The Unsettled

Set in 1980s Philadelphia and Bonaparte, Alabama, Ayana Mathis’s novel explores the intertwined lives of two women fighting to preserve their communities and identities amid social upheaval. The story follows Dutchess Carson, determined to protect her land and community, and Ava, her estranged daughter drawn into radical activism, as they navigate personal and collective struggles. Through vivid storytelling and powerful voices, the novel examines themes of resistance, legacy, and the search for freedom.