59 pages • 1 hour read
Octavia E. ButlerKindred
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1979A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Octavia E. Butler's novel Kindred, a young Black woman named Dana Franklin time travels between 1976 and 1800s Maryland, tethered to a white ancestor, Rufus Weylin. As she navigates the brutal realities of slavery, Dana learns how deeply her past is linked to Rufus and must adapt to survive while striving to ensure her own future. The book includes depictions of suicide, sexual assault, sexual coercion, and graphic violence.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Octavia E. Butler's Kindred receives high praise for its compelling narrative and powerful handling of complex themes like slavery and racial injustice. Readers laud its emotional depth and unique blend of science fiction and historical fiction. Some critique the graphic violence, finding it distressing. Overall, it's celebrated as an impactful, thought-provoking work.
Who Should Read Kindred?
Readers who enjoy Kindred by Octavia E. Butler are typically fans of speculative fiction intertwined with historical narratives. They often appreciate themes of social justice and complex character dynamics. Comparable titles include The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood and Beloved by Toni Morrison, which likewise explore power, identity, and resilience.
RecommendedReading Age
16+yearsLexile Level
580LBook Details
Historical Fiction
African American Literature
Afrofuturism
Identity: Race
Life/Time: The Past
Relationships: Family
Race / Racism
History: World