Kindred grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go. Octavia Butler blends science fiction with historical fiction in a way that feels completely original. The story follows Dana, a modern Black woman who’s pulled back in time to a slave plantation, forced to confront the brutal reality of her ancestors—and her own survival.

I picked this one because it’s powerful, tense, and emotionally raw. Butler doesn’t shy away from the horror of history, but she tells it through a lens that’s deeply personal and urgent. If you’re looking for a book that will challenge you and stay with you, this is it.