The record keeper /

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

" The Record Keeper is empathy through fiction."
- Actor, Comedian and Film Producer Wayne Brady on The Record Keeper which he plans to bring to the Silver Screen.
The Record Keeper is a visceral and thrilling near-future dystopia examining past and present race relations.

After World War III, Earth is in ruins, and the final armies have come to a reluctant truce. Everyone must obey the law--in every way--or risk shattering the fragile peace and endangering the entire human race.

Arika Cobane is on the threshold of taking her place of privilege as a member of the Kongo elite after ten grueling years of training. But everything changes when a new student arrives speaking dangerous words of treason: What does peace matter if innocent lives are lost to maintain it? As Arika is exposed to new beliefs, she realizes that the laws she has dedicated herself to uphold are the root of her people's misery. If Arika is to liberate her people, she must unearth her fierce heart and discover the true meaning of freedom: finding the courage to live--or die--without fear.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

Gomillion debuts with a gut-punch Afrofuturist novel that examines the incalculable damage systemic racism wreaks on individuals and societies, and the many forms liberation can take. Sometime in the future, in the aftermath of WWIII, societies enforce peace through rigidly controlled racial hierarchies. That control includes using medication to erase the memories of the less privileged. Born in the remnants of America, Arika Cobane inhabits the upper echelons of the race of dark-skinned laborers known as the Kongo, trained by her white teachers to be a record keeper and write false histories that reinforce social norms. As rumors spread of rebels challenging the state's authority, a new Kongo student, Hosea Khan, enters Arika's class, shocking her by openly questioning the violence committed against the Kongo people on the pretext of upholding peace. Arika helps Hosea nurse injured laborers, confronts her complicity in the structures of power that perpetuate the Kongo's enslavement, and devotes herself to tearing those structures apart, starting by leading an uprising against the school's teachers and administrators. This intellectually rich, emotional, and ruthlessly honest confrontation of racism proves Gomillion is a critically important new voice. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Booklist Review

In a sea of dystopian, post-apocalyptic future tales, The Record Keeper stands out. Gomillion's background and advocacy shines through in her debut novel, which paints a stark picture of a divided, authoritarian country that became a world power under the guise of maintaining peace, while calling attention to the very real dark history and current racial problems in the real world. The ruling class reigns with an iron fist, so any type of dissent including acting out of turn results in extremely harsh punishments, all to maintain the status quo. Arika Cobane is not your typical protagonist, as she often acts in her own interest rather than like a typical revolutionary, although there will be some elements familiar to fans of the dystopian genre. Arika slowly grows as she questions her beliefs, and while she often makes misguided decisions, readers will cheer as she ultimately triumphs over her dysfunctional upbringing. The Record Keeper will appeal to both young adult and adult readers; it is appropriate for high school students but has plenty of elements to keep adult readers engaged.--Carrie Rasak Copyright 2019 Booklist

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Agnes is a speaker and writer based in Seminole, Florida, where she lives with her husband and two children. Homegrown in the Sunshine State, Agnes studied English Literature at the University of Florida before transitioning to Levin College of Law, where she earned both a Juris Doctorate and Legal Master degree. She's a voracious reader of the Africa-American literary canon and a dedicated advocate for marginalized people everywhere.