Kind of Kin: A Novel

By Rilla Askew

In Kind of Kin by award-winning author Rilla Askew, when a church-going, community-loved, family man is caught hiding a barn-full of illegal immigrant workers, he is arrested and sent to prison. This shocking development sends ripples through the town—dividing neighbors, causing riffs amongst his family, and spurring controversy across the state.

Using new laws in Oklahoma and Alabama as inspiration, Kind of Kin is a story of self-serving lawmakers and complicated lawbreakers, Christian principle and political scapegoating.

Rilla Askew’s funny and poignant novel explores what happens when upstanding people are pushed too far—and how an ad-hoc family, and ultimately, an entire town, will unite to protect its own.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Jan 8, 2013
• ISBN: 9780062198815

Rilla Askew

Rilla Askew received a 2009 Arts and Letters Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. She is the author of four novels, and has been nominated for the PEN/Faulkner Award and the Dublin IMPAC Prize, and is a three-time recipient of the Oklahoma Book Award.

Reviews for Kind of Kin

[toobusyreading · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

To those who think reading fiction is for escape from the “real” world, this novel addresses a very serious real world problem, one with no easy, one-size-fits-all answer.A fairly normal, strongly Christian family in Oklahoma gets caught up in a felony, harboring illegal immigrants, violating a new law. And the family is being torn apart.Children are involved, as are family members who don't have good sense, good people trying to stand up for what they think is right and those trying to protect their families, and two men who are in the country illegally.The story is exciting throughout. “Sweet” is a flawed character that I couldn't help but love. Some of the characters seemed a little too much like stereotypes for me, especially the sheriff. But then I live in Maricopa County – we have living, breathing stereotypes of our own. The publicity-seeking legislator also hit a little close to home.The writing was lovely and crisp. In the end, some questions were answered but not everything was tied up into a nice, neat bundle. And just as in real life, there are no easy answers to the issue of what to do about people who are in the country without proper documentation.

[lynnytisc · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I could only give this book five stars because I wasn't offered ten! I read all 416 pages in 3 days. It was so good. It's about the plight of Mexican immigrants. An ambitious politician in Oklahoma thinks it's a hot button issue and wants to prosecute everyone involved.A wonderful family and their foibles in dealing with this.With lots of wisdom and insight in between. A must read for everyone.

[phyllis.shepherd · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Whenever I read a book straight through in a couple of days, I know it's a winner. This one covers so many issues that affect families of all kinds: illegal immigration, substance abuse, parents trying to do their best for their children, Christians trying to live out their faith, politicians and law enforcement trying to garner fame and influence, and children just trying to survive it all. Rilla Askew has a keen ear for her characters and their troubles.