Homeward by Angela Jackson-Brown is a novel that has the setting of the south during the Civil Rights Movement. The characters are well developed and the reader becomes immersed in their lives. There are family struggles as well as struggles of many of the citizens in this town. This novel entertains and informs. Thank you to Angela Jackson Brown, Harper Muse Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.

In "Homeward" by Angela Jackson-Brown, the evocative setting of 1960s Georgia becomes the backdrop for a poignant journey of self-discovery and empowerment. Rose Perkins Bourdon's life is upended when she returns to her hometown carrying a secret and a new life. Burdened by tragedy and loss, Rose's path intertwines with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, igniting her own dormant passions and propelling her into the heart of the Civil Rights Movement. Angela Jackson-Brown's storytelling is a tapestry of resilience, love, and societal transformation, as Rose navigates personal turmoil and societal change, finding her voice and purpose in a world in flux. "Homeward" is a stirring portrayal of how personal struggles can intersect with historic movements, leaving an indelible mark on both individuals and the collective conscience.

Absolutly breathtaking. Different from anything I’ve ever read and def something I’ll never forget! Wow just wow

1962 and mainly set in Parsons Georgia and the struggle for civil rights. For those of us who grew up in that era, the tragic events around that period will be familiar. The central character is Rose, a young lady, and with her we experience grief (a stillborn premature baby) tragedy, in the death of her husband in Viet Nam, the strength of family bonds, and her maturation, not only in terms of her evolving views on racial equality, but as a woman ready to love again and to fulfill a life long career dream.
Multifaceted, and well depicted, how even the black people who passively accepted their role became gradually fierce advocates for equality.
For young people unfamiliar with the struggle for racial equality a very good “history lesson” related in the form of an engrossing novel.

This is a story of family, heartbreak, loss and healing, and life in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, as it begins, but moves to Parsons, Georgia in 1962. It is a time when racism was rampant and everyday, not that it has stopped. A time when those whose job was to protect people from harm were only available to those whose skin was the ‘right’ color. That’s how they saw it. When the color of your skin dictated if you could sit at a counter in Woolworth’s without being arrested, but were happy to give you the opportunity to put your life on the line to honor your country, even when those you fought alongside didn’t keep you in return.

But it is also so much more than that. It is a story of love of family, love of place, fear, war, death, and grief. It is also a story of navigating grief, and allowing oneself to honor the deceased by living fully, once again. Ultimately, it is a story of love, and finding a way to live and love despite the past.

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

This was a hard book to read.

Not because it was written poorly or anything like that—actually quite the contrary. It was written so well that I felt like I was there. And—being a Black woman—*that* was hard. All of the descriptions and conversations were so vivid. There was one scene whets something downright terrifying and demoralizing happened to the lead and it felt so real that I had to pause for a moment.

Subject matter is tough, but takes away nothing at all from the book.

4.5 Stars

This is a story of family, heartbreak, loss and healing, and life in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, as it begins, but moves to Parsons, Georgia in 1962. It is a time when racism was rampant and common, not that it has stopped. A time when those whose job it was to protect people from harm was really only available to those whose skin was the ‘right’ colour. That’s how they saw it. When the colour of your skin dictated if you could sit at a counter in Woolworth’s without being arrested, but were happy to give you the opportunity to put your life on the line to honor your country, even when those you fought alongside didn’t honor you in return.

But it is also so much more than that. It is a story of love of family, love of place, fear, war, death, and grief. It is also a story of navigating grief, and allowing oneself to honour the deceased by living fully, once again. Ultimately, it is a story of love, and finding a way to live and love despite the past.



Pub Date: 10 Oct 2023

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Harper Muse

what a pleasant little surprise! i loved the characters (isaac was just about the cutest thing ever) and i particularly loved the way it delves into grief, shame, and moving on from a heavy loss while still trying to figure out one’s place in the world. rose was a very sweet mc and i truly cannot wait to read more of jackson-brown’s works.