Title and Author: An Uninterrupted View of the Sky by Melanie Crowder

Plot Overview: An Uninterrupted View of the Sky by Melanie Crowder is a bildungsroman historical fiction novel with the protagonist Francisco, an eighteen year old who lives in Bolivia with his little sister and parents. He is exceptional at soccer and does not care much for school, but continues it because of his father’s insistence. His family is not poor but they are by no means well off; both of his parents have to work numerous jobs to bring in enough income to support the family. One day, Francisco’s father is arrested while driving his taxi for possession of coca leaves that was interpreted as drug trafficking because of the law 1008 that cracks down on cocaine transport. Francisco and his sister have to move into the prison with his father, who is wrongfully imprisoned, because their upper-class mother abandons them. The book explores how Francisco finds his identity while working to hold together the best for his family, grapple with reality (particularly socioeconomic divisions), and prepare with the future.

Critique: I liked this book. It was really nice to see how all the elements of ethnic Amaya culture as well as nuances of poetry were used to weave and genuine story that portrayed realistic but effortless emotion. It was definitely more of a historical fiction book than a YA book, but it was a great read. It dealt with elements of growing up in a rough environment masterfully as well. I disliked how quickly it ended and how some elements of plot dragged on for too long, but otherwise, it was pretty good. A side note -- it took me a really long time to actually get started beyond a chapter (2 months), but once I started, it was hard to put down.

Cover Critique: It is a very pretty cover that conveys some themes of the book very well, but I would have liked it a little bit more if it expressed the ethnic elements of the book better.

Star Rating: I would rate this book a 3.5/5. It was very sincere, realistic, and well-written. It is a little intense at times, however, and I would recommend it for readers aged 12 and older.

From Ms. Yang: I love how reading fiction by authors who explore various historical or contemporary events opens you to different worlds and experiences. Melanie Crowder seems to be one of those authors. Her book, Audacity, is about Clara Lemich, a young Russian immigrant who fought for improved working conditions in turn of the 20th century New York factories. Her efforts led to the biggest strike by women in American history.