Homeward

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Rose doesn’t know what to do.  She’s moved back home to her parents’ home in a small Georgia town.  She left her husband’s family land a thousand miles away after his return from Vietnam, recovering from an injury.  He didn’t expect to find her pregnant with another man’s child, nor for her to leave so quickly.  Her mistake will change the future for all of them – Rose, her husband, and their families.

Homeward is Angela Jackson-Brown’s take on the coming of age of so many people of color during the 1960’s.  The era was a crossroads between conflicts: the Vietnam War, integration of schools and retailers, voting rights, and Southern lynchings.  This novel includes reference to many well-known events and names in the Civil Rights movement and many lesser-known, too.  The author walks readers through the struggles and difficulties faced by many people of color in the South and conveys the fear people of color still live with even today.

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I give Homeward 4 out of 5 stars.  I found the events around the Civil Rights movement in the small town as well as on the college campus relatable.  However, I felt like the author wrote two separate books, then had to find a way to join them up.  The original story line recounted in my opening paragraph was intriguing and relatable as a wife and mother.  When the book shifted to focus on Civil Rights, it felt like an entirely different book other than the references to Rose’s loss in the first section.  This led to some style and character development challenges.  I also did not appreciate the shift in timeline of some of the events – I prefer historical fiction to hold close to the original event dates.  It was also bothersome to see some of the prominent names of the Civil Rights movement included in events and conversations that may not have happened in reality.  With that said, the overall approach to describing the day-to-day struggles of this family is relatable and left me wanting more of these characters.

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I would recommend this book for readers who enjoy historical fiction and books about the Civil Rights movement.  I would also recommend this book for readers who are looking to learn more about the Vietnam War era – while the book does not go into great detail of the war, it is interesting to see it set against the backdrop of the other world events.  With themes of death, physical violence, and violence by police, this book would be best suited for more mature readers over the age of 16.  I would also caution readers who may be triggered by pregnancy and infant loss.

I was excited for the opportunity to review Homeward for NetGalley and the publisher.  I appreciate historical fiction, especially that which delves into topics still relevant today, like racial tensions.  I also appreciate books set near where I live in central Georgia.  This novel fits both of those categories well!

Homeward releases tomorrow – you can preorder your copy in our Bookshop.org store today!

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What I’m Reading

• Current print book: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, Mary Ann Saffer & Annie Barrows
• Current audio book: Wildflower Falls, Denise Hunter
• Book I’m most looking forward to: Magic Lessons, Alice Hoffman