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Tangleroot
Noni Reid has grown up in the shadow of her mother, Dr. Radiance Castine, renowned scholar of Black literature, who is alarmingly perfect at just about everything.
When Dr. Castine takes a job as the president of the prestigious Stonepost College in rural Virginia, Noni is forced to leave her New England home and, most importantly, a prime internship and her friends. She and her mother move into the “big house” on Tangleroot Plantation.
Tangleroot was built by one of Noni’s ancestors, an enslaved man named Cuffee Fortune―who Dr. Castine believes was also the original founder of Stonepost College, and that the school was originally formed for Black students. Dr. Castine spends much of her time trying to piece together enough undeniable truth in order to change the name of the school in Cuffee’s honor―and to force the university to reckon with its own racist past.
Meanwhile, Noni hates everything about her new home, but finds herself morbidly fascinated by the white, slaveholding family who once lived in it. Slowly, she begins to unpeel the layers of sinister history that envelop her Virginia town, her mother’s workplace, her ancestry―and her life story as she knew it. Through it all, she must navigate the ancient prejudices of the citizens in her small town, and ultimately, she finds herself both affirming her mother’s position and her own―but also discovering a secret that changes everything.
When Dr. Castine takes a job as the president of the prestigious Stonepost College in rural Virginia, Noni is forced to leave her New England home and, most importantly, a prime internship and her friends. She and her mother move into the “big house” on Tangleroot Plantation.
Tangleroot was built by one of Noni’s ancestors, an enslaved man named Cuffee Fortune―who Dr. Castine believes was also the original founder of Stonepost College, and that the school was originally formed for Black students. Dr. Castine spends much of her time trying to piece together enough undeniable truth in order to change the name of the school in Cuffee’s honor―and to force the university to reckon with its own racist past.
Meanwhile, Noni hates everything about her new home, but finds herself morbidly fascinated by the white, slaveholding family who once lived in it. Slowly, she begins to unpeel the layers of sinister history that envelop her Virginia town, her mother’s workplace, her ancestry―and her life story as she knew it. Through it all, she must navigate the ancient prejudices of the citizens in her small town, and ultimately, she finds herself both affirming her mother’s position and her own―but also discovering a secret that changes everything.
323 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2024
43 people are currently reading
1426 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
September 21, 2024
I'll be honest, I requested this book because I love the cover. But I listened to the audiobook and found it to be absolutely captivating. Tangleroot is a YA coming-of-age novel that is largely about what it's like to do genealogical research as an African American.
Noni has grown up in her mothers shadow and feels kind of suffocated by the expectation that she follow in her footsteps. Her mom is a well-respected scholar of African-American history & literature and has just taken over as the head of a small liberal arts college in her hometown. So the summer before Noni is set to begin college, she is dragged away from her home in Boston and a desirable internship in costuming to live in the plantation house where her ancestors were enslaved. And she hates it. But as time goes on, she begins to do her own research into her family history and the history of the people who owned the plantation. Along the way she uncovers long held, sometimes painful secrets, but also finds her place in the world as a young woman.
Noni is a complex and well-drawn character. She's not perfect, but you viscerally feel her anger and frustration at her moms control of her life. And yet, there's a lot she doesn't know and lot she needs to learn. This book tackles racism of varying degrees both historically and in the modern day. It lays out a lot of important history that is sometimes glossed over because it's painful or difficult. And it pushes back on false narratives of enslaved people being treated kindly or like "family". And the messiness of family trees when you look at too common occurrence of sexual assault and unequal relationships.
This is an incredibly impressive debut novel and I could not put it down. I hope it gets into the hands of many young people! The audio narration is excellent and engrossing. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
Noni has grown up in her mothers shadow and feels kind of suffocated by the expectation that she follow in her footsteps. Her mom is a well-respected scholar of African-American history & literature and has just taken over as the head of a small liberal arts college in her hometown. So the summer before Noni is set to begin college, she is dragged away from her home in Boston and a desirable internship in costuming to live in the plantation house where her ancestors were enslaved. And she hates it. But as time goes on, she begins to do her own research into her family history and the history of the people who owned the plantation. Along the way she uncovers long held, sometimes painful secrets, but also finds her place in the world as a young woman.
Noni is a complex and well-drawn character. She's not perfect, but you viscerally feel her anger and frustration at her moms control of her life. And yet, there's a lot she doesn't know and lot she needs to learn. This book tackles racism of varying degrees both historically and in the modern day. It lays out a lot of important history that is sometimes glossed over because it's painful or difficult. And it pushes back on false narratives of enslaved people being treated kindly or like "family". And the messiness of family trees when you look at too common occurrence of sexual assault and unequal relationships.
This is an incredibly impressive debut novel and I could not put it down. I hope it gets into the hands of many young people! The audio narration is excellent and engrossing. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
November 19, 2024
2.5 rounded up. Annoyed honestly.
MY THOUGHTS: This book was a mixed bag for me, and I know my take may be an outlier. While there’s been praise for the main character, Noni, and her journey, I personally could not connect with her. Noni’s choices often left me frustrated—particularly her decision to make a dress for a racist, Laura Jean. That moment, and others, made it hard for me to stand behind her as a protagonist.
Noni is the daughter of Radiance, a Black literature scholar, and her mother uproots her from Boston to Virginia, hoping she will better understand herself and her heritage. While I’ve seen some readers describe Radiance as cold or emotionally abusive, I didn’t get that impression. To me, Radiance came across as a mother grappling with the reality that her daughter—who wants to pursue fashion, particularly theatre and costume design—has little connection to her identity or history as a Black girl. Radiance wanted Noni to grow into her full self, even if the process was difficult or uncomfortable.
However, Noni’s disinterest in her heritage and her overwhelming angst made it difficult for me to root for her. She seemed more focused on returning to Boston—even after it was clear her old friends weren’t true friends—than on taking advantage of the opportunities her mother wanted to provide. One glaring moment for me was when Noni engaged with Laura Jean, a clear antagonist who showed microaggressions from the start. Despite this, Noni not only interacted with her but agreed to make a dress for her, knowing it was inappropriate and suspecting Laura Jean wouldn’t give her the answers she truly wanted. This decision felt like a betrayal of her morals and undermined her personal growth.
Thematically, the book seemed to rely on the idea that biracial children have no connection to their Blackness unless forced to confront it, which felt limiting. I would have found it far more compelling if Noni had been written as a biracial teen already grounded in her Black identity, with her journey focusing on uncovering her family’s history from a place of strength rather than reluctance. The late emphasis on learning about the Black people tormented on the plantation—after initially prioritizing the white slave owners—also felt uneven.
There were missed opportunities for deeper character exploration. Laura Jean, the main antagonist, had so much potential for complexity, but her grief and misplaced anger toward Radiance were only skimmed over. The shocking reveal about Laura Jean’s history with Noni’s family, including the fact that she spit on Noni as a baby, was not fully unpacked. That scene deserved far more weight and discussion than it received.
On a positive note, the audiobook narration was excellent—clear, expressive, and engaging, which made the reading experience easy to follow. However, even reading it in tandem with the physical copy couldn’t salvage the uneven execution. While I appreciate the themes of growth, self-discovery, and heritage, the book ultimately left me underwhelmed.
MY THOUGHTS: This book was a mixed bag for me, and I know my take may be an outlier. While there’s been praise for the main character, Noni, and her journey, I personally could not connect with her. Noni’s choices often left me frustrated—particularly her decision to make a dress for a racist, Laura Jean. That moment, and others, made it hard for me to stand behind her as a protagonist.
Noni is the daughter of Radiance, a Black literature scholar, and her mother uproots her from Boston to Virginia, hoping she will better understand herself and her heritage. While I’ve seen some readers describe Radiance as cold or emotionally abusive, I didn’t get that impression. To me, Radiance came across as a mother grappling with the reality that her daughter—who wants to pursue fashion, particularly theatre and costume design—has little connection to her identity or history as a Black girl. Radiance wanted Noni to grow into her full self, even if the process was difficult or uncomfortable.
However, Noni’s disinterest in her heritage and her overwhelming angst made it difficult for me to root for her. She seemed more focused on returning to Boston—even after it was clear her old friends weren’t true friends—than on taking advantage of the opportunities her mother wanted to provide. One glaring moment for me was when Noni engaged with Laura Jean, a clear antagonist who showed microaggressions from the start. Despite this, Noni not only interacted with her but agreed to make a dress for her, knowing it was inappropriate and suspecting Laura Jean wouldn’t give her the answers she truly wanted. This decision felt like a betrayal of her morals and undermined her personal growth.
Thematically, the book seemed to rely on the idea that biracial children have no connection to their Blackness unless forced to confront it, which felt limiting. I would have found it far more compelling if Noni had been written as a biracial teen already grounded in her Black identity, with her journey focusing on uncovering her family’s history from a place of strength rather than reluctance. The late emphasis on learning about the Black people tormented on the plantation—after initially prioritizing the white slave owners—also felt uneven.
There were missed opportunities for deeper character exploration. Laura Jean, the main antagonist, had so much potential for complexity, but her grief and misplaced anger toward Radiance were only skimmed over. The shocking reveal about Laura Jean’s history with Noni’s family, including the fact that she spit on Noni as a baby, was not fully unpacked. That scene deserved far more weight and discussion than it received.
On a positive note, the audiobook narration was excellent—clear, expressive, and engaging, which made the reading experience easy to follow. However, even reading it in tandem with the physical copy couldn’t salvage the uneven execution. While I appreciate the themes of growth, self-discovery, and heritage, the book ultimately left me underwhelmed.
October 27, 2024
2024 reads: 290/250
content warnings: racism, slavery, child abuse, sexual assault, grief
noni reid has grown up in the shadow of her mother, dr. radiance castine, renowned scholar of black literature. she’s eager to make her own path, which is why she’s so dismayed to learn she has to give up her internship and friends to move with her mother to rural virginia. as dr. castine works to prove their ancestor was the original founder of the college she now works for, noni finds herself morbidly fascinated by the white family who lived in the plantation house they’re living in now. noni begins to discover painful truths about her family and, by extension, herself.
this was a wonderful coming-of-age novel! i really felt for noni having so many aspects of her life controlled by her mother, yet she did end up learning a lot from this experience. these two warring sides were explored well, in my opinion. overall, this was a great book, and i’d recommend it to anyone who is looking for a contemporary coming-of-age story with dives into the past.
narration: maggie thompson did a great job bringing noni and the other characters to life! i felt fully immersed as i listened to the audiobook.
content warnings: racism, slavery, child abuse, sexual assault, grief
noni reid has grown up in the shadow of her mother, dr. radiance castine, renowned scholar of black literature. she’s eager to make her own path, which is why she’s so dismayed to learn she has to give up her internship and friends to move with her mother to rural virginia. as dr. castine works to prove their ancestor was the original founder of the college she now works for, noni finds herself morbidly fascinated by the white family who lived in the plantation house they’re living in now. noni begins to discover painful truths about her family and, by extension, herself.
this was a wonderful coming-of-age novel! i really felt for noni having so many aspects of her life controlled by her mother, yet she did end up learning a lot from this experience. these two warring sides were explored well, in my opinion. overall, this was a great book, and i’d recommend it to anyone who is looking for a contemporary coming-of-age story with dives into the past.
narration: maggie thompson did a great job bringing noni and the other characters to life! i felt fully immersed as i listened to the audiobook.
October 27, 2024
Special thanks to @coloredpagesbt
@fiercereads @blackhistorymaven for my #gifted copy and @macmillian.audio for my gifted ALC #MacAudio2024‼️
I went into this one completely blind I picked the book because I loved the cover. I’m actually not disappointed that I read this since it turned out to be a great book. Exploring heavy themes surrounding ancestry, enslavement, racial tensions, and haunting family secrets.
The novel follows Noni Reid an ambitious young girl with a bright future in costume designing whose life is turned upside down when she’s forced to move to Magnolia, Virginia because her mother got a new job. Moving wasn’t the issue giving up her internship and living in a house built on Tangleroot plantation by one of her ancestors was apart of the problem.
Throughout the book we follow Noni as she journeys to uncover her family history, the house she lives in, and insights into the life of the late Sophronia Dearborn. Capturing the pure innocence and curiosity of a young woman the author provides intricate details about the harsh realities Noni will soon discover.
The book has a slow build but as the story develops it gets juicier. Those buried secrets do 👏🏽 it 👏🏽 every time cause them family roots were definitely tangled‼️ All I’m going to say is I don’t care how long it’s been it would’ve took God himself to get me off Lana Jean cause I would’ve turned her every way but loose for what she did. I mean THE DISRESPECT whew my blood pressure 😂. Also Noni’s mother had a whole lot of audacity knowing the secret she was keeping and her father that’s another story . . .
Overall, this was a decent coming-of-age YA novel. The authors intense research conjured such a powerfully authentic story. Her writing was straightforward, engaging, and the message she was trying to convey was made clear. It’s important to know your family history‼️How can you know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been.
@fiercereads @blackhistorymaven for my #gifted copy and @macmillian.audio for my gifted ALC #MacAudio2024‼️
I went into this one completely blind I picked the book because I loved the cover. I’m actually not disappointed that I read this since it turned out to be a great book. Exploring heavy themes surrounding ancestry, enslavement, racial tensions, and haunting family secrets.
The novel follows Noni Reid an ambitious young girl with a bright future in costume designing whose life is turned upside down when she’s forced to move to Magnolia, Virginia because her mother got a new job. Moving wasn’t the issue giving up her internship and living in a house built on Tangleroot plantation by one of her ancestors was apart of the problem.
Throughout the book we follow Noni as she journeys to uncover her family history, the house she lives in, and insights into the life of the late Sophronia Dearborn. Capturing the pure innocence and curiosity of a young woman the author provides intricate details about the harsh realities Noni will soon discover.
The book has a slow build but as the story develops it gets juicier. Those buried secrets do 👏🏽 it 👏🏽 every time cause them family roots were definitely tangled‼️ All I’m going to say is I don’t care how long it’s been it would’ve took God himself to get me off Lana Jean cause I would’ve turned her every way but loose for what she did. I mean THE DISRESPECT whew my blood pressure 😂. Also Noni’s mother had a whole lot of audacity knowing the secret she was keeping and her father that’s another story . . .
Overall, this was a decent coming-of-age YA novel. The authors intense research conjured such a powerfully authentic story. Her writing was straightforward, engaging, and the message she was trying to convey was made clear. It’s important to know your family history‼️How can you know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been.
October 17, 2024
Honestly, I quite enjoyed this. I'm pretty sure the target audience for this is YA, and the story has enough angst to fit nicely into that genre. I did feel frustrated with some of the unnecessarily complicated narrative, but it all came together in the end.
This is a coming-of-age story primarily with a Black main character. Noni is an only child, finished with high school, and the story begins the summer before she is set to attend Boston University. Her parents have recently divorced, and the parents agreed that Noni would join her mother in Virginia.
This is about ancestry, small southern towns, and white supremacy dressed up as "culture wars." This felt relevant, timely, and current.
While awkward in a few areas and some of the supporting characters aren't well developed, this is well worth the read.
I look forward to reading more novels written by this author in the future.
The narration of this audiobook really brought this story to life for me. Maggie Thompson did a fantastic job, particularly with her use of alternate tones for the supporting cast of characters. This was extensive and could be confusing, so the tonal changes helped to differentiate between the supporting characters.
Thank you to Kalela Williams, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
This is a coming-of-age story primarily with a Black main character. Noni is an only child, finished with high school, and the story begins the summer before she is set to attend Boston University. Her parents have recently divorced, and the parents agreed that Noni would join her mother in Virginia.
This is about ancestry, small southern towns, and white supremacy dressed up as "culture wars." This felt relevant, timely, and current.
While awkward in a few areas and some of the supporting characters aren't well developed, this is well worth the read.
I look forward to reading more novels written by this author in the future.
The narration of this audiobook really brought this story to life for me. Maggie Thompson did a fantastic job, particularly with her use of alternate tones for the supporting cast of characters. This was extensive and could be confusing, so the tonal changes helped to differentiate between the supporting characters.
Thank you to Kalela Williams, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
August 6, 2024
Noni dreams of studying fashion and designing costumes for theater. When her mother gets a job in Virginia, Noni is dragged along for the summer she never wanted in a rural town, living in a plantation home. Noni’s mother teaches about black history, and as Noni settles in to the town, she slowly begins to want to learn more about her past, about her ancestors who slaved in this mansion, about her great-grandmother who loved fashion just like Noni.
Noni’s journey was really sweet, as she learns how to forgive herself for mistakes and understand who she really is. She learns a lot about herself as a person, as a newly-turned-18 adult, and as a black woman in a southern town. What I had a problem with was the mother. In the beginning of the novel, the mother is emotionally abusive, demanding too much of Noni and never seeing any of her positive traits. Based on how she was portrayed, the only happy ending should have been Noni finding independence, saying goodbye to her mother for good, and getting lots of therapy. Instead, the mother gets a redemption arc that is not deserved. While I think everyone can change for the better, the emotional abuse was swept under the rug as normal teen clashing with parent, which just wasn’t the case, and was really frustrating.
Noni’s journey was really sweet, as she learns how to forgive herself for mistakes and understand who she really is. She learns a lot about herself as a person, as a newly-turned-18 adult, and as a black woman in a southern town. What I had a problem with was the mother. In the beginning of the novel, the mother is emotionally abusive, demanding too much of Noni and never seeing any of her positive traits. Based on how she was portrayed, the only happy ending should have been Noni finding independence, saying goodbye to her mother for good, and getting lots of therapy. Instead, the mother gets a redemption arc that is not deserved. While I think everyone can change for the better, the emotional abuse was swept under the rug as normal teen clashing with parent, which just wasn’t the case, and was really frustrating.
September 25, 2024
I was drawn to this book based on the cover (i mean look at it!!). I was a bit nervous to read it since it is slightly outside my usually genres.
Overall it's a really well written book. The plot itself was really interesting, the book kept my interest from start to finish. I really liked our main character Noni. I really didn't like her mother, Noni is 18 she's allowed to chose where she wants to go for university!! Radiance was incredibly emotionally abusive towards Noni and it was all simply ignored/accepted. I can't rate this more than 3 stars due to the way the whole mother/daughter relationship actually played out.
the audiobook was well done! Loved the narrator.
thank you Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
Overall it's a really well written book. The plot itself was really interesting, the book kept my interest from start to finish. I really liked our main character Noni. I really didn't like her mother, Noni is 18 she's allowed to chose where she wants to go for university!! Radiance was incredibly emotionally abusive towards Noni and it was all simply ignored/accepted. I can't rate this more than 3 stars due to the way the whole mother/daughter relationship actually played out.
the audiobook was well done! Loved the narrator.
thank you Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
October 12, 2024
3.5 I loved the premise of this book and I was interested the whole time, but it ended up just being an ok book for me.
January 23, 2025
3.5
Review to come
Review to come
March 23, 2025
I enjoyed the mystery aspect of this story with the goal of discovering who your family is, both the family you claim and the family you are born into. Noni’s character felt very much like a defiant young adult, wanting to outline the path to her own future. I found myself in near constant support. I’ll be honest, I was opposed to her mom wanting to keep her in Virginia and forcing her to go to community college to study a completely different degree than what she had gotten into Boston University for. However, there were pros to the decision that ahouldn’t be overlooked either, I suppose.
September 12, 2024
This book was pretty mid for me. There were a ton of things I liked, including the MC being very relatable. As a POC from a colonized country I understand where the MC came from, considering her roots and trying to find where she came from. But this aspect of the plot made the story go haywire in my opinion and I wasn't as interested anymore. What intrigued me was Noni's relationship with her mother, their dynamic and conversations. But again, this isn't my go-to genre or type of book, so others may have different understandings.
August 12, 2024
Noni Reid has just graduated from high school and landed a great internship for the summer before college - as a theater costume-maker in Boston, recognized for her special talent. But her mother has different plans. Newly divorced and starting a position as the President of a prestigious liberal arts college in Virginia, she commands Noni with her for the summer and doesn't take any objections. And so Noni moves to Magnolia, to the Big house at the Tangleroot plantation, the same big house that her distant ancestor had once built for his enslavers. Resentful at first, Noni gradually gets interested in unveiling something about the former inhabitants of Tangleroot, even if the person whose history fascinates her most might be not someone her mother (a prominent Black studies historian, mind you) would approve.
Well, the above paragraph is basically what the annotation says, just in my own words. And based on that, I expected a much simpler trajectory in terms of the transformation a teen protagonist experiences during the novel. But this book was a real roller-coaster, and I mean it in the best sense. Instead of a simple dichotomy between succeeding in the modern world vs connecting to your roots that I might have imagined, this novel touches upon many much more intricate questions. I'll mention just one, as it surfaces quite early in the story, so as not to give away spoilers for something further into the plot: if your great-great-grandmother was an extraordinary seamstress who created a spectacular dress featured on a well-recognized portrait, would agreeing to make a replica of the dress be a chance to reconnect with your roots or would it rather make you complicit in an act of white-washing the "glorious past of the South"?
We all tell ourselves stories about who we are, partly based on who we imagine our ancestors to have been. But given how important these stories are to our identity... do we really want to know? The roots are indeed tangled in this one.
I really loved how Noni is written as a character. Her adolescent rebelling against anything her mother might suggest is just so great and veritable! (And I could really feel for her because of all the unfairness of the parenting decisions that she experienced. Very well-written POV!) The setting of a small middle-of-nowhere Virginia town is also very persuasive. You know, those towns where life seems to have stopped in the '50s and nowadays people mostly visit for the touristic promise to "experience the real South"? That's as far as contemporary imagery is concerned, where I can judge from personal experience. But you can also see how much effort is put into recreating the historical settings - and the author's note confirms what I was already guessing anyway, it was indeed a lot of research.
4.5 stars, with one half taken off for the too-frequent confusion when weeks seemed to have passed between paragraphs, without any signposting. Hope they'll typographically fix it in the final layout though.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC; the review above is my honest independent opinion.
Well, the above paragraph is basically what the annotation says, just in my own words. And based on that, I expected a much simpler trajectory in terms of the transformation a teen protagonist experiences during the novel. But this book was a real roller-coaster, and I mean it in the best sense. Instead of a simple dichotomy between succeeding in the modern world vs connecting to your roots that I might have imagined, this novel touches upon many much more intricate questions. I'll mention just one, as it surfaces quite early in the story, so as not to give away spoilers for something further into the plot: if your great-great-grandmother was an extraordinary seamstress who created a spectacular dress featured on a well-recognized portrait, would agreeing to make a replica of the dress be a chance to reconnect with your roots or would it rather make you complicit in an act of white-washing the "glorious past of the South"?
We all tell ourselves stories about who we are, partly based on who we imagine our ancestors to have been. But given how important these stories are to our identity... do we really want to know? The roots are indeed tangled in this one.
I really loved how Noni is written as a character. Her adolescent rebelling against anything her mother might suggest is just so great and veritable! (And I could really feel for her because of all the unfairness of the parenting decisions that she experienced. Very well-written POV!) The setting of a small middle-of-nowhere Virginia town is also very persuasive. You know, those towns where life seems to have stopped in the '50s and nowadays people mostly visit for the touristic promise to "experience the real South"? That's as far as contemporary imagery is concerned, where I can judge from personal experience. But you can also see how much effort is put into recreating the historical settings - and the author's note confirms what I was already guessing anyway, it was indeed a lot of research.
4.5 stars, with one half taken off for the too-frequent confusion when weeks seemed to have passed between paragraphs, without any signposting. Hope they'll typographically fix it in the final layout though.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC; the review above is my honest independent opinion.
October 7, 2025
This was a great debut novel by the author. It’s a layered read with so many important, yet heavy topics covered. We are introduced to our main character, Noni, who is turning 18 years old soon, excited for college and to step into the world of costume fashion designing. That dream comes to a halt when Noni’s mother (a Black scholar/Professor), Radiance, accepts a job at a college in Virginia, where they’ll live in the place of their enslaved ancestors (Tangleroot Plantation).
Of course, Noni, with her own dreams is upset and feels like she’s being controlled by her overbearing mother. Her dad doesn’t help in the matter as he goes with the flow (although they are divorced).
When they arrive to Virginia, Radiance is adamant to change the name of the school to that of the ancestor that created it. She’s met with pushback, but Noni doesn’t understand why this mission is so important to her mom.
It’s not until Noni gets wrapped up into doing her own research about the history and the people who once owned the plantation that she starts to unravel some ugly truths about the past. She later understands the reason for her mother’s deeply rooted passion behind her mission.
This book has triggers of racism, micro aggressions, complicated mother-daughter relationships, and SA.
This book reminds me of what’s currently going on in this administration, such as the list of banned books, not wanting the ugly truths about this nation to be exposed. A lot of trying to whitewash history goes on in this book.
Of course, Noni, with her own dreams is upset and feels like she’s being controlled by her overbearing mother. Her dad doesn’t help in the matter as he goes with the flow (although they are divorced).
When they arrive to Virginia, Radiance is adamant to change the name of the school to that of the ancestor that created it. She’s met with pushback, but Noni doesn’t understand why this mission is so important to her mom.
It’s not until Noni gets wrapped up into doing her own research about the history and the people who once owned the plantation that she starts to unravel some ugly truths about the past. She later understands the reason for her mother’s deeply rooted passion behind her mission.
This book has triggers of racism, micro aggressions, complicated mother-daughter relationships, and SA.
This book reminds me of what’s currently going on in this administration, such as the list of banned books, not wanting the ugly truths about this nation to be exposed. A lot of trying to whitewash history goes on in this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2024
I loved this book! Noni is a relatable protagonist and it's easy to sympathize with her as her parents' divorce throws a wrench into her summer plan to pursue her dream internship. Noni's career goals are odds with her mother's plans for her, and being forced to move only widens the rift between them.
Moving from Boston to a rural, conservative town is a big change, and Noni finds herself struggling to adapt. And while she deals with racism, she also has to confront her own prejudices against the people in her new community. I appreciated the nuanced, complex conversations about topics such as race, prejudice, and identity.
Noni's investigation of her ancestors and the history of Magnolia was really interesting. I loved following along with her research, making connections, and, in the process, watching her grow as a person. This book addresses the messiness of ancestry and its impact on self identity, and explores how burying uncomfortable truths can affect relationships.
I also loved that this story, while fictional, draws on historical events and the experiences of real people. It's clear that the author did her research to build a story that feels grounded in reality. I hope to read more by this author in the future!
I read a digital ARC of this book, which was provided by the publishers via NetGalley.
Moving from Boston to a rural, conservative town is a big change, and Noni finds herself struggling to adapt. And while she deals with racism, she also has to confront her own prejudices against the people in her new community. I appreciated the nuanced, complex conversations about topics such as race, prejudice, and identity.
Noni's investigation of her ancestors and the history of Magnolia was really interesting. I loved following along with her research, making connections, and, in the process, watching her grow as a person. This book addresses the messiness of ancestry and its impact on self identity, and explores how burying uncomfortable truths can affect relationships.
I also loved that this story, while fictional, draws on historical events and the experiences of real people. It's clear that the author did her research to build a story that feels grounded in reality. I hope to read more by this author in the future!
I read a digital ARC of this book, which was provided by the publishers via NetGalley.
October 24, 2024
This was quite the story, and I really enjoyed it. I will admit, it wasn't quite what I was expecting, but that isn't a bad thing! Noni is thriving, ready to head off to her dream college, and start and internship and basically ready to grab life by the horns. Until her parents split, and her mother insists she move with her to Virginia, upending all of Noni's plans. I was flat out infuriated by this woman, frankly. We'll get to that, but man, she can go float herself.
Anyway, Noni is distraught, as you'd imagine. But as she spends time in Virginia, she finds herself down a rabbit hole of ancestry and the history of the town, especially the house they're living in. And look, I feel her, I end up down ancestry rabbit holes all the time, and I was glad that she found something to care about. Doesn't excuse ol' Mom's nonsense, but we'll go with it. I found myself very invested in Noni's story, and the story she was researching. The historical bits were very compelling, and very readable. I also was very invested in all of her relationships with her parents, her friends, and the new people she meets in town.
Here's the thing: while I really enjoyed reading this, and devoured the story, I still feel pretty squicky about how the whole controlling mother business was handled. In that it wasn't. This is not okay, and my big issue is that I don't want young women to think it is.
Bottom Line: If we eliminate the controlling parent portion (or the lack of handling of it, perhaps) this would be a solid 4.5. But we can't, and so I have to address that in the numerical rating.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
Anyway, Noni is distraught, as you'd imagine. But as she spends time in Virginia, she finds herself down a rabbit hole of ancestry and the history of the town, especially the house they're living in. And look, I feel her, I end up down ancestry rabbit holes all the time, and I was glad that she found something to care about. Doesn't excuse ol' Mom's nonsense, but we'll go with it. I found myself very invested in Noni's story, and the story she was researching. The historical bits were very compelling, and very readable. I also was very invested in all of her relationships with her parents, her friends, and the new people she meets in town.
Here's the thing: while I really enjoyed reading this, and devoured the story, I still feel pretty squicky about how the whole controlling mother business was handled. In that it wasn't. This is not okay, and my big issue is that I don't want young women to think it is.
Bottom Line: If we eliminate the controlling parent portion (or the lack of handling of it, perhaps) this would be a solid 4.5. But we can't, and so I have to address that in the numerical rating.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
December 19, 2024
*3.5 (Going into Tangleroot, I was so excited. The premise was so intriguing; dark academia, girl on the precipice of adulthood, african american history, southern landscape, etc. All roads led to me devouring this book. I struggled with the beginning of this book. Noni was a very hard character to root for. She is immensely unaware of her privilege as a child of wealth and makes the wrong decision constantly. I struggled with understanding the pacing and timeline of events. When Tangleroot succeeded though, it really hooked me. The amount of history and research the author put into this novel is so evident. The reveals and connections brought to light were so fascinating. And for that, I will definitely check out Williams next book.)
October 21, 2024
I honestly picked Tangleroot up because I loved the cover. But I don't think I'm the target audience as I'm someone well older than the main character who is 18 and about to embark on leaving home and making a life of her own separate from her parents. But once I started the audiobook, the narration pulled me in and it didn't matter what age I was, because I was invested in the story of Noni and everything she was discovering and uncovering about her family's lineage.
Noni is 18 and comes from a divorced family. She lives under her mother's thumb who is very well known in the Black literature world. She is ready to leave the nest and pursue her passion in the arts at Boston University with a summer internship before starting college. But at the last minute, her mother denies her that and makes her go with her for the summer to rural Virginia and live on the Tangleroot Plantation which was built by her ancestors. This was not the summer she planned and not what she wanted to do. And once they get there, it only gets worse and ends up being a much longer stay than she anticipated.
Coming of age stories can be iffy for me as I'm always the parents age and have kids the same age as the main characters. I actually really enjoyed Noni as a character and her growth throughout the story. She is forced into a situation she didn't want to be a part of and tries her hardest to convince both parents that it's not the right time for her and that she is an adult and can make her own choices. I did not like how soft her dad was and just didn't really stand up for his daughter against his ex wife. But the mother/daughter relationship really seemed to be at the core of this story. And to say it was not the best was an understatement. Her mother, the infamous Radiance Castine? I was appalled at her actions and the things she said to her daughter and how she forced her to do what she wanted and didn't care about her child's desires. Her ADULT child's wants and needs. But as we get further into the story, you get to see how convoluted everything ends up being and perhaps maybe get to understand everyone's actions.
I really enjoyed Noni's character and the way she changed and developed over the course of the story. She is a young woman trying to find her place in the world, and like most 18 year olds, wants to rebel and do things in her own way. But one thing she probably didn't expect when visiting a place that her ancestors have ties to, is to uncover truths about her family and the history. As with many Black Americans, the truths are not always pretty and I really enjoyed the way the author intertwined each piece of history into Noni's findings and to her really caring about each and every detail. Her character was flawed, but also she left so much room for growth and I liked seeing her find not only her present, but also her past.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with this story. The narration was superb and really brought Noni's character to life. I loved that this was told completely from Noni's POV and we got to see her evolve over the course of the story and begin to take some good pieces from both of her parents while also keeping true to becoming her own self. The way the author incorporated the present while also including the past and showing how racism, ones ancestory and lineage still holds true even today. It effected the whole trajectory of who we are as a people and was done quite well considering this was a debut novel. I look forward to reading what Kalela Williams writes next.
Noni is 18 and comes from a divorced family. She lives under her mother's thumb who is very well known in the Black literature world. She is ready to leave the nest and pursue her passion in the arts at Boston University with a summer internship before starting college. But at the last minute, her mother denies her that and makes her go with her for the summer to rural Virginia and live on the Tangleroot Plantation which was built by her ancestors. This was not the summer she planned and not what she wanted to do. And once they get there, it only gets worse and ends up being a much longer stay than she anticipated.
Coming of age stories can be iffy for me as I'm always the parents age and have kids the same age as the main characters. I actually really enjoyed Noni as a character and her growth throughout the story. She is forced into a situation she didn't want to be a part of and tries her hardest to convince both parents that it's not the right time for her and that she is an adult and can make her own choices. I did not like how soft her dad was and just didn't really stand up for his daughter against his ex wife. But the mother/daughter relationship really seemed to be at the core of this story. And to say it was not the best was an understatement. Her mother, the infamous Radiance Castine? I was appalled at her actions and the things she said to her daughter and how she forced her to do what she wanted and didn't care about her child's desires. Her ADULT child's wants and needs. But as we get further into the story, you get to see how convoluted everything ends up being and perhaps maybe get to understand everyone's actions.
I really enjoyed Noni's character and the way she changed and developed over the course of the story. She is a young woman trying to find her place in the world, and like most 18 year olds, wants to rebel and do things in her own way. But one thing she probably didn't expect when visiting a place that her ancestors have ties to, is to uncover truths about her family and the history. As with many Black Americans, the truths are not always pretty and I really enjoyed the way the author intertwined each piece of history into Noni's findings and to her really caring about each and every detail. Her character was flawed, but also she left so much room for growth and I liked seeing her find not only her present, but also her past.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with this story. The narration was superb and really brought Noni's character to life. I loved that this was told completely from Noni's POV and we got to see her evolve over the course of the story and begin to take some good pieces from both of her parents while also keeping true to becoming her own self. The way the author incorporated the present while also including the past and showing how racism, ones ancestory and lineage still holds true even today. It effected the whole trajectory of who we are as a people and was done quite well considering this was a debut novel. I look forward to reading what Kalela Williams writes next.
January 31, 2025
4.7. Noni Reid has grown up in the shadow of her mother, Dr. Radiance Castine, renowned scholar of Black literature, who is alarmingly perfect at just about everything.
When Dr. Castine takes a job as the president of the prestigious Stonepost College in rural Virginia, Noni is forced to leave her New England home and, most importantly, a prime internship and her friends. She and her mother move into the “big house” on Tangleroot Plantation.
Tangleroot was built by one of Noni’s ancestors, an enslaved man named Cuffee Fortune—who Dr. Castine believes was also the original founder of Stonepost College, and that the school was originally formed for Black students. Dr. Castine spends much of her time trying to piece together enough undeniable truth in order to change the name of the school in Cuffee’s honor—and to force the university to reckon with its own racist past.
Meanwhile, Noni hates everything about her new home, but finds herself morbidly fascinated by the white, slaveholding family who once lived in it. Slowly, she begins to unpeel the layers of sinister history that envelop her Virginia town, her mother’s workplace, her ancestry—and her life story as she knew it. Through it all, she must navigate the ancient prejudices of the citizens in her small town, and ultimately, she finds herself both affirming her mother’s position and her own—but also discovering a secret that changes everything.
When Dr. Castine takes a job as the president of the prestigious Stonepost College in rural Virginia, Noni is forced to leave her New England home and, most importantly, a prime internship and her friends. She and her mother move into the “big house” on Tangleroot Plantation.
Tangleroot was built by one of Noni’s ancestors, an enslaved man named Cuffee Fortune—who Dr. Castine believes was also the original founder of Stonepost College, and that the school was originally formed for Black students. Dr. Castine spends much of her time trying to piece together enough undeniable truth in order to change the name of the school in Cuffee’s honor—and to force the university to reckon with its own racist past.
Meanwhile, Noni hates everything about her new home, but finds herself morbidly fascinated by the white, slaveholding family who once lived in it. Slowly, she begins to unpeel the layers of sinister history that envelop her Virginia town, her mother’s workplace, her ancestry—and her life story as she knew it. Through it all, she must navigate the ancient prejudices of the citizens in her small town, and ultimately, she finds herself both affirming her mother’s position and her own—but also discovering a secret that changes everything.
October 6, 2024
⭐️4.5
I am not one to read the blurb often so I was very surprised when I actually started listening to what the story was about. When we are introduced to our FMC all I felt was rage for everything in her life. Her mom liked to control the narrative from deciding where Noni lives, works, attends college. I loathed her mother and the choices she took away from Noni. My opinion did change on her mother slightly near the end when we get the big reveals of the WHY. It changed my mind enough to understand and feel more towards her mother. It did not change my opinion on her taking choices away from Noni. Noni wholeheartedly deserved to live the life the way she wanted.
This story had me crying and gasping. If you enjoy YA coming of age stories, I recommend this one. Let your inner rage spread through the cracks as you read about the mistreatment of the POC characters in this book all the way from the past when slavery was still a common to the present where white folk "did no wrong" and continue to try and establish the same mistreatment. Noni just blossoms throughout this story and the ending I was crying tears of joy for her family and her.
Tangleroot is going to be forever engraved in my brain.
Thank you McMillian Audio and Netgalley for the ALC!
I am not one to read the blurb often so I was very surprised when I actually started listening to what the story was about. When we are introduced to our FMC all I felt was rage for everything in her life. Her mom liked to control the narrative from deciding where Noni lives, works, attends college. I loathed her mother and the choices she took away from Noni. My opinion did change on her mother slightly near the end when we get the big reveals of the WHY. It changed my mind enough to understand and feel more towards her mother. It did not change my opinion on her taking choices away from Noni. Noni wholeheartedly deserved to live the life the way she wanted.
This story had me crying and gasping. If you enjoy YA coming of age stories, I recommend this one. Let your inner rage spread through the cracks as you read about the mistreatment of the POC characters in this book all the way from the past when slavery was still a common to the present where white folk "did no wrong" and continue to try and establish the same mistreatment. Noni just blossoms throughout this story and the ending I was crying tears of joy for her family and her.
Tangleroot is going to be forever engraved in my brain.
Thank you McMillian Audio and Netgalley for the ALC!
October 17, 2024
Ok I REALLY like this one at the beginning but it lost me a bit at the end, although I did appreciate how the story tied up by learning about her mother's past. The beginning of this kinda gave me Legendborn vibes without the fantasy, mainly because it felt like this poor girl was subjected to so much discrimination in her life and she was also trying to work out the mystery of her families legacy and where she belongs in the world. The mother made me SO angry, I honestly felt like she was emotionally abusive at times and just beyond controlling. But the writing, the storytelling, and the plot was super interesting.
Tangleroot follows Noni, who has grown up in the shadow of her mother, a famous Black scholar, who is passionate about her community and getting justice. Noni just wants to be a creative college student, trying desperately to flee her family and make her own life, but her mother forces her to move to Virginia and follow her mom's commands. They move to Tangleroot, which was built by one of Noni's ancestors, who was enslaved at the Tangleroot Plantation. Noni is determined to uncover the history behind her family and the white family that owned the plantation, behind her mother's back.
This book deals with the prejudice and discrimination against the Black community and exploring the impact of generational trauma. I thought this aspect of the book was beautifully written and thought provoking. I really loved Noni as a character and was rooting for her the whole book! Thank you to Fierce Reads for the free advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
Tangleroot follows Noni, who has grown up in the shadow of her mother, a famous Black scholar, who is passionate about her community and getting justice. Noni just wants to be a creative college student, trying desperately to flee her family and make her own life, but her mother forces her to move to Virginia and follow her mom's commands. They move to Tangleroot, which was built by one of Noni's ancestors, who was enslaved at the Tangleroot Plantation. Noni is determined to uncover the history behind her family and the white family that owned the plantation, behind her mother's back.
This book deals with the prejudice and discrimination against the Black community and exploring the impact of generational trauma. I thought this aspect of the book was beautifully written and thought provoking. I really loved Noni as a character and was rooting for her the whole book! Thank you to Fierce Reads for the free advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
August 30, 2024
4.5 Stars
What a delightful surprise of a book. I really didn't know how this book was going to unfold, not before I started reading it and not while I was reading it. The unraveling of characters, of history, and of ancestry in this book is complex and nuanced--and I absolutely loved it! I'm not sure I know a ton of YA readers who will love this book, but I definitely know a ton of general readers who will. The only little sticking point I had was that the conclusion feels too, well, happy. It's not nearly as nuanced as the rest of the book, and while I love a good happy ending, it just didn't quite fit with the realism of everything up to that point. I do think we need more happy endings in BIPOC stories, though, so I won't be complaining too much!
Anyway, my full review will be published on November 8, 2024 at Gateway Reviews. Stop by if you get the chance!
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
What a delightful surprise of a book. I really didn't know how this book was going to unfold, not before I started reading it and not while I was reading it. The unraveling of characters, of history, and of ancestry in this book is complex and nuanced--and I absolutely loved it! I'm not sure I know a ton of YA readers who will love this book, but I definitely know a ton of general readers who will. The only little sticking point I had was that the conclusion feels too, well, happy. It's not nearly as nuanced as the rest of the book, and while I love a good happy ending, it just didn't quite fit with the realism of everything up to that point. I do think we need more happy endings in BIPOC stories, though, so I won't be complaining too much!
Anyway, my full review will be published on November 8, 2024 at Gateway Reviews. Stop by if you get the chance!
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
October 31, 2024
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for an ARC of this book. I was blown away by Tangleroot. This is such an important book. It is very eye opening and tackles some difficult subjects: racism, abuse, enslavement, and small town secrets. Williams expertly weaves a story through generations that keeps you invested and interested in what happened in the past and what is happening in the present day story. She also tackles small town life, friendship, coming of age, figuring out who you are, and mother-daughter/ family relationships. I loved watching Noni grow and learn about her family and herself. The story starts out a little slowly but quickly builds--it is worth the wait. I can't wait to recommend this book to my High School students and staff.
October 14, 2024
At first, I wanted to read this book because I thought the cover was beautiful and I liked the summary of the book. The book, it is beautifully written. I love how it takes you through the journey of Noni learning about herself as a teenager/adult and also seeing herself in the way that her mom sees her. I love that her mom is also on a journey and you find out why the mom has been doing what she does due to what has taken place in the past.The inclusion of historical pieces makes the book even more special. I love historical fiction and this leans into that for me and still keeps the book relevant to young adults / adults interested in the topic.
Glad I got to read this E-ARC
Glad I got to read this E-ARC
November 5, 2024
The content warnings absolutely need to be listened to. There are violent acts of racism. That being said this book is so important. I took so much from this book and I encourage everyone to read it.
October 16, 2024
This book was half modern day storytelling half historical fiction. One of the best parts of this book were the diaries and stories from the past. They were an unflinching look at the horrors of the past that we never need to forget. Noni was a complicated character who I just felt for. Even though she could be rude and annoying at times I could understand how an 18 year old going through the trauma of the move and parents divorce could be this way. What I did not understand was why Radiance was so cruel to Noni. And I felt that was never truly addressed or resolved.
Read
February 6, 2025I’m sorry just had to dnf this, i can’t connect with the story and the mc was a lil annoying too
February 27, 2025
Really spectacular YA, though some of the sides plots felt half baked
March 3, 2025
I’m so glad I picked this up—it was not at all what I expected. Mystery, Deep South, academia, character growth, history—I would give to my kids 16+. There’s lots to discuss, and a little bit of off-color language. The plot includes the stories of enslaved persons, and they aren’t pleasant. I appreciated the author’s skill and discretion with these sensitive situations.
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