Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Bean Trees | 1988 | Barbara Kingsolver | Buy |
| 2 | Pigs in Heaven | 1993 | Barbara Kingsolver | Buy |
The Greer Family series follows Taylor Greer across two novels. The Bean Trees (1988) introduces Taylor as she leaves Kentucky and unexpectedly becomes the guardian of a Cherokee child. Pigs in Heaven (1993) picks up the story when the Cherokee Nation challenges Taylor’s right to raise the girl, forcing her to confront questions of heritage and belonging.
The Bean Trees was Kingsolver’s first novel and became one of her most widely read books. Its story of an unlikely mother-daughter bond resonated with readers and established Kingsolver as a literary voice willing to tackle difficult subjects through personal stories. The novel has been taught in classrooms for decades.
Pigs in Heaven is a true sequel rather than a companion novel. It continues Taylor and Turtle’s story directly, raising questions about the Indian Child Welfare Act and whether love is enough to justify a cross-cultural adoption. Kingsolver does not offer simple answers, and the book is stronger for it. Readers should start with The Bean Trees, as Pigs in Heaven assumes knowledge of the first book’s events.