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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A TODAY SHOW #ReadWithJenna BOOK CLUB PICK! • Finalist for the WOMEN'S PRIZEYaa Gyasi's stunning follow-up to her acclaimed national bestseller Homegoing is "a book of blazing brilliance" (The Washington Post)—a powerful, raw, intimate, deeply layered novel about a Ghanaian family in Alabama.Gifty is a sixth-year PhD candidate in neuroscience at the Stanford University School of Medicine studying reward-seeking behavior in mice and the neural circuits of depression and addiction. Her brother, Nana, was a gifted high school athlete who died of a heroin overdose after an ankle injury left him hooked on OxyContin. Her suicidal mother is living in her bed.   Gifty is determined to discover the scientific basis for the suffering she sees all around her. But even as she turns to the hard sciences to unlock the mystery of her family's loss, she finds herself hungering for her childhood faith and grappling with the evangelical church in which she was raised, whose promise of salvation remains as tantalizing as it is elusive.

In Yaa Gyasi's "Transcendent Kingdom," readers are immersed in the poignant journey of Gifty, a Ghanaian immigrant grappling with loss, faith, and her family's struggles with addiction and mental illness. As a neuroscientist, Gifty dissects the complexities of the human brain, searching for answers to questions that haunt her: Why did her brother succumb to heroin addiction? Why does her mother suffer from depression? And how can she find solace in a world that seems to offer little?

Gyasi's novel is a symphony of emotions, delving into the intricacies of the immigrant experience, the nuances of faith, and the profound impact of generational trauma. Through Gifty's eyes, we witness the resilience of a family grappling with mental health challenges, the weight of secrets, and the lengths they go to find healing. Set against the backdrop of a vibrant Ghanaian community in Alabama, "Transcendent Kingdom" offers a unique perspective on identity, belonging, and the pursuit of meaning in a world marred by suffering.

Gifty's quest for understanding takes her through moments of intense grief, profound doubt, and fleeting moments of grace. She navigates the complexities of faith, questioning the existence of a benevolent God in the face of so much pain. Her journey takes her from the research labs of Stanford University to the rural churches of her childhood, as she grapples with the tension between science and spirituality.

Yaa Gyasi's storytelling is both lyrical and unflinching, weaving a narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is emotionally resonant. She deftly explores the intersections of race, class, and mental illness, shedding light on the often-overlooked struggles of marginalized communities. "Transcendent Kingdom" is a profound exploration of the human condition, leaving readers with a lasting meditation on faith, family, and the enduring power of love.