Octavia Butler is a must-read author who was ahead of her time, and Kindred exemplifies the timelessness of stories whose legacies still linger in the present. Kindred is a historical fiction novel at its core, explored through the time-travel scenario of “What if a modern Black woman was suddenly transported to the peak of the antebellum South and crossed paths with one of her ancestors, a white man who eventually grew up to be a slave owner?” There is no sugar-coating of this history and its realities, and the main protagonist confronts decisions that are far harder to reconcile and make sense of as her history becomes lived experience. Seminal reading for anyone who lives in the United States or wants to better understand the darker side of this country’s national identity. As shown through the many “Used Book Selling Labels”, this copy of Kindred is well-traveled, well-read, and well-taken care of. There may be light notes and highlights from previous readers, but is otherwise perfectly readable.