Unsheltered

More about the book

The New York Times bestselling author returns with a timely novel that explores human resiliency and compassion amidst upheaval. Willa Knox, who has always shouldered family responsibilities, finds herself at middle age with unpaid bills and a crumbling inherited home in Vineland, New Jersey. With her magazine gone and her husband’s college closed, she now shares the dilapidated house with her ailing father-in-law and her two grown children: the free-spirited Tig and the debt-laden Zeke, who arrives with an unexpected baby after a life-altering event. In desperation, Willa investigates her home's history, seeking support from the local preservation society for necessary repairs. Her research leads her to Thatcher Greenwood, a 1880s science teacher facing community backlash for advocating Darwin's theories. As he navigates conflicts with powerful townsmen and struggles with family pressures, Willa and Thatcher's parallel stories unfold in alternating chapters. Both families, despite living in different centuries, confront the challenges of their times, discovering that shelter can be found in the bonds of kinship and the resilience of the human spirit. This brilliantly executed tale captivates readers with its poignant themes of survival and connection.