Unsettled: A Novel

Van Reinhardt is on a genealogical quest to find her ancestor, who no one has claimed, and discovers a request penned by her father prior to his death. Meanwhile, Kate is a German immigrant newly arrived in America with only her brother as family, and she eventually finds her way back to him with a secret. Van revisits her ancestors' town and farm to discover calamitous events in probate records, farm auction lists, asylum records, and obituaries, hinting at a history more complex and tumultuous than she had expected.

Format: Unspecified
Length: 300 pages
Publication date: 23 November 2023
Publisher: Sibylline Press

Van Reinhardt embarks on a genealogical journey that takes her back 100 years to the Iowa prairie, in search of an ancestor who has remained unclaimed by anyone in her family. As she clears out her father's belongings, she stumbles upon a request penned by her father before his passing. Delving into the family portrait of her German immigrant ancestors, Van's curiosity intensifies toward one of the children depicted in the picture.

Meanwhile, in the 1870s, Kate, a German immigrant, arrives in America with only her brother as her family. After their separation, Kate manages to reunite with her brother, but she carries a secret with her.

Van revisits the town and the farm of her ancestors to uncover a tumultuous history concealed in probate records, farm auction lists, asylum records, and lurid obituaries. The mystery persists until she discovers a small book, sized for a pocket, that holds Tante Kate's secret and provides the missing piece to the puzzle.

Through her research, Van learns that her ancestor, Tante Kate, was a midwife who faced discrimination and hardship due to her gender and religious beliefs. She was a strong and resilient woman who faced numerous challenges but always managed to provide for her family.

Van's journey not only sheds light on the history of her family but also provides her with a deeper understanding of the struggles and resilience of immigrants in the 19th century. It is a testament to the power of genealogy and the importance of preserving family stories.

Weight: 440g
Dimension: 135 x 215 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781736795484