The Recommended Reading Path
Because Ayana Mathis writes rich, standalone literary fiction rather than continuous series, you do not need to worry about rigid chronology or missing crucial plot points. However, to fully appreciate her stylistic growth and thematic evolution, we recommend reading her books in publication order:
- The Twelve Tribes of Hattie (2012) – Start here to experience the book that put Mathis on the literary map. It is a mosaic novel structured around twelve interconnected perspectives.
- The Unsettled (2023) – Read this second. It offers a more cohesive, multi-perspective narrative structure focusing on a mother, son, and grandmother caught between Philadelphia and Alabama in the 1980s.
Publication Order of Standalone Novels
While some online databases mistakenly list three novels for Mathis, she has only published two. Below is the official publication history of her standalone novels:
- The Twelve Tribes of Hattie (2012)
- The Unsettled (2023)
The Mystery of “A Violent Woman”
If you search for Ayana Mathis on book listing websites or library catalogs, you might run across a third title: A Violent Woman, often listed with a publication date of 2022. This is not a separate book. A Violent Woman was the working title of her second novel during its development and her fellowship at the American Academy in Berlin. The project was revised, retitled, and ultimately published in late 2023 as The Unsettled. If you see it listed online, you do not need to search for a copy—you already have it in The Unsettled.
A Closer Look at the Novels
The Twelve Tribes of Hattie (2012)
Mathis’s debut novel is a powerful, episodic chronicle of the Great Migration's legacy. The story begins in 1923 when fifteen-year-old Hattie Shepherd flees the Jim Crow South for Philadelphia. After a devastating tragedy involving her firstborn twins, Hattie hardens herself to survive, raising nine subsequent children and one grandchild. The novel is structured like a collection of linked short stories, with each chapter focusing on a different “tribe” member (one of Hattie's children). This format allows Mathis to paint a sweeping portrait of mid-century Black American life, detailing the characters' struggles with faith, sexuality, mental health, and poverty.
The Unsettled (2023)
Set in the 1980s, Mathis's second novel shifts between Philadelphia and Bonaparte, Alabama—a fading, historically Black town. The narrative centers on Ava, a mother living in a Philadelphia shelter who becomes involved with a charismatic leader of a radical, self-sovereign community called STEP. Meanwhile, her young son Toussaint tries to navigate the instability, and Ava’s fierce mother, Dutchess, fights to preserve Bonaparte from being bought out. This novel explores themes of maternal love, generational trauma, systemic oppression, and the search for home and belonging.
Essays and Anthology Contributions
In addition to her novels, Mathis is an accomplished essayist and critic. Her nonfiction work provides valuable context for her fiction, particularly regarding her interest in religion, faith, and the Black arts movement.
- “On Impractical Urges” in Double Bind: Women on Ambition (2017) – In this anthology edited by Robin Romm, Mathis contributes a personal essay reflecting on the sudden, overwhelming success of her debut novel and how she reconciled her family's history of survival with conventional literary ambition.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into Ayana Mathis's novels, keep these tips in mind to enhance your reading experience:
- Thematic Intensity: Both novels deal with heavy themes, including child loss, domestic violence, systemic racism, and mental illness. While beautifully written, they are emotionally intense and raw.
- Faith and Evangelicalism: Drawing from her childhood, Mathis frequently explores the impact of strict religious communities and the search for faith in difficult times.
- Oprah's Selection: The Twelve Tribes of Hattie was chosen as the second selection for Oprah's Book Club 2.0, cementing its place in contemporary American literature.