Tales of Koehler Hollow: An African American Family in Rural Appalachia

by Naomi Hodge-Muse, Christopher A. Brooks

ales of Koehler Hollow tells the story of Amy Finney and her descendants. Amy, a formerly enslaved Black woman, gained her freedom and established a homestead in the Appalachian mountains during a time in American history when she was dehumanized for the color of her skin and devalued for being female. Naomi Hodge-Muse, working with Christopher A. Brooks, recounts stories from her family history, starting with her great-great-grandmother, Amy, through her parents, aunts, uncles, and siblings and their rural life. Their family story represents a microcosm of the African American experience in southern Virginia from the mid-19th century to the present - along with the complications, joys, tragedies, and sorrows that surrounded them.

251 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 14, 2024

Reviews

[Chyanne Diaries · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only thing that I can say about this book is that it is very important to tell your story. When you stop, it gets lost and forgotten about. The purpose of our family telling their stories so that we can keep their legacy alive even well after their souls descends and they become an ancestor. I liked how Naomi told everything about all of her family. The good, bad, and ugly. It made the story more interesting because she told us their stories raw and unfiltered, making them exactly who they are and not who she wanted them to be. A 5 star read for me personally.

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a free "Early Reviewer" copy of "Tales of Koehler Hollow: An African American Family in Rural Appalachia". This book was very well written. It was like the author was conversing with me personally. I learned a lot about this part of history that I did not know. The descriptions of each character made them come alive, I felt like I could hear and see them. There were some good family member and some not so good family members. I appreciate the author sharing both. It made the narration more like real life.