American Daughters

A Novel

By: Piper Huguley

Narrated by: Chanté McCormick, Kristen Sieh

In the vein of America’s First Daughter, Piper Huguley’s historical novel delves into the remarkable friendship of Portia Washington and Alice Roosevelt, the daughters of educator Booker T. Washington and President Teddy Roosevelt.

At the turn of the twentieth century, in a time of great change, two women—separated by societal status and culture but bound by their expected roles as the daughters of famed statesmen—forged a lifelong friendship.

Portia Washington’s father Booker T. Washington was formerly enslaved and spent his life championing the empowerment of Black Americans through his school, known popularly as Tuskegee Institute, as well as his political connections. Dedicated to her father’s values, Portia contributed by teaching and performing spirituals and classical music. But a marriage to a controlling and jealous husband made fulfilling her dreams much more difficult.

When Theodore Roosevelt assumed the presidency, his eldest daughter Alice Roosevelt joined him in the White House. To try to win her father’s approval, she eagerly jumped in to help him succeed, but Alice’s political savvy and nonconformist behavior alienated as well as intrigued his opponents and allies. When she married a congressman, she carved out her own agendas and continued espousing women’s rights and progressive causes.

Brought together in the wake of their fathers’ friendship, these bright and fascinating women helped each other struggle through marriages, pregnancies, and political upheaval, supporting each other throughout their lives.

A provocative historical novel and revealing portrait, Piper Huguley’s American Daughters vividly brings to life two passionate and vital women who nurtured a friendship that transcended politics and race over a century ago.

©2024 Piper Huguley (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers

Great Narrations for a Great Story

This book comes alive even more with these stellar narrations. Two distinct voices, two distinct daughters with their own lives, their own desires, their own hardships and perseverance.

I had read books about Alice Roosevelt before, and really enjoyed revisiting her story through the parallel lens of her friendship with Portia Washington, talented daughter of Booker T. We don’t often look at the struggles of daughters of famous fathers, nor have we considered their friendship, and reflected on how their lives were similar and yet also vastly different. Well conceived and executed book—yet another great offering by Piper Huguley on lives that really matter. Beautifully voiced!

Based on a True Friendship

I didn't expect a book based in the past to make me think so much about modern women's relative freedoms . Their destinies were dictated by the men in their lives - their fathers, husbands, a larger patriarchal society. But ultimately both Alice and Portia carve out some sense of self-determination. They are very different women. Portia is religious, selfless, and obedient. Alice is godless, self-centered, and unruly. But I cheered for them until the end. It reminded me of the importance of having friends who are different from you - to widen your awareness, to challenge your beliefs, to help you think in different ways. It also made me appreciate freedoms of modern womanhood such as access to birth control and the right to vote.