May, 2020

"Book of the Little Axe" by Laruen Francis-Sharma         

This book alternates between two storylines. Victor, the son of Rosa, lives with the Crow Nation in Montana. He is on the cusp of manhood and struggling to find his vision. A young Rosa, lives in Trinidad, where her family expects her to cook, clean, and take care of the household. Rosa's talents lie in running the field and working outside, putting her in conflict with her family.          

This book was a very interesting mix of stories and cultures. I particularly enjoyed reading about Trinidad, a place I know virtually nothing about. The book did not have a true ending, which I found extremely frustrating. Overall, 4 out of 5 stars.

"Exile Music" by Jennifer Steil         

Growing up in Vienna, Orly's life is filled with music. Her father is a viola player, and her mother is an opera singer. When the German's begin enforcing restrictions against Jews, her older brother is sent away for his safety and Orly and her parents flees to Bolivia, the only country they can get a visa for. Orly and her father begin to slowly adjust to their strange new life, but her mother seems lost.          

This book was very hard to put down. I have never read anything about Bolivia, and the culture and people were fascinated. Orly was a very likeable character, and the relationships she made really added to the story. Overall, highly recommended.

"The War Outside" by Monica Hesse         

Margot, the daughter of German immigrants, and Haruko, the daughter of Japanese immigrants, meet in a WWII internment camp in Texas. Margot's mother is in ill health, and her father is sinking into German Nazi thinking. Haruko, consumed with worry for her brother, a soldier, and is nagged by a constant worry that her father is keeping secrets.          

This book utilized short snippets from each of the girls, which read like interviews about past events. This was an interesting format, and helped build the suspense of the story. Geared towards young adults, the book was well written and engaging. Overall, 4 out of 5 stars.

"The Prisoner's Wife" by Maggie Brookes         

Izabela, a Czech farm girl, falls for the British prisoner of war soldier tasked with working at her farm. Together, they hatch a crazy plan to marry, disguise Izabela as a boy and escape through the countryside. When the pair are captured, they do everything they can to maintain Izabela's disguise.          

This book was hard to put down. It was a very interesting and compelling story. The only criticism I have is that the book needed an epilogue. It is very frustrating to get so involved with characters and then have the story abruptly end. Despite this, criticism, I enjoyed the story and would definitely read more from this author. 4 out of 5 stars.

"The Color of Air" by Gail Tsukiyama         

After years spent in Chicago working as a doctor, Daniel is coming back home. He lives in the home of his deceased mother Mariko. Uncle Koji, Mariko's lover, is excited to see Daniel again. As Daniel arrives, a local volcano begins spewing, threatening their village.       

This book was extremely slow moving. It had a nostalgic feel, which was a bit off putting. Characters were constantly reliving the past, slowing the book down even further. Although the setting of the book was interesting, the story itself was a bit bland. Overall, a bust.

"Lost in Waste" by Catherine Haustine          

Set in a dystopic world, Cali and Eve are working together in a competition to become in vitro's. In vitro status would give both women status and wealth. When they are sent to a trash heap and solid waste pit, they are astonished to discover men nearby.          

I'm not exactly sure how to rate this book. The oddity of it, and the dynamic characters kept me reading. The world itself wasn't explained very well, and the book seemed half thought out. Although I would re-read this book, it wasn't altogether bad. Overall, 3 out of 5 stars.