Curdle Creek

Battle-Felton’s (Remembered) dystopian novel borrows heavily from Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery” while creating its own unique universe. Osira is a 45-year-old widow living in Curdle Creek, an all-Black community governed by complex rituals. One of these is “the Moving On,” where, in an attempt at population control, citizens are sentenced to death by their fellow Curdle Creek residents. When Osira’s father is selected to be Moved On, she begins to question the values of her once-beloved community. Escaping into a well leads her on a surreal journey, revealing secrets held by Curdle Creek, her family, and her own heart. Battle-Felton expands on the rules and consequences of Jackson’s story, showcasing the inherent rot of a system where violence is part and parcel of civic pride. Narrator Joniece Abbott-Pratt piercingly demonstrates how easy it is for individuals to be caught up in this civic pride. With accents ranging from Southern sweetness to Scottish brogue, Abbott-Pratt shows Osira’s full emotional range, communicating her outrage and fear at going from humble to hunted, even as she dances around her own hypocrisy.