Synopses & Reviews
"The book I wish I'd had growing up." Chanel Miller, author of Know My Name
Esquire Best Nonfiction Books of the Year * Variety Best Books of the Year * O, The Oprah Magazine Best LGBTQ Books of the Year * Lit Hub Best Queer Debuts of the Year * Book Riot Best Books of the Year * Autostraddle Best Queer Books of the Year * Elle Best Books of the Season * Paste Best Memoirs of the Decade * Washington Post Best Books of the Month * Electric Literature Best Nonfiction Books of the Year * Indie Next Pick * Indies Introduce Pick * Finalist for the NBCC's John Leonard First Book Prize
One of the most anticipated books of 2019 Entertainment Weekly, Huffington Post, BuzzFeed, The Millions, Nylon, The Rumpus, Electric Literature, Lit Hub, Refinery29, and many more
T Kira Madden's widely acclaimed, unflinchingly honest memoir of trauma, privilege, displacement, and forgiveness, Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls tells the story of a young woman mourning the loss of her father while excavating her glittery South Florida girlhood for truths that fully reframe her reality. Singularly compassionate, funny, and precise, Madden's unforgettable debut is about families of blood and affinity, both lost and found, unmade and rebuilt, crooked and beautiful.
Review
"A vivid portrait of queer awakening set against the devastating backdrop of addiction, loss, and, ultimately, triumphant reclamation. I finished this book blinded by tears and a deep appreciation for Madden's undeniable talent. She is a force to be braced for, and heralded." Allie Rowbottom, author of JELL-O GIRLS
Review
"In essays written with raw and fearless prose, Madden asks the questions to which we all seek answers. In so doing, she honors fathers and mothers and families; the ways they love, and the ways they fail." Electric Literature
Review
"A riveting and deeply personal work that captures the loneliness and desperation of a girl coming to terms with her individuality and the shortcomings of her own family." The Advocate
Review
"Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls is a deeply compassionate book, though not an apologetic one. In baring the bad and ugly alongside the good, Madden has succeeded in creating a mirror of larger concerns, even as her own story is achingly specific and personal." NPR.org
Review
"This is a vast, arresting story. It's a story of loving addicts. Of a queer sexual awakening. Of inhabiting a female body in America. Of biracial identity. Of obsessive, envy-fueled friendships. Of assault. It's a eulogy and a love song. It's about girls and the women they become." New York Times Book Review, Editors' Choice
About the Author
T Kira Madden is an APIA writer, photographer, and amateur magician. She is the founding editor in chief of No Tokens, and facilitates writing workshops for homeless and formerly incarcerated individuals. A 2017 NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellow in nonfiction literature, she has received fellowships from The MacDowell Colony, Hedgebrook, Tin House, DISQUIET, Summer Literary Seminars, and Yaddo, where she was selected for the 2017 Linda Collins Endowed Residency Award. She lives in New York City and teaches at Sarah Lawrence College.