Title: Sad Papaw’s: Heritage
Author: Kenny Harmon
Publisher: The Peppertree Press
ISBN: 978-1614936268
Pages: 144
Genre: Memoir
Reviewed by: Anthony Avina

Read Book Review

One of the modern age’s most controversial and widely used tools is social media. Websites and apps like Twitter and Instagram host millions of users from around the world, making connections with individuals and groups through shared interests as easy as the click of a button. Yet the dangers of online bullying, threats, and so much more have made the issue of social media something of a debatable topic. As Roxane Gay once said, “Social media is something of a double-edged sword. At its best, social media offers unprecedented opportunities for marginalized people to speak and bring much needed attention to the issues they face. At its worst, social media also offers ‘everyone’ an unprecedented opportunity to share in collective outrage without reflection.”

In author Kenny Harmon’s Sad Papaw’s: Heritage, the author explores the impact of a single social media post as they explore the man behind a viral post, America’s Sad Papaw. After a young woman sent out a tweet featuring an image of her “Papaw,” the image went viral, and now the family is coming forward to tell the tale of this man. Taking readers from the wheat fields of Kentucky and the days in which a new game known as “baseball” was taking shape, the book follows the man who would become “Sad Papaw” during a time of great change for a struggling nation.

The author did an incredible job of bringing the history and culture of a singular family to life for readers everywhere. The first book in a series following the man behind “Sad Papaw,” this book introduces the origins of his family and where their roots come from, starting in 1844 and moving forward in time. The unique writing style of the author is creative and unique, as the story flows as a memoir and yet is written in a very narrative way; stepping into the perspective of these ancestors and family members with ease. The attention to detail the author paid to the time period of each chapter and the social and cultural impacts which were put onto the growing family was amazing and insightful to read. This included how young farming families would often have to barter supplies made at home with one another to help make up for the lack of funds they had, and the encounters in their travels that were often peaceful, yet at other times they weren’t. Even some chapters included things like recipes used by the family, and photographs, which really helped bring a personal and intimate touch to the narrative.

This is the perfect read for those who enjoy memoirs, especially memoirs and non-fiction reads that focus on family, and the history and origins of that same family. This would also resonate greatly with fans of history and culture, namely the American History of the late 19th century and early 20th century. As a fan of these genres, I was both moved and fascinated with the detailed accounts of these time periods, and marveled at how this all sprang from one singular tweet.

Heartfelt, mesmerizing, and honest, author Kenny Harmon’s Sad Papaw’s: Heritage is a must-read memoir and non-fiction book. The first book in a trilogy surrounding the figure known as “Sad Papaw” the author explores the importance of family and the impact they have on us as individuals, as well as the impact social media has on our culture and society as a whole.