Gifty is a neuroscience PhD student at Stanford who is grappling with her complex family trauma while conducting animal experiments to complete her thesis. With her older brother gone from a heroin overdose and her suicidal mom living from her bed, Gifty is determined to discover the scientific basis for the suffering she sees all around her.

TRANSCENDENT KINGDOM is a captivating and contemplative novel that explores the intersection of science and religion following a young woman's journey to make sense of her family's history of addiction and depression. With beautiful prose and deep introspection, Gyasi weaves the story of Gifty's family's immigration to the US and their struggles with poverty & homesickness. The parallels between the mice's addiction and Gifty's brother's dependence on opioids are thought-provoking and raise essential questions about how we understand addiction & design treatments. While it doesn't follow a strong plot, Gyasi's profoundly empathetic writing provides a nuanced perspective on mental illness and draws me in deeply.

As someone who used to work in labs and perform mouse experiments, TRANSCENDENT KINGDOM reminds me of my grad school days. Gyasi raises critical ethical questions about animal experimentation and the role of science in society. Her reflections on the parallels between animals used in studies & patients suffering from illnesses, as well as the consequences of playing God with other creatures, are thought-provoking and will stay with me long after finishing the book.

There are also a lot of references to Christianity and its role & complicity in addressing immigration, gender identity, and racial prejudice. For those with a deeper understanding of religion, TRANSCENDENT KINGDOM will likely provide even more layers and nuance.

I highly recommend this book to readers interested in exploring themes of addiction, depression, science, and religion with complex yet relatable characters.