television shows and mentions in print media have ranged from Good Day New York and Good Day Atlanta to the Women's Wire, the New York Times, and Source and Emerge magazines.
Tara graduated cum laude from Mount Holyoke College and holds a master's degree in publishing studies from New York University's Gallatin Division.
Starting her career at Essence magazine as an editorial assistant in the Arts and Entertainment department in 1993, Tara immediately began writing youth-oriented social and cultural commentary on issues relevant to young women. One such article, "Am I the Last Virgin?" was so controversial and drew so many responses from readers across the country that Simon & Schuster contracted Tara to write a book on the topic. The result, Am I the Last Virgin? Ten African American Reflections on Sex & Love, offers heart-wrenching first-person essays by young black women exploring their own sexual coming-of-age experiences. The American Library Association nominated Am I the Last Virgin? for its Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers Award, and the New York Public Library chose it as one of the best books in 1998 for teenagers. Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and the School Library Journal hailed it as fresh, soulful, and earnest work.
While working on the book, Tara quickly rose to the ranks of lifestyle editor. After three years, she became the editorial director of Essence Online. Soon after, Heart & Soul magazine approached Tara and hired her as their lifestyle editor.
In 1999, Tara began teaching journalism at the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Information at Syracuse University. The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc., honored her for being the first African American woman to be hired there on a full-time basis.
Tara published Fierce magazine, a bold, pro-female, socially conscious magazine that encourages women ages twenty-one to forty-plus to throw aside convention and excavate for their authentic, wild, and powerful selves. Fierce was nominated by Utne magazine as one of the best new magazines in 2003.
Tara has conducted workshops for young women at Spelman College, Mount Holyoke College, Howard University, North Carolina A&T State University, the Adolescent Connection Outreach Center for At-Risk Adolescents in Greensboro, North Carolina, and "Young Ladies on the Move," a self-esteem workshop in New Rochelle, New York.
Her lectures and speaking engagements include the City University of New York (CUNY), Crossroads Theater Company in New Jersey, the Third Wave feminist organization, the Asian American Journalist Association, Borders Bookstore, the Connecticut Governor's Mansion, Nkiru Books (Brooklyn), Shrine of the Black Madonna (Atlanta), Hillside Chapel & Truth Center, National Association of Black Journalists, and the Media and Democracy Congress I and II (San Francisco).
Tara's appearances on numerous radio and television shows and mentions in print media have ranged from Good Day New York and Good Day Atlanta to the Women's Wire, the New York Times, and Source and Emerge magazines.
Tara graduated cum laude from Mount Holyoke College and holds a master's degree in publishing studies from New York University's Gallatin Division.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
January 21, 2025
Written in the waters is a memoir about belonging and finding herself. After Tara Roberts graduates college she is lost with what she wants to do. After attending a diving exhibit she finds something that is calling her to dive and explore. She goes through the training and meets so many interesting people along the way that help her find where she belongs. Getting to explore sunken slave ships she gets more curious about where she came from and where her "home" is. I truly enjoyed this one and getting to read about her incredible adventures.
"All my life, I've been shaping myself like water, writing myself within her waves"
thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the ARC!
"All my life, I've been shaping myself like water, writing myself within her waves"
thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the ARC!
February 16, 2025
I really enjoyed this part memoir, part travel narrative, and part history book. The bulk of the book is about the author's adventures working with archaeologists in many locations to uncover the history of the slave trade. I am a history buff, and found her discoveries and antidotes very interesting. I also really enjoyed how she didn't jump right into the exciting part of her journey. She spent time sharing the challenges it took her to follow this dream in detail which was inspirational. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary ARC. I will be following this author and hope to see more books on the topic in the future.
September 6, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for the copy of the book. This story is beautiful, sad and eye-opening. The author takes you on her own personal journey to find her place in the world and brings in so much history incredibly weaving them together. In the end I feel like I took in a history book worth of information, yet in the most enjoyable read possible. Her writing style and imagery makes it easy to take in the things she has seen along the way. Would recommend to anyone who enjoys stories on personal discovery, history, archeology, diving and well anyone who wants a great non fiction read.
May 20, 2025
I started the book with high expectations—after all, a journey to uncover the lost stories of sunken slave ships, paired with the author’s personal search for African-American identity, promised to be both profound and powerful. I wanted it to move me, inspire me, and pull me into its depths.
But frustratingly, it didn't.
Despite the rich historical context and the deeply personal nature of the quest, I struggled to stay invested in the story. The narrative felt slow, scattered and repetitive, and I found myself zoning out on several occasions. The initial parts of the book were still engaging, but by mid point it started to feel tedious.
I just don’t think the writing was quite up to the task of carrying such a weighty story. The prose lacked the spark that might have made the history and personal reflections come alive. I also think the real impact was lost somewhere in layers of conversations, overly detailed feelings and incongruous spiritual contentions.
This book has an important message and I applaud its mission. But in the end, it's just one of those books I ended up admiring more for its intent than for the actual reading experience.
2.5 stars
But frustratingly, it didn't.
Despite the rich historical context and the deeply personal nature of the quest, I struggled to stay invested in the story. The narrative felt slow, scattered and repetitive, and I found myself zoning out on several occasions. The initial parts of the book were still engaging, but by mid point it started to feel tedious.
I just don’t think the writing was quite up to the task of carrying such a weighty story. The prose lacked the spark that might have made the history and personal reflections come alive. I also think the real impact was lost somewhere in layers of conversations, overly detailed feelings and incongruous spiritual contentions.
This book has an important message and I applaud its mission. But in the end, it's just one of those books I ended up admiring more for its intent than for the actual reading experience.
2.5 stars
December 14, 2025
Fascinating memoir about a woman (former journalist) who became a diver in search of sunken slave ships. She was chasing her heritage.
4 Stars
Listened to audible. The author narrated competently.
4 Stars
Listened to audible. The author narrated competently.
May 7, 2025
This book challenged me and my thinking in ways that I most certainly did not expect. It encouraged me to continue to grow and learn.
January 14, 2025
After attending a exhibit and seeing shipwrecks from The Middle Passage Tara Robert’s knows she wants to help tell the stories connected to these ships She contacts Diving With A Purpose and soon realizes that she wants to dive. She wants to go with them and document their discoveries and help share their stories. After being met with rejection when asking for funding but never giving up. She learns to dive to help catalog the remains of a dark chapter in history. She takes the reader with her into the vast and beautiful depths of the ocean which teems with life and tragic history. They also accompany her as she brings modern Africa to vivid life while taking her audience on a trip back in time. Along the way she meets many different people explores many cultures and also learns to have compassion for herself as well as others. She also learns that sometimes what anchors people isn’t a place but our own history that each person carries within them. This is very immersive memoir you will feel like you are also experiencing this journey. I received This Advanced Readers Copy from a bookishfirst raffle win.
January 15, 2025
This immersive memoir takes readers on a deep dive into an unforgettable experience of connecting to our past, ourselves, our future, and each other. With a narrator who is easy to root for and spend time with, we learn about the power of dissolving boundaries around our identities while reckoning with our history. Written in the Waters shows us that finding our place in the world doesn’t have to be a lonely journey.
I highly recommend this book and am grateful to have received an Advanced Reader Copy from Reverie Books.
I highly recommend this book and am grateful to have received an Advanced Reader Copy from Reverie Books.
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February 11, 2025*I do not give star ratings to memoirs.*
This was a beautiful memoir about finding one's place in the world and searching for the painful truth of what happened in our past. I felt like I was with Tara Roberts through so much of this book; her descriptions of every place and everyone she met were so vivid and real, and even though a lot of the book focuses on hard topics such as the transatlantic slave trade and the African-American diaspora, this book is about community and finding your purpose and connecting with your past.
What the DWP is doing, turning these sunken slave ships, places of so much pain and horror, into remembrance and giving those lost souls a voice, is truly remarkable.
This was a beautiful memoir about finding one's place in the world and searching for the painful truth of what happened in our past. I felt like I was with Tara Roberts through so much of this book; her descriptions of every place and everyone she met were so vivid and real, and even though a lot of the book focuses on hard topics such as the transatlantic slave trade and the African-American diaspora, this book is about community and finding your purpose and connecting with your past.
What the DWP is doing, turning these sunken slave ships, places of so much pain and horror, into remembrance and giving those lost souls a voice, is truly remarkable.
January 27, 2025
Tara Roberts' Written in the Waters is a deeply moving and beautifully written memoir that resonated with me in ways I didn't anticipate. Roberts’ vivid descriptions made me feel as though I were right there with her, exploring the depths of the ocean and the complexities of identity. Her raw honesty and introspective storytelling allowed me to see the inner workings of her mind as she grappled with questions of belonging—questions that deeply resonated with me as someone who also faces the challenge of tracing ancestral roots.
What stood out most to me was how Roberts used this journey not just to explore history, but to make sense of herself and the world around her. Her quest to find belonging through the lens of underwater archaeology felt both deeply personal and universally relatable. I fell in love with Diving With a Purpose, the organization that played such a central role in her story. Their mission to uncover long-lost ships—and, with them, bring the broader story of the Middle Passage to light—is profoundly meaningful. It reignited my own passion for SCUBA diving, especially knowing that my last dive took place in Limón, Costa Rica, one of the very places Roberts explores in the book. It was a powerful reminder of how personal connections to history can shape our present.
Despite the weight of the dark legacy of the transatlantic slave trade, Written in the Waters is ultimately a book about healing and community. Roberts and the DWP team are transforming spaces of unimaginable horror into places of remembrance and reverence. By bringing these forgotten stories to light, they make history deeply human and profoundly personal.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is a compelling blend of history, memoir, and self-discovery that will stay with me for a long time to come.
Thank you for the advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
What stood out most to me was how Roberts used this journey not just to explore history, but to make sense of herself and the world around her. Her quest to find belonging through the lens of underwater archaeology felt both deeply personal and universally relatable. I fell in love with Diving With a Purpose, the organization that played such a central role in her story. Their mission to uncover long-lost ships—and, with them, bring the broader story of the Middle Passage to light—is profoundly meaningful. It reignited my own passion for SCUBA diving, especially knowing that my last dive took place in Limón, Costa Rica, one of the very places Roberts explores in the book. It was a powerful reminder of how personal connections to history can shape our present.
Despite the weight of the dark legacy of the transatlantic slave trade, Written in the Waters is ultimately a book about healing and community. Roberts and the DWP team are transforming spaces of unimaginable horror into places of remembrance and reverence. By bringing these forgotten stories to light, they make history deeply human and profoundly personal.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is a compelling blend of history, memoir, and self-discovery that will stay with me for a long time to come.
Thank you for the advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
January 31, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and National Geographic for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Written in the Waters was a beautiful exploration of Tara Robert's identity, the African-America diaspora, and what it means to connect to your history.
She has a beautiful way of capturing her emotions and the grandscale of the diving mission while still remaining readable. I cried multiple times because Roberts captured her own conflicting emotions so vividly. This isn't a memoir to quick read and set down—it challenges the way we think about history, the untold stories, and what it means to "go home."
Written in the Waters was a beautiful exploration of Tara Robert's identity, the African-America diaspora, and what it means to connect to your history.
She has a beautiful way of capturing her emotions and the grandscale of the diving mission while still remaining readable. I cried multiple times because Roberts captured her own conflicting emotions so vividly. This isn't a memoir to quick read and set down—it challenges the way we think about history, the untold stories, and what it means to "go home."
February 24, 2025
This book was extraordinary - I will be recommending it loudly and widely for a long time!
July 18, 2025
Our Books & Beyond book club gave ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 to Written in the Waters by Tara Roberts @tararoberts_explorer. The subtitle says it all: A Memoir of History, Home, and Belonging.
I definitely annotate in my books, and every page of this one is covered in questions, comments, frowns, smiles, exclamation marks, words of joy, and highlighted, historical, racist tomfoolery.
Tara Roberts is a Black scuba diver who, along with others, documents and honors our ancestors who did not survive the Middle Passage. She journeys around the world, locating shipwrecks and telling the history behind each of them.
One question of many that I have never considered is what effect slavery had on the environment? How were coral reefs affected by these massive ships? And so many other pertinent questions.
Roberts’ journey of self-discovery and the meaning of “home” is woven in beautifully and with so much heart.
A must-read! No hyperbole here!
I definitely annotate in my books, and every page of this one is covered in questions, comments, frowns, smiles, exclamation marks, words of joy, and highlighted, historical, racist tomfoolery.
Tara Roberts is a Black scuba diver who, along with others, documents and honors our ancestors who did not survive the Middle Passage. She journeys around the world, locating shipwrecks and telling the history behind each of them.
One question of many that I have never considered is what effect slavery had on the environment? How were coral reefs affected by these massive ships? And so many other pertinent questions.
Roberts’ journey of self-discovery and the meaning of “home” is woven in beautifully and with so much heart.
A must-read! No hyperbole here!
February 27, 2025
As a mixed-race individual, I've often struggled with the feeling of not belonging, constantly searching for a place or identity that truly feels like "home." Written in Waters by Tara Roberts provided me with a fresh perspective on these very issues. The book explores the loss of ancestry and the struggles many African Americans, myself included, face in trying to connect with their roots. For a long time, it felt like there was something missing, like part of my history was just out of reach. But Roberts tackles this concept in a unique and relatable way, giving voice to those feelings in a way that made me think differently.
One of the most powerful metaphors in the book is the idea of the turtle, that your home is always with you, carried on your back. This really stuck with me. For much of my life, I’ve felt like I was searching for something outside of myself, some place or community that would make me feel whole. But Roberts made me realize that home isn’t necessarily a physical place; it's something within us. Like a turtle’s shell, our sense of belonging comes from inside, and once we understand that, we don’t have to keep searching. It’s empowering to know that we have the ability to define our own identity and decide where we belong.
What stood out to me the most in the book was the idea of creating a home anywhere—and it’s not just about finding a physical space, but about finding a place within yourself. This idea has really shifted my perspective. Instead of constantly feeling like I was missing something, I’ve started to realize that I belong exactly where I am, wherever that may be. It’s like the quote, "You can always bloom where you are planted." Our potential isn’t tied to one place or one specific background, it’s about thriving no matter where you find yourself.
Written in Waters gave me a sense of peace and clarity. I no longer feel the need to look outside myself for validation or a sense of belonging. I see now that the ability to define my identity and find my place in the world has always been within me. This book didn’t just explore the complexities of identity, it helped me stop feeling disconnected from my heritage and empowered me to embrace my full potential.
One of the most powerful metaphors in the book is the idea of the turtle, that your home is always with you, carried on your back. This really stuck with me. For much of my life, I’ve felt like I was searching for something outside of myself, some place or community that would make me feel whole. But Roberts made me realize that home isn’t necessarily a physical place; it's something within us. Like a turtle’s shell, our sense of belonging comes from inside, and once we understand that, we don’t have to keep searching. It’s empowering to know that we have the ability to define our own identity and decide where we belong.
What stood out to me the most in the book was the idea of creating a home anywhere—and it’s not just about finding a physical space, but about finding a place within yourself. This idea has really shifted my perspective. Instead of constantly feeling like I was missing something, I’ve started to realize that I belong exactly where I am, wherever that may be. It’s like the quote, "You can always bloom where you are planted." Our potential isn’t tied to one place or one specific background, it’s about thriving no matter where you find yourself.
Written in Waters gave me a sense of peace and clarity. I no longer feel the need to look outside myself for validation or a sense of belonging. I see now that the ability to define my identity and find my place in the world has always been within me. This book didn’t just explore the complexities of identity, it helped me stop feeling disconnected from my heritage and empowered me to embrace my full potential.
January 27, 2025
“My inner adventurer, which has been gathering courage these past few months, and my inner storyteller, which has been waiting quietly, finally meet and bow to each other.” 🗺️🤿📖✍🏾
a special thank you to Net Galley & National Geographic for allowing me access to an Advanced Reader’s Copy of Written in the Waters by Tara Roberts!! it’s an absolute privilege to receive an ARC & i’m so honored to be able to share a honest review in exchange.
🌊 publication date: january 28th, 2025
review: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (01/24/25)
without a doubt, great history has been shared through this incredible storytelling.
within only the first few pages, i can tell Roberts is cool like capitalized AND bolded cool. from her beautiful writing, readers can almost grow (& heal) vicariously through her journey. she is an amazing writer and inspiring person.
the pacing is absolutely perfect, it doesn’t dull and yet carries many details! i loved having clear explanations & details, it truly helped to fill the gaps i had as a reader.
i really enjoyed how Roberts analyzed the meaning behind her actions & thoughts, these little realizations made the story more authentic & relatable!
i found the “americanness” in her perspective to be fascinating, as it is something that’s been on my mind recently as an Indian-American. exploring one’s identity is not a simple task & being part of a diaspora certainly adds another layer of complexity!
i loved the reading about the beauty & pain held in the ocean or Yemayá as Roberts names her. i enjoyed reading about the deep, intricate, and often forgotten roots of shame imbedded in the past (ex. the Dahomey plantations in the 1800s) brought to light. and there are so so so many insightful questions raised on ideas like spirituality, parenthood, colonialism, ageism, Pan-africanism, and (of course) the Middle Passage and slavery.
this book has only broadened my interest learning more about the past, especially with how deeply it connects to the present. “But without exploring this history and these stories, we will always be stuck in this maze of racial trauma.”
a special thank you to Net Galley & National Geographic for allowing me access to an Advanced Reader’s Copy of Written in the Waters by Tara Roberts!! it’s an absolute privilege to receive an ARC & i’m so honored to be able to share a honest review in exchange.
🌊 publication date: january 28th, 2025
review: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (01/24/25)
without a doubt, great history has been shared through this incredible storytelling.
within only the first few pages, i can tell Roberts is cool like capitalized AND bolded cool. from her beautiful writing, readers can almost grow (& heal) vicariously through her journey. she is an amazing writer and inspiring person.
the pacing is absolutely perfect, it doesn’t dull and yet carries many details! i loved having clear explanations & details, it truly helped to fill the gaps i had as a reader.
i really enjoyed how Roberts analyzed the meaning behind her actions & thoughts, these little realizations made the story more authentic & relatable!
i found the “americanness” in her perspective to be fascinating, as it is something that’s been on my mind recently as an Indian-American. exploring one’s identity is not a simple task & being part of a diaspora certainly adds another layer of complexity!
i loved the reading about the beauty & pain held in the ocean or Yemayá as Roberts names her. i enjoyed reading about the deep, intricate, and often forgotten roots of shame imbedded in the past (ex. the Dahomey plantations in the 1800s) brought to light. and there are so so so many insightful questions raised on ideas like spirituality, parenthood, colonialism, ageism, Pan-africanism, and (of course) the Middle Passage and slavery.
this book has only broadened my interest learning more about the past, especially with how deeply it connects to the present. “But without exploring this history and these stories, we will always be stuck in this maze of racial trauma.”
February 2, 2025
Written in the Waters tells an amazing story of Tara Roberts’ adult journey to find the meaning of home. I am always intrigued by the titles Nat Geo chooses to put out, and I was really thrilled to see that their newest novel would be covering such an interesting part of history that does not get enough attention. I learned a tremendous amount about the global slave trade from this memoir. I particularly enjoyed the first third of the book, where the author learns to scuba dive so that she can help document shipwrecks - vessels once used to capture people from Africa and transport them to the Americas. She does an excellent job communicating a diverse continent of unique cultures, and juxtaposing what it means to be Black in Africa and the United States.
I was a little disappointed that her diving stories really petered out halfway through the book. For me, this level of adventure drew me to the book in the first place. I found the second half to be in greater need of edits, as much of the text is devoted to Tara interviewing a number of archeologists, anthropologists, and activists. Not to say these conversations are not important, but I found her physical descriptions of each person and their background to take away from the reading experience. 3.5 stars!
A big thank you to NetGalley and National Geographic for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book is now available in U.S. stores!
I was a little disappointed that her diving stories really petered out halfway through the book. For me, this level of adventure drew me to the book in the first place. I found the second half to be in greater need of edits, as much of the text is devoted to Tara interviewing a number of archeologists, anthropologists, and activists. Not to say these conversations are not important, but I found her physical descriptions of each person and their background to take away from the reading experience. 3.5 stars!
A big thank you to NetGalley and National Geographic for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book is now available in U.S. stores!
February 20, 2025
(B) 02.08.2025: I saw this author interviewed on TV; it's a memoir about the global slave trade; might be a bit intense, but ideally a worthy read; I was shocked that it is available locally...; 02.20.2025: a well documented story of slave trade’s origins along with the author’s own personal ancestory discovery; a whole lot of information about black scuba divers and related associations; all very well written, insightful, in places hard to read because of the depravity of slavery; not my usual kind of read but I am glad to be exposed to it; 2025 hardcover via Madison County Public Library, Berea, 392 pgs.
February 11, 2025
I thought it was a wonderful read. Tara Roberts was able to pull me along and feel like she was feeling. Loved learning about the hidden history of the slave trade/ slave ships and how & why it's important to document the places they sank.
January 12, 2025
The books makes you think deeper about slavery and its impact on countries all over the world. It makes you even think about the environmental changes that it caused. Very moving book. 4.5 stars.
February 9, 2025
Very good. I had hoped for move diving. The personal diaspora history was important to read.
January 19, 2026
I acknowledge I am not the target audience here, but reading is how we expand our minds and human empathy…
With that disclaimer, I feel like I had an age barrier more than a race one with the author. I speak as a woman from a marginalized community that also has a dark history in the US— I just could not relate to any of her “epiphanies” throughout the book. Maybe it’s because my generation is more informed or self-assured? The disconnect was too glaring to ignore unfortunately.
This would’ve been a great book about the history of the places Roberts visited during her work instead. Those parts were much more interesting and informative over the “self discovery” parts. History is so important in life and these places/ events around the world have so much weight in the story of the US. I was shocked we didn’t learn more about them in school.
Overall, a great informative book but a chaotically spliced together memoir in my opinion. Also, if the preface is so necessary, add it as a chapter (I am not reading those).
taylor song: a place in this world
With that disclaimer, I feel like I had an age barrier more than a race one with the author. I speak as a woman from a marginalized community that also has a dark history in the US— I just could not relate to any of her “epiphanies” throughout the book. Maybe it’s because my generation is more informed or self-assured? The disconnect was too glaring to ignore unfortunately.
This would’ve been a great book about the history of the places Roberts visited during her work instead. Those parts were much more interesting and informative over the “self discovery” parts. History is so important in life and these places/ events around the world have so much weight in the story of the US. I was shocked we didn’t learn more about them in school.
Overall, a great informative book but a chaotically spliced together memoir in my opinion. Also, if the preface is so necessary, add it as a chapter (I am not reading those).
taylor song: a place in this world
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January 10, 2026No
A book I borrowed from the library to try before I buy (tired buying hundreds books and hating half)
I do not rate these “tested”
books. This is really for me. I will not be buying, reading borrowing this book.
I read first ch or more -first 10-100 pages skim around at times. I read many of my GR friend’s reviews. This is what I did and didn’t like:
Lovely cover.
I book written by an African American woman exploring sunken ships to research ships used in slave trade. Yes
But no. Written very dry.
A book I borrowed from the library to try before I buy (tired buying hundreds books and hating half)
I do not rate these “tested”
books. This is really for me. I will not be buying, reading borrowing this book.
I read first ch or more -first 10-100 pages skim around at times. I read many of my GR friend’s reviews. This is what I did and didn’t like:
Lovely cover.
I book written by an African American woman exploring sunken ships to research ships used in slave trade. Yes
But no. Written very dry.
January 9, 2026
Written in the Waters is an inspiring memoir with beautiful, vivid writing. The descriptions are so strong that they really place you in each moment and setting. It’s thoughtful, honest, and moving.
May 31, 2025
Written in the Waters: A Memoir of History, Home, and Belonging was an interesting read. I enjoyed reading about diving and the history involved in Tara's quest for knowledge of where her ancestors came from. Following her story unfold, realizing that belonging may have different meaning to us than just what place we came from, gave me something to think about. It is important to understand that you can find your own place in the world.
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced reader copy.
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced reader copy.
January 26, 2026
“To be African American is to be African without any memory and American without any privilege.”
While I have never sought out my own personal family records I believe that quote summarizes well one way of explaining how it feels to be African American or even Black. The author does a great job detailing her loss of identity and her journey to find it. I enjoyed the book, but I also could not relate to a lot of how she was feeling so I mainly read it to better understand. I’m glad she feel at home by the end because throughout her journey she had a lot of people putting her down in my opinion. If Goodreads would let me, I would rate this a 3/5 stars.
While I have never sought out my own personal family records I believe that quote summarizes well one way of explaining how it feels to be African American or even Black. The author does a great job detailing her loss of identity and her journey to find it. I enjoyed the book, but I also could not relate to a lot of how she was feeling so I mainly read it to better understand. I’m glad she feel at home by the end because throughout her journey she had a lot of people putting her down in my opinion. If Goodreads would let me, I would rate this a 3/5 stars.
January 29, 2025
Admittedly, I’m not familiar with Tara Roberts’s work, as much as I would like to be. Before BookishFirst shut down in December, her new memoir, Written in the Waters, was one of the books being offered for review. And, after reading the excerpt, I jumped at the chance to read the rest of it.
Tara Roberts wove a compelling memoir that was part journey of self-discovery and part historical narrative about the complicated history of the transatlantic slave trade, while also reconciling how it related to her own life. From a not-so distant relative who was born enslaved, to the journey Roberts embarks on through diving and travel, to exploring shipwrecks and talking/meeting with people doing important work—with student programs, with politics, or working to find new evidence and preserve an important part of history—in the hopes of finding a sense of understanding, belonging, and peace in her own life.
Most of the memoirs I’ve read didn’t approach history quite like Written in the Waters, which I get, because they were, first and foremost, written with a specific focus (kind of like how some fiction is more of a character study rather than anything else). But Roberts found a good balance, a bridge between the past and the present (no pun intended), through the ups and downs of her life—and even the highs and lows of gaining more experience as a diver.
Written in the Waters is a compulsively readable memoir. And, I highly recommend it!
Disclaimer: this copy of the book was provided by the publisher (National Geographic) via BookishFirst in exchange for an honest review, thank you!
This review is also posted on my blog, Our Thoughts Precisely
Tara Roberts wove a compelling memoir that was part journey of self-discovery and part historical narrative about the complicated history of the transatlantic slave trade, while also reconciling how it related to her own life. From a not-so distant relative who was born enslaved, to the journey Roberts embarks on through diving and travel, to exploring shipwrecks and talking/meeting with people doing important work—with student programs, with politics, or working to find new evidence and preserve an important part of history—in the hopes of finding a sense of understanding, belonging, and peace in her own life.
Most of the memoirs I’ve read didn’t approach history quite like Written in the Waters, which I get, because they were, first and foremost, written with a specific focus (kind of like how some fiction is more of a character study rather than anything else). But Roberts found a good balance, a bridge between the past and the present (no pun intended), through the ups and downs of her life—and even the highs and lows of gaining more experience as a diver.
Written in the Waters is a compulsively readable memoir. And, I highly recommend it!
Disclaimer: this copy of the book was provided by the publisher (National Geographic) via BookishFirst in exchange for an honest review, thank you!
This review is also posted on my blog, Our Thoughts Precisely
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February 21, 2025“Written in the Waters” was a truly thought-provoking and poignant memoir following a period of author Tara Roberts life from 2017 through 2022. Roberts takes the reader on multiple adventures through several countries, interacting with numerous people from all walks of life, and sifting through history all while trying to reconcile with the past of African diaspora. A photo in the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) triggers her call to understand who she is, where she comes from, and where her place in the world is. This book was well-searched and incredibly informative, sharing uncommon knowledge of the DWP (Diving With Purpose), the Slave Wrecks Project, and Centro Comunitário de Buceo Embajadores y Embajadores Del Mar and their specific missions. There was also a myriad of information encompassing the Transatlantic Slave Trade and the millions of Black peoples known and unknown who faced unconscionable brutality and their descendants who continue to carry that trauma with them. I was moved in so many ways by this story and it just exemplifies why history needs to be told by and for all including by historically marginalized groups and peoples. This is one of the best books I have read this year, highly recommend!
I received this book as an ARC, all opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I received this book as an ARC, all opinions expressed in this review are my own.
October 18, 2024
An intriguing story of self-identity. Tara French is a freelance journalist who, when visiting the newly opened African American museum, becomes intrigued by the explorations of a Black diving group who searches for and retrieves artifacts from slave ships. This discovery leads her on a journey as she learns to dive and becomes a member of dive teams searching for lost ships. During her journey she seeks to come to terms with her own heritage and culture as she travels across the world following the routes of the slave trade. French successfully weaves her own story with the history of enslaved peoples, relying on historical discoveries, to trace this abominable practice.
Her courage and determination lead her to many interesting people, locales, and research.
An extremely well-documented exploration of slave trade across the world and its continued effects on our culture and civilization.
Highly recommended for anyone interested in history, especially as it pertains to slavery.
Her courage and determination lead her to many interesting people, locales, and research.
An extremely well-documented exploration of slave trade across the world and its continued effects on our culture and civilization.
Highly recommended for anyone interested in history, especially as it pertains to slavery.
April 15, 2025
This has been a hard book to get into. The subject is fascinating and I was very interested in reading. Unfortunately, the book comes across as more of a history book than a memoir, to me. I didn't feel the connection to a story like I normally do with a memoir. It just reads very dry. I can only read a bit at a time. Which is very sad, as the subject matter is so interesting. I wanted to like this book but unfortunately for me, it fell flat.
Thank you to Bookish Things and the author for giving me a chance to read an advanced reader copy of the book.
Thank you to Bookish Things and the author for giving me a chance to read an advanced reader copy of the book.
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