Great Reviews for Rooney’s Novel Translation

The novel Cécé, written by Emmelie Prophète and translated from the French by Upper School World Languages Faculty Aidan Rooney P ’07, ’15, has generated positive reviews and much interest since its publication in September of 2025. 

Reviewing the coming-of-age novel in The New York Times under the headline “A Heroine To Root for in an Unforgettable Novel of Haiti,” Susie Boyt calls the book a “brave novel” and one “that marvels at people who feel entitled to their tears.” 

Originally published in French as Les Villages de Dieu, Cécé tells the story of a 20-year-old Haitian woman who turns to sex work following the death of a caregiver; the woman, the eponymous Cécé, soon becomes an influencer on social media. 

In addition to garnering good reviews, the novel was one of 10 finalists for the 2025 Cercador Prize, which recognizes works of literature in translation as selected by a committee of independent booksellers across the United States. 

A teacher and coach at Thayer since 1988, Rooney is the author of three poetry collections: Day Release (2000), Tightrope (2007), and Go There (2020).