This is a dark story set in the 1980's about a black grandmother, her estranged daughter and the grandson she does know about. The characters were well developed and fascinating and I especially liked Toussaint (the son) who struggles to understand his mother's choices. The book also deals with coming under the power of a charismatic man and the author does a good job of revealing how this could happen. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. 4/5!

From the best-selling author of The Twelve Tribes of Hattie, The Unsettled is a multigenerational story about a Black family that takes place in Alabama and Philadelphia in the 1980s. Ava Carson and her pre-teen son, Toussaint, are living in a room in a squalid homeless shelter in Philadelphia after leaving her husband, Abemi, in New Jersey. Meanwhile her estranged mother, known as Dutchess, is in rural Bonaparte, Alabama - a historic Black town founded by emancipated slaves although there are now only a few elderly residents left in the community and they are struggling to hold onto what remains of their properties.

Ava, dealing with mental and physical issues, is making poor decisions and Toussaint who is also having difficulty coping stops attending school. They are about to pack up again and leave for Bonaparte when Toussaint's father, Cass, comes back into their lives. Cass is a charismatic former Black Panther who had been a doctor but has become a sort of preacher/activist who wants to set up a commune. Their lives are improved for a short time and then the situation starts to deteriorate while Ava struggles to parent her son and deal with her own escalating issues.

The Unsettled is slow moving - an uncomfortable, difficult yet compelling read. The story is gut-wrenching and tragic with characters who have suffered and are suffering from past trauma, abuse, and mental health conditions. A number of issues are explored including complicated family relationships, intergenerational trauma, racism, abuse, and the dehumanizing impact of living in poverty. So many characters making bad decisions and my heart broke for them - but especially for Toussaint who just wants to find a home - a place where he belongs - stability. There is no happy ending here - it left me unsatisfied and perhaps a bit unsettled.

Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for sending a digital ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.