May, 2025 

“The Beauty of the End” by Lauren Stienstra

When Charlie and her twin sister Maggie are eight years old, a genetic marker is found, counting down how many generations each species would remain fertile.  The government begins a genetic program to save eggs, provide babies, and create a new generation of scientists.  Charlie and Maggie both join the program, trading their own fertility for the larger good.  Brilliant Maggie thrives in the program, quickly outpacing her colleagues.  After graduation, they are both placed in far flung parts of the world, where they begin matching eggs and sperm and depositing them in willing couples.

I thought this book and world was extremely interesting and well developed.  Charlie and Maggie were fascinating characters, and I enjoyed the differences among the twins.  The secondary characters were also well developed.  The plot moved at a nice pace.  While there were some loose ends throughout the book, I would love to read more set in this world.  Overall, highly recommended.

“Three Children in Danger” by Marion Kummerow 

When twelve-year-old Holfer and his two siblings are left alone, they must find their own way to avoid the roundups and concentration camps.  A handful of resistance fighters band together, setting up a daring plan - Mission Swedish Furniture.

This book was meant for a younger audience.  I found it a bit simplistic and repetitive.  Each chapter provided a recap of what had just happened, which I find off-putting.  Overall, 3 out of 5 stars.

“When Sleeping Women Wake” by Emma Pei Yin 

After the Japanese invasion of Shanghai, the Tang family relocated to Hong Kong, believing they were safe under British protection.  First Wife, Mingzhu, struggles to deal with her husband’s concubine, while fighting boredom and loneliness. Slowly, Mingzhu begins to develop a relationship with her daughter’s tutor, finding excitement in their shared love of poetry. When the Japanese invade Hong Kong, the family is split.  

This book was a bit slow moving at times.  For a book centered on three female characters, none of the characters seemed particularly developed or engaging.   I would have loved to have read more from Biyu’s point of view.  However, she largely felt like an afterthought.  I did enjoy reading about the resistance, particularly how the teenagers.  Overall, 3 out of 5 stars.

“The Last Patient” by Tudor Alexander

This book is set in Romania following World War II.  Spanning over fifty years, the novel begins with a young couple, and follows their life.  Prior to the war, Kostea and Clara met and fell in love.  Both doctor’s, they are limited under the confines of communism.  While Kostea focuses on his career, Clara raises their son while working in a lab.  

I found this novel to be well written and engaging.  The characters were lively and well developed.  The plot moved along nicely and did not seem to brush over and skip time.  Set in Romania, I enjoyed reading about their way of life, culture, and struggles under communism.  Overall, 4 out of 5 stars.

“The Harvey Girls” by Juliette Fay

Charlotte and Billie join the Harvey Girls on the same day.  Charlotte, born into a wealthy socialite family, is running from domestic violence.  Billie, the oldest of nine children, is forced to work to help support her family.  The two are thrown together from the start and immediate clash.

This was an intriguing and quick read.  I thought the history of the Harvey Girls was fascinating. I think if I lived during that time I might have been a Harvey Girl myself!  The book touched upon issues of domestic violence, but also showed how the girls banded together to protect their own.  I thought the camaraderie of the women was heartwarming.  Overall, the book was well written and well paced.  5 out of 5 stars

“A Flower Traveled in My Blood” by Haley Cohen Gilliland 

During political upheaval in Argentina, thousands of people were disappeared.  Among these were hundreds of pregnant women.  After giving birth, their children were given to others and the women were never heard from again.  This is the story of their mothers, who protested their disappearance and demanded answers.

What happened in Argentina was utterly heartbreaking.  However, I found hope and resilience in the mothers.  Their acts of protest, and determination to find their missing children and grandchildren showed such courage and dedication.  I also found their pursuit of science to find answers amazing.  DNA testing did not exist when their children and grandchildren disappeared.  Yet they pioneered the new approaches and never gave up.  Overall, a must read!

“Uncertain Luck" by Rea Keech

After the death of her mother, Emiko travels to Tokyo to find her missing father.  Knowing that her father was protesting the Vietnam War, Emiko visits a resistance office.  She doesn’t find her father, but she obtains a job as a translator.  She is wary of her boss, but takes the job in order to keep searching.  She also meets Juan, an American soldier stationed nearby. Their whirlwind romance is put on hold when Juan is transferred to Vietnam.

Although I thought the characters were interesting, I thought the story was a bit flat.  The story seemed to go kinda nowhere, and Emiko seemed easily distracted.  While she was meeting Juan, I kept thinking about her father’s disappearance.  Overall, 3 out of 5 stars.

“The Last Secret Agent” by Pippa Latour & Jude Dobson 

As a child in South Africa, Pippa was orphaned at an early age.  She spent her formative years in the South African wilds, learning on the go.  After attending a finishing school in France, she moved to London to assist in the war.  Barely an adult, Pippa was recruited as a secret agent and parachuted into France.  There she encountered danger with every step.  However, she bravely reported on troop movements and items of interest. Often places were bombed shortly after she sent in her radio reports.  At the end of the war, she made her way to Paris on foot before being sent back to England.  From there she moved to New Zealand and moved on with her life.  This story represents one of the first times that she spoke about her wartime activities.

I thought Pippa’s childhood and training was very interesting and intriguing.  Although she tended to downplay her courage, she was very brave and instrumental in ending the war.  A true hero!  The book seemed a bit detached at times, but I attribute that to the passage of time and the blurring of memory.  Overall, 4 out of 5 stars.

“Lady or the Tiger” by Heather M. Herman

After turning herself in for murder, Belle King finds herself fighting the sheriff, her former husband, and the crowds of people outside the jailhouse.  As a teenager, Belle killed a man who was after her mother, and then watched as her mother was shot.  Sent to an insane asylum, she took the only escape she saw, marriage to her mother’s killer.  From there she ran into Cal, and left her husband.  Together they formed a type of performing group, where they sang and performed at hangings.

I had trouble relating to this book.  The characters did not resonate with me.  The only emotion that Belle had was rage, which was just too much.  While I’m sure many will enjoy this book, it just wasn’t for me.