Reviews - Untethered | The StoryGraph

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148 reviews for:

Untethered

Angela Jackson-Brown

4.3 AVERAGE

epiloguejazz's review

2.75

informative reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Untethered does a good job of highlighting the often overlooked experience of the foster care system during a particularly volatile period of time. What the story does well: it sets a scene, provides historical context, and adds layers of lived experience to its protagonist’s narration. The insight it provides into anti-blackness and systemic failures of those programs we expect to do social good, from the perspective of someone with a personal investment in its success, is invaluable. I appreciate how it also creates realistic characters with their own unique and complex stories and personal histories. However, there are portions of the story which fall flat. As the story progresses, the story notes start to feel too loosely connected, providing a brief, almost entry-level view of very real systemic issues. The narration suffers in the face of the age-old adage - show, don’t tell. In general, there is a lot of “telling” happening in the story, particularly in terms of narrating to readers exactly how the characters (and the audience by extension) should feel in specific moments rather than guiding readers through a greater emotional investment in the plot. In addition, even as we are taken through Katia’s narration of events, it does not feel as though our protagonist, or really our audience overall, is being given a chance to explore the conflicts presented to them in a nuanced way. I would have liked to have seen a more critical analysis of her brothers’ military service, their unflinching patriotism in the face of their experience of the system; of Katia’s loneliness in a staunchly patriarchal setting, a further discussion of motherhood and the complexity of its existence in contrast with a professional setting… just to start. All in all, I think this is a good book for readers who may be unfamiliar with the realities of Katia’s position and the experiences of her community, but the story had a little too much going on and not enough time spent sitting with those ideas and the many questions they raise. Instead, the narration leans towards being repetitive and surface level.

Thank you NetGalley for the Ebook!

Content Warnings

ruminations_reverie's review

5.0

This was unexpected. I was challenged to read this book by my partner-in-crime, Ashley, for our podcast (Bookish Buzz Podcast https://www.youtube.com/@Bookish_Buzz_Podcast). Our buddy challenge is something we do quarterly on the podcast to challenge each other to read books that might be a little, or a lot, out of our comfort zones and push the envelope of our reading a bit. Ashley picked this one up because she very much reads within this historical fiction, familial drama space and thought it would be a good pick for this challenge. Well....she was right.

I am giving this book a 5, not necessarily because I loved every element of it, but mostly because Jackson-Brown managed to craft a story that didn't just pull at my heart-strings, it cut my whole heart out of my chest. I was so emotionally invested in all the character's stories. She did a great job developing these characters and allowing the reader to become emotionally attached. This is the first book I found myself crying REAL tears at in a while.

The story itself, as mentioned above, is a familial drama following Katia, the Executive Director of a group home for young, negro boys in Troy, Alabama in the 60's. I went in blind for this one and I am grateful that I did. This story isn't largely plot driven, rather focusing on the lives of Katia and these young boys at the group home. The good, the bad, and the raw. Each boy has a unique and personal background and I connected with them because I grew up with kids who were going through some of the same things when I was younger. Troubled home lives, behavioral issues, the definition of being kicked when they are down. I just wish there had been more folks like those at the group home to intervene and help care for and protect them.

It is a story full of the highest highs, and the lowest lows and shines a light on the complications so many are faced with when caring for children who are trapped in difficult situations. Don't think for one second that just because this story is set in the 60's that this isn't relevant in today's world. In many ways, it is likely worse. I greatly enjoyed reading this one, and would gladly pick up more from this author. For those interested in a story of this nature, this comes highly recommended. Bring the tissues.

Ashley and I will be doing a book chat about this one on YouTube and I will update this review with the link once we are able to film it.

betag1013's review

5.0

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-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

Content Warnings

brannonkm's review

3.25

slow-paced

baileydouglass's review

4.0

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

This historical novel centers around the proprietress of a halfway home for boys in the late 1960s. It centers around her life during a period of time where she's dealing with a brother missing in the Vietnam war, internal politics at the boys home and a romance with a man from her past. While I found the story interesting, the protagonist was a little too perfect to feel real to me, which stopped me from connecting to the book as much as I otherwise might have.

Thank you to Harper Collins Focus for an advance reading copy for an unbiased review.