Ayana Mathis' The Unsettled (2023) tells the story of a young woman named Ava Carson and her ten-year-old son, Toussaint. The novel, which is set in 1985, follows the young family as they navigate being homeless in Philadelphia—and the Glenn Avenue family shelter in particular. But Ava quickly realizes that she can't long stay at the shelter; she is repulsed by it and its poor conditions. But she has no social safety net around her. She doesn't have a strong relationship with her family—especially her mother, Dutchess—but nevertheless loves her son more than anything. Things are tough for her and her son, but she works hard to give herself (and her son) a good and fulfilling life. Things change, however, when Toussaint's father reenters her life once again, changing Ava's behavior dramatically. As she grows closer and then moves apart from Toussaint's father, her world and worldview change, leading her to a desperate search for her identity and a search for home.
Mathis' novel received exceptionally positive reviews when it was released in late September 2023. Kirkus Reviews wrote a glowing review of the novel. They called it "An affecting and carefully drawn story of a family on the brink." Publisher's Weekly felt similarly positively about the novel, opining that "Readers won't want to miss Mathis's accomplished return."
