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4.3 AVERAGE
4.3 AVERAGE
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I admired the main character of this novel, the Black woman Executive Director of a group home for Black boys. Most of the characters were likeable and felt realistic. A couple of the major plot points were frustrating, though, which I won't detail here so as to avoid spoilers.
challenging
emotional
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Angela Jackson-Brown's Untethered is a powerful historical fiction novel set in 1967 Alabama. Katia Daniels, a Black social worker, balances caregiving at a group home for Black boys with the weight of personal loss and unfulfilled dreams. The novel explores the emotional toll of being a protector while facing personal grief and societal challenges. Katia's fierce care for the boys she protects sometimes comes at a steep personal cost. Jackson-Brown's detailed research on child protective services and the Vietnam War brings depth to the story. Katia's grief over losing her father, a missing twin brother in Vietnam, and dreams of motherhood bring layers of emotion to the story. Her moments of comfort—romance novels and Nina Simone's music—offer glimpses of tenderness amid hardship. The relationship with her mother, marked by shared grief, is beautifully portrayed. I love how relationship-centered this novel is! The boys in Katia's care feel just as real and precious as Katia herself.
The author thoughtfully explores difficult themes like sexual abuse, addiction, gun violence, and death. Healing is shown as ongoing and complex, rather than neatly resolved.
I found myself rooting for Katia's happiness, even as it unfolded in unexpected ways. Untethered is a moving testament to the strength and emotional depth of Black women. It honors the complexities of caregiving in our families and communities. Jackson-Brown allows Katia to be vulnerable without making her a martyr. As a therapist, I appreciated how the novel captures emotional strength and personal growth through challenges beyond our control.
This compassionate, thoughtful read lingers long after the final page. Highly recommended for those who value stories of healing, strength, and love.
The author thoughtfully explores difficult themes like sexual abuse, addiction, gun violence, and death. Healing is shown as ongoing and complex, rather than neatly resolved.
I found myself rooting for Katia's happiness, even as it unfolded in unexpected ways. Untethered is a moving testament to the strength and emotional depth of Black women. It honors the complexities of caregiving in our families and communities. Jackson-Brown allows Katia to be vulnerable without making her a martyr. As a therapist, I appreciated how the novel captures emotional strength and personal growth through challenges beyond our control.
This compassionate, thoughtful read lingers long after the final page. Highly recommended for those who value stories of healing, strength, and love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Untethered by Angela Jackson-Brown is an emotional masterpiece that reaches into your soul and refuses to let go. It’s been a long time since a book made me cry crocodile tears, but this story pulled them clean out of me. The depth of the characters, the rawness of the emotions, and the beautifully woven narrative hit me in ways I wasn’t expecting. Brown writes with a sensitivity and honesty that brings her characters to life, making their struggles and triumphs feel personal. If you’re looking for a book that will break your heart and heal it in equal measure, Untethered is the one. A powerful, unforgettable read!
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Troy, Alabama. 1967. Katia Daniels is a 40 year old plus size Black woman of faith and director of a group home for young Black boys. Her younger twin brothers are away fighting in the Vietnam War. Her father died years ago, leaving her and her mother to share the family home alone. She puts her everything into her work, and treats the boys and her coworkers like family, advocating fiercely for their best interests and safety with pure intentions. When she’s not working, she delves into the worlds in romance novels and Nina Simone’s music. When she finds out her brothers are missing in action, the safety of one the boys she cares for is in jeopardy, and her time as director of the boy’s home is on the line, an old familiar face (and her high school crush) comes back into her life to support her.
🏡📚🕯️📺🪖⛪️🌥️🎼💐😭🪽💍🫀
This book tore me up!!! (in a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ kinda way) I cared so much about each of these characters, and could not stop reading! … I really tried to stay on schedule y'all but I HAD to know what happened. I love that the representation of Nina Simone inspired Katia to embrace her afro. My heart broke for her desire to be a mother and how she truly loved the boys as her own. Chad and PeeWee were such memorable and lovable characters, just sweet and smart little boys who didn’t deserve all the suffering life had handed them 💔 When Seth came in Katia’s office, with a warm spirit calling her “Kat,” I knew a second chance romance was on the horizon. But Katia fought their connection so hard. She felt that she didn’t deserve him because she couldn’t have babies 😢 although he constantly showed that he would keep choosing her. I cried so much with sadness and grief but then the happy (but still sad) tears at the end made it all so worth it. I could not recommend this book enough!
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Grief, Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Death of parent, War
Minor: Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Violence, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy
This was a tough one. It was a great book, but it had me in tears and at some points I wasn’t sure I’d be able to finish but so glad I did.