Told from Ann’s perspective, The Ribbon Untied captures Chuck and Ann’s quest for answers, with vivid detail and attention paid to what each step felt like. Ann’s handling of the story is well-paced and chronological, with judicious excerpts from vintage letters. The focus on travel and meals might strike some readers as minutiae, but they capture the texture of the couple’s search plus their processing and celebration of new information in an era when people rooting out genealogical information both before and during the age of Google. Still, some passages read more like quick updates than an in-depth retelling.

Ann’s account of diving into research will resonate with readers fascinated by the complexity of and American life, though readers attempting to find their own long-lost family will find little practical advice as this account is more attentive to personal stories and emotional impact. Ann closes with well-curated photos of Chuck’s family from the past (and as recently as 2018) that lend an intimate perspective to this interesting memoir.

Takeaway: This warm memoir digs into a secret family history after a husband and wife uncover a life-changing surprise in a shoebox.

Great for fans of: Bess Kalb’s Nobody Will Tell You This But Me, Vince Granata’s Everything Is Fine.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A
Editing: B-
Marketing copy: B