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Recommend this book:
Blue Sky Gone
J.S. Farmer
2023 Bronze Medal
357 Pages
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Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite
Audrey is the sister who remains at home in Connecticut, struggling through the police academy as the only woman among many men who believe she should not be there. Hannah has moved to New York and works on the 84th floor of the South World Trade Center, has just met Travis, the man of her dreams, and loves her life. Travis is totally in love with Hannah and works on the 104th floor of the North Tower. On the morning of September 11th, Hannah is looking out the conference room window and is horrified to see a plane come crashing into the North Tower - her life will never again be the same. Against her boss's wishes, she immediately heads for the stairwell and begins the long journey down the stairs. Shortly after plane number one, another crashes into the South Tower. Hannah fights to make it to ground level. Audrey learns of the tragedy and joins a group of policemen who will be traveling to New York to help in any way that they can. The survival, the damage, and the aftermath take years for both sisters to understand.
Blue Sky Gone by J.S. Farmer is a unique real-life story turned into an excellent fictional book; taking the events of the bombing of the Twin Towers and weaving it into the story of Audrey's and Hannah’s experiences. Blue Sky Gone hit a very personal note for me as my husband had been working in the towers only a short time before and we were blessed that he had moved on to another job at another location. I found myself fully immersed in Blue Sky Gone and felt for both Audrey and Hannah. J.S. Farmer has written an amazing book incorporating a great plot, characters that were impossible not to like and root for, plus a beautiful tribute to a time in history ‘We Must Never Forget’. I cannot say enough good things about Blue Sky Gone and urge everyone, young, old, male, and female to put this book at the very top of their reading list. This book must be read for you to feel the pain, the agony, the joy, and the sacrifices; there is no way I can express these themes strongly enough in a book review.
Audrey is the sister who remains at home in Connecticut, struggling through the police academy as the only woman among many men who believe she should not be there. Hannah has moved to New York and works on the 84th floor of the South World Trade Center, has just met Travis, the man of her dreams, and loves her life. Travis is totally in love with Hannah and works on the 104th floor of the North Tower. On the morning of September 11th, Hannah is looking out the conference room window and is horrified to see a plane come crashing into the North Tower - her life will never again be the same. Against her boss's wishes, she immediately heads for the stairwell and begins the long journey down the stairs. Shortly after plane number one, another crashes into the South Tower. Hannah fights to make it to ground level. Audrey learns of the tragedy and joins a group of policemen who will be traveling to New York to help in any way that they can. The survival, the damage, and the aftermath take years for both sisters to understand.
Blue Sky Gone by J.S. Farmer is a unique real-life story turned into an excellent fictional book; taking the events of the bombing of the Twin Towers and weaving it into the story of Audrey's and Hannah’s experiences. Blue Sky Gone hit a very personal note for me as my husband had been working in the towers only a short time before and we were blessed that he had moved on to another job at another location. I found myself fully immersed in Blue Sky Gone and felt for both Audrey and Hannah. J.S. Farmer has written an amazing book incorporating a great plot, characters that were impossible not to like and root for, plus a beautiful tribute to a time in history ‘We Must Never Forget’. I cannot say enough good things about Blue Sky Gone and urge everyone, young, old, male, and female to put this book at the very top of their reading list. This book must be read for you to feel the pain, the agony, the joy, and the sacrifices; there is no way I can express these themes strongly enough in a book review.
Recommend this book:
Return To Hardscrabble Road
George Weinstein
2023 Bronze Medal
316 Pages
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Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Return To Hardscrabble Road is a work of fiction in the historical and interpersonal drama subgenres. It is suitable for the general adult reading audience and contains some scenes of violence and the use of explicit language. Penned by author George Weinstein, the story centers on the same initial group of characters as those of Hardscrabble Road, the author’s previous novel, but the work can be read as a standalone as the MacLeod brothers return home from military service when their father dies. Far from a heartfelt family reunion, the appearance of Papa’s siblings sparks a violent new era for the family and a fight for the central protagonist Roger to rise above it all and become the man he wants to be.
This was an emotionally charged work that really elevates the family drama genre with its brutal honesty and no-holds-barred narrative style. It is never overly graphic or sensationalized, but the emotions and experiences that Roger and his family undergo at the hands of evil-minded relations really hits hard on the reader’s psyche and make for harrowing and highly engaging reading. I also felt that the dialogue was a particular triumph of this work as it served to bring important events to the fore without the need for huge chunks of prose, and kept readers engaged in the present moment. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend Return To Hardscrabble Road for fans of the previous novel, and newcomers to the accomplished emotional storytelling skills of author George Weinstein.
Return To Hardscrabble Road is a work of fiction in the historical and interpersonal drama subgenres. It is suitable for the general adult reading audience and contains some scenes of violence and the use of explicit language. Penned by author George Weinstein, the story centers on the same initial group of characters as those of Hardscrabble Road, the author’s previous novel, but the work can be read as a standalone as the MacLeod brothers return home from military service when their father dies. Far from a heartfelt family reunion, the appearance of Papa’s siblings sparks a violent new era for the family and a fight for the central protagonist Roger to rise above it all and become the man he wants to be.
This was an emotionally charged work that really elevates the family drama genre with its brutal honesty and no-holds-barred narrative style. It is never overly graphic or sensationalized, but the emotions and experiences that Roger and his family undergo at the hands of evil-minded relations really hits hard on the reader’s psyche and make for harrowing and highly engaging reading. I also felt that the dialogue was a particular triumph of this work as it served to bring important events to the fore without the need for huge chunks of prose, and kept readers engaged in the present moment. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend Return To Hardscrabble Road for fans of the previous novel, and newcomers to the accomplished emotional storytelling skills of author George Weinstein.
Recommend this book:
Doolittle's Men
A Novel of the Air Raid on Tokyo
Paul D. Burgess
2023 Honorable Mention
370 Pages
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Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
Reviewed by Lexie Fox for Readers' Favorite
Doolittle’s Men is a historical work by Paul D. Burgess. It follows several pilots and their support crew as they take part in the Doolittle Raid, an immediate retaliation by the USA against Japan’s bombing of Pearl Harbour during World War Two. Using vivid descriptions of the conditions of the raid and the constant feeling of danger felt by all crews throughout the operation, this story brings this historical event to life with a visceral and immersive narrative that closely follows its historical reality. From the launch of the USS Hornet to the attack to the desperate bid to escape back to the Allied territory, it authentically portrays the risks the flight crews undertook for today's modern audience.
The secret to getting invested in a dangerous mission like this is to bring each of the characters entering the lion’s den to life, a feat that Paul D. Burgess accomplishes in spades. Characters such as Thatcher, my personal favorite of the ensemble, face the realities of prolonged exposure to life-threatening danger and constantly evolve and struggle to keep going. All the characters feel fleshed out and as real as any of the men who flew the mission. The danger they subsequently expose themselves to for their country strikes one so much harder because of it. Doolittle’s Men is a treat of historical fiction that handles the source material with respect in sharing an important part of US history without compromising on the suspense, action, and thrills.
Doolittle’s Men is a historical work by Paul D. Burgess. It follows several pilots and their support crew as they take part in the Doolittle Raid, an immediate retaliation by the USA against Japan’s bombing of Pearl Harbour during World War Two. Using vivid descriptions of the conditions of the raid and the constant feeling of danger felt by all crews throughout the operation, this story brings this historical event to life with a visceral and immersive narrative that closely follows its historical reality. From the launch of the USS Hornet to the attack to the desperate bid to escape back to the Allied territory, it authentically portrays the risks the flight crews undertook for today's modern audience.
The secret to getting invested in a dangerous mission like this is to bring each of the characters entering the lion’s den to life, a feat that Paul D. Burgess accomplishes in spades. Characters such as Thatcher, my personal favorite of the ensemble, face the realities of prolonged exposure to life-threatening danger and constantly evolve and struggle to keep going. All the characters feel fleshed out and as real as any of the men who flew the mission. The danger they subsequently expose themselves to for their country strikes one so much harder because of it. Doolittle’s Men is a treat of historical fiction that handles the source material with respect in sharing an important part of US history without compromising on the suspense, action, and thrills.
Recommend this book:
If Someday Comes
A Slave's Story of Freedom
David Calloway
2023 Honorable Mention
427 Pages
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Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
Reviewed by Andy Hutchings for Readers' Favorite
Few concepts have left such hideous scars on world history as slavery, with the wounds caused by centuries of kidnapping and selling human beings still being healed around the world. In David Calloway’s debut novel, If Someday Comes: A Slave's Story of Freedom, I was given an insight into the life of a slave that added humanity and a sense of hope to the tale of George Calloway as he lived under the eyes of the people who owned him and his family. The events in George’s life were extraordinary, from his participation in rescuing fellow slaves to his role in the Civil War.
I’m profoundly grateful that George’s story has been shared in this way so that the oral history passed down through the Calloway family can be read by the whole world to deepen their understanding of the lives of slaves in the 1800s. George is an inspiring figure, and the lines that David Calloway blurs between fiction and fact throughout this book create a fascinating mythology around a very real experience without ever letting us forget the brutal truths behind it all. If Someday Comes chronicles an incredible life that showcases the horrifying evil of the slave trade as well as the complex sense of bravery shown by the men and women living under it. Works such as this which highlight an individual's journey are powerful tools for understanding our history. This book uses stunning and gripping prose to take readers on an unforgettable experience into a time and place that we must never forget about.
Few concepts have left such hideous scars on world history as slavery, with the wounds caused by centuries of kidnapping and selling human beings still being healed around the world. In David Calloway’s debut novel, If Someday Comes: A Slave's Story of Freedom, I was given an insight into the life of a slave that added humanity and a sense of hope to the tale of George Calloway as he lived under the eyes of the people who owned him and his family. The events in George’s life were extraordinary, from his participation in rescuing fellow slaves to his role in the Civil War.
I’m profoundly grateful that George’s story has been shared in this way so that the oral history passed down through the Calloway family can be read by the whole world to deepen their understanding of the lives of slaves in the 1800s. George is an inspiring figure, and the lines that David Calloway blurs between fiction and fact throughout this book create a fascinating mythology around a very real experience without ever letting us forget the brutal truths behind it all. If Someday Comes chronicles an incredible life that showcases the horrifying evil of the slave trade as well as the complex sense of bravery shown by the men and women living under it. Works such as this which highlight an individual's journey are powerful tools for understanding our history. This book uses stunning and gripping prose to take readers on an unforgettable experience into a time and place that we must never forget about.
Recommend this book:
A Distant Horizon
The Distant Series Book 1
AnneMarie Brear
2022 Gold Medal
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
A Distant Horizon is a work of fiction in the historical, interpersonal drama, and women’s fiction subgenres. It forms the opening installment of The Distant Series and was penned for the general adult reading audience by author AnneMarie Brear. Set during the intensely difficult Irish Potato Famine of the mid-nineteenth century, we meet our protagonist Ellen Kittrick after many years of strife, when she is struggling and at her wit’s end. With a family to support and her husband out of work, Ellen makes a series of bold moves to elevate her family and ensure survival, but these moves are not without danger, difficulty, and discrimination.
Author AnneMarie Brear has crafted a sweeping historical saga with atmosphere, emotion, and drama aplenty that will surely satisfy any fan of the genre. Ellen Kittrick’s life is filled with all the cinematically-described hardships of poverty, unemployment, and starvation that you’d expect, but this novel goes beyond the simple sympathy vote and paints Ellen as a woman of character, intellect, and ingenuity at a time when women were not expected to rise up and be bold decision-makers in their families. Then, when the scene changes to life in an Australian colony, a whole new series of well-researched historical troubles crop up, which Ellen once again battles with the audience right on her shoulder. Brear’s intense narration and emotive dialogue really help you get into the heads of the characters and understand the period better, making A Distant Horizon a spectacular series opener that ticks every box for historical saga fans.
A Distant Horizon is a work of fiction in the historical, interpersonal drama, and women’s fiction subgenres. It forms the opening installment of The Distant Series and was penned for the general adult reading audience by author AnneMarie Brear. Set during the intensely difficult Irish Potato Famine of the mid-nineteenth century, we meet our protagonist Ellen Kittrick after many years of strife, when she is struggling and at her wit’s end. With a family to support and her husband out of work, Ellen makes a series of bold moves to elevate her family and ensure survival, but these moves are not without danger, difficulty, and discrimination.
Author AnneMarie Brear has crafted a sweeping historical saga with atmosphere, emotion, and drama aplenty that will surely satisfy any fan of the genre. Ellen Kittrick’s life is filled with all the cinematically-described hardships of poverty, unemployment, and starvation that you’d expect, but this novel goes beyond the simple sympathy vote and paints Ellen as a woman of character, intellect, and ingenuity at a time when women were not expected to rise up and be bold decision-makers in their families. Then, when the scene changes to life in an Australian colony, a whole new series of well-researched historical troubles crop up, which Ellen once again battles with the audience right on her shoulder. Brear’s intense narration and emotive dialogue really help you get into the heads of the characters and understand the period better, making A Distant Horizon a spectacular series opener that ticks every box for historical saga fans.
Recommend this book:
Captain Sedition
The Death of the Age of Reason
K. C. Fusaro
2022 Gold Medal
358 Pages
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Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
Reviewed by Lex Allen for Readers' Favorite
In Captain Sedition by K.C. Fusaro, expatriate Joethan Wolfe, raised in England and now a courier for the power brokers of England, returns to America, the land of his birth, to find and secure the release of his father who has been charged with sedition. He has a pardon signed by the King. It's 1774 and the American Revolution is right around the corner. Wolfe negotiates a dangerous path between the Crown's military, loyalists, and American rebels. His friendship with Benjamin Franklin helps, but it's his own wits, dueling skills, and keen sense of timing that must see him through a variety of situations, from danger to intrigue to love.
From page one, author K.C. Fusaro establishes a sense of presence and pace for the reader that is at once undeniable and inescapable. Across the board, from character to location to dress, language, personal mannerisms of individual characters, and customs of pre-revolutionary America, verisimilitude--a sense of reality--abounds. A sense of historical urgency and fact keeps the reader enthralled by this rousing story of early America. Fusaro writes with authority, attention to detail, and the all-important spellbinding momentum that carries the lead character Wolfe through a myriad of disparate characters and situations. This includes a rendezvous with Prudence, a childhood friend and playmate now grown into a beautiful and unpredictable woman. Thoroughly captivating is an understatement for this magnificent story that doesn't end with Captain Sedition: The Death of the Age of Reason, but continues with book two, The Wages of Glory. Mr. Fusaro has a new fan here and I'm confident many, many more will follow.
In Captain Sedition by K.C. Fusaro, expatriate Joethan Wolfe, raised in England and now a courier for the power brokers of England, returns to America, the land of his birth, to find and secure the release of his father who has been charged with sedition. He has a pardon signed by the King. It's 1774 and the American Revolution is right around the corner. Wolfe negotiates a dangerous path between the Crown's military, loyalists, and American rebels. His friendship with Benjamin Franklin helps, but it's his own wits, dueling skills, and keen sense of timing that must see him through a variety of situations, from danger to intrigue to love.
From page one, author K.C. Fusaro establishes a sense of presence and pace for the reader that is at once undeniable and inescapable. Across the board, from character to location to dress, language, personal mannerisms of individual characters, and customs of pre-revolutionary America, verisimilitude--a sense of reality--abounds. A sense of historical urgency and fact keeps the reader enthralled by this rousing story of early America. Fusaro writes with authority, attention to detail, and the all-important spellbinding momentum that carries the lead character Wolfe through a myriad of disparate characters and situations. This includes a rendezvous with Prudence, a childhood friend and playmate now grown into a beautiful and unpredictable woman. Thoroughly captivating is an understatement for this magnificent story that doesn't end with Captain Sedition: The Death of the Age of Reason, but continues with book two, The Wages of Glory. Mr. Fusaro has a new fan here and I'm confident many, many more will follow.
Recommend this book:
A Small Hotel
Suanne Laqueur
2022 Silver Medal
514 Pages
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Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
Reviewed by Jennifer Ibiam for Readers' Favorite
Astrid Virtanen visited Martha in Clayton as part of her journey to see the world before making one final decision. She was Martha’s cousin, a housekeeper to the Fiskares who owned a hotel on the island. The firstborn Fiskare, Kennet, fell in love with Astrid through a picture, even before he saw her in the flesh. The duo hit it off and enjoyed a summer romance until her mother arrived and ruined everything. Astrid had family commitments caused by financial difficulties and a dependent, manipulative mother. Circumstances separated Kennet and his lover, and he reeled from the heartbreak until the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Kennet joined the army, where he knew a different love that changed him, but something was missing. Is there hope for Astrid and Kennet? A Small Hotel by Suanne Laqueur has the details.
A Small Hotel by Suanne Laqueur is a heartwarming story that started on a slow note before sucking me in. I was hooked until the end, as it showcased two kinds of love, both revolving around family. This novel also explored romance, stigmatization, marriages of convenience, parental love, and more. I loved the plot and storyline because they were brilliant and unique. It pained me how parents mortgaged their children’s lives for financial benefit. The year 1941 was such a memorable year, and I loved how Laqueur transitioned the action from a cute island love affair to the war front, effortlessly blending fact and fiction. The same-sex affair stigmatization, near-death experiences, loss of comrades, and the hell of concentration camps were some of the most defining moments in this novel. Veterans suffer their trauma for life. Ingrid and Emil deserve a story. A Small Hotel was captivating, emotional, and inspiring.
Astrid Virtanen visited Martha in Clayton as part of her journey to see the world before making one final decision. She was Martha’s cousin, a housekeeper to the Fiskares who owned a hotel on the island. The firstborn Fiskare, Kennet, fell in love with Astrid through a picture, even before he saw her in the flesh. The duo hit it off and enjoyed a summer romance until her mother arrived and ruined everything. Astrid had family commitments caused by financial difficulties and a dependent, manipulative mother. Circumstances separated Kennet and his lover, and he reeled from the heartbreak until the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Kennet joined the army, where he knew a different love that changed him, but something was missing. Is there hope for Astrid and Kennet? A Small Hotel by Suanne Laqueur has the details.
A Small Hotel by Suanne Laqueur is a heartwarming story that started on a slow note before sucking me in. I was hooked until the end, as it showcased two kinds of love, both revolving around family. This novel also explored romance, stigmatization, marriages of convenience, parental love, and more. I loved the plot and storyline because they were brilliant and unique. It pained me how parents mortgaged their children’s lives for financial benefit. The year 1941 was such a memorable year, and I loved how Laqueur transitioned the action from a cute island love affair to the war front, effortlessly blending fact and fiction. The same-sex affair stigmatization, near-death experiences, loss of comrades, and the hell of concentration camps were some of the most defining moments in this novel. Veterans suffer their trauma for life. Ingrid and Emil deserve a story. A Small Hotel was captivating, emotional, and inspiring.
Recommend this book:
The Last Daughter
Based on a True Story of One Girl's Courage in the Face of Evil
Belle Ami
2022 Bronze Medal
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
Reviewed by Heather Osborne for Readers' Favorite
The Last Daughter by Belle Ami is the harrowing story of the author’s mother during World War II in Europe. Dina had always lived comfortably in the loving embrace of her family. However, when Germany invaded Poland, all of that changes. Forced to leave her beloved home, her family is relocated into the Glinice ghetto. Gone are the carefree days of her childhood, replaced by fear and hunger, and hard work. Still, Dina’s family never gives up, even when they are deported to camps, bit by bit, their fates unknown. As Dina strives to survive the unthinkable, will she be able to keep her faith and make it through hell on earth?
A fantastic tale of perseverance, The Last Daughter by Belle Ami is an inspirational retelling of survival. So much is put on Dina and her family and she never gives up, constantly wishing for a better future. The novel is a stark account of her experiences during the Holocaust, without shying away from the horrors around her and all the other victims of the Nazis' atrocities. Yet, in the darkness, elements of hope keep Dina going. I particularly admired how Dina reflected back on the inspiration of her parents, using their strength and wisdom to survive, along with the unexpected kindness of strangers. It’s so important we never forget these parts of history and Dina’s experiences in the face of pure evil. I have read many memoirs of people who survived the Holocaust and The Last Daughter definitely is worth checking out for historical readers.
The Last Daughter by Belle Ami is the harrowing story of the author’s mother during World War II in Europe. Dina had always lived comfortably in the loving embrace of her family. However, when Germany invaded Poland, all of that changes. Forced to leave her beloved home, her family is relocated into the Glinice ghetto. Gone are the carefree days of her childhood, replaced by fear and hunger, and hard work. Still, Dina’s family never gives up, even when they are deported to camps, bit by bit, their fates unknown. As Dina strives to survive the unthinkable, will she be able to keep her faith and make it through hell on earth?
A fantastic tale of perseverance, The Last Daughter by Belle Ami is an inspirational retelling of survival. So much is put on Dina and her family and she never gives up, constantly wishing for a better future. The novel is a stark account of her experiences during the Holocaust, without shying away from the horrors around her and all the other victims of the Nazis' atrocities. Yet, in the darkness, elements of hope keep Dina going. I particularly admired how Dina reflected back on the inspiration of her parents, using their strength and wisdom to survive, along with the unexpected kindness of strangers. It’s so important we never forget these parts of history and Dina’s experiences in the face of pure evil. I have read many memoirs of people who survived the Holocaust and The Last Daughter definitely is worth checking out for historical readers.
Recommend this book:
The Only Way Home
Jeanette Minniti
2022 Honorable Mention
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite
The Only Way Home is a walk through 1933 and the Great Depression with 15-year-old Robert and 17-year-old Tucker who he meets on the road. Robert and Tucker have both left their homes in hopes of finding work as they travel the rails. They spend many nights sleeping in uncomfortable boxcars, heading to a new town and a new opportunity. Robert and Tucker often are hungry, without shelter, and in danger of the ‘bulls”, aka the police, locking them up if they get caught jumping off the freight trains. The boys also have good days meeting people who want to help and offer them a warm barn to sleep in, a hearty meal, and a hard labor job. Robert suffers and struggles through it all with his end goal of having earned some money to bring home to his mother and siblings. Tucker’s story is different; his father has told him he had to leave and find work because he could not afford for Tucker to stay at home any longer. Both boys form a quick and tight bond watching out for each other in all ways.
The Only Way Home by Jeanette Minniti is a sad story of the times but there are also some uplifting moments of sharing, friendship, and caring. Robert and Tucker showed a huge amount of courage and determination and never gave up on themselves or the journey to get to the end of the road; for Robert to get back with his family and for Tucker in finding a job and just surviving. I was not alive yet and had only second-hand knowledge of the struggles of the 1930s but this book brought it to life and, as I read, it was impossible not to feel the fear and pain of the times. The Only Way Home should be required reading for young and old. Jeanette Minniti has written a winner.
The Only Way Home is a walk through 1933 and the Great Depression with 15-year-old Robert and 17-year-old Tucker who he meets on the road. Robert and Tucker have both left their homes in hopes of finding work as they travel the rails. They spend many nights sleeping in uncomfortable boxcars, heading to a new town and a new opportunity. Robert and Tucker often are hungry, without shelter, and in danger of the ‘bulls”, aka the police, locking them up if they get caught jumping off the freight trains. The boys also have good days meeting people who want to help and offer them a warm barn to sleep in, a hearty meal, and a hard labor job. Robert suffers and struggles through it all with his end goal of having earned some money to bring home to his mother and siblings. Tucker’s story is different; his father has told him he had to leave and find work because he could not afford for Tucker to stay at home any longer. Both boys form a quick and tight bond watching out for each other in all ways.
The Only Way Home by Jeanette Minniti is a sad story of the times but there are also some uplifting moments of sharing, friendship, and caring. Robert and Tucker showed a huge amount of courage and determination and never gave up on themselves or the journey to get to the end of the road; for Robert to get back with his family and for Tucker in finding a job and just surviving. I was not alive yet and had only second-hand knowledge of the struggles of the 1930s but this book brought it to life and, as I read, it was impossible not to feel the fear and pain of the times. The Only Way Home should be required reading for young and old. Jeanette Minniti has written a winner.
Recommend this book:
Back of the Yard
A Great Depression Family Saga
Meg Lelvis
2022 Finalist
233 Pages
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Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite
Back of the Yard: A Great Depression Family Saga by Meg Lelvis follows an Irish Catholic family during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Growing up near the stockyards of South Chicago, Betty O'Leary, the youngest of her siblings, desperately wanted the confidence and quick wit of her pretty older sister, Maureen. However, the accidental death of her brother Joey leaves the O'Leary family in an abysmal state they struggle to recover. While Betty is sent to live with her aunt and uncle, her mother is admitted to a mental asylum. As the years pass by, Betty grows up and lands her first job in Milton, Wisconsin, where she meets Philip Lundgren (Phil), an English college instructor. Now married with two healthy sons, Betty's postpartum struggles become increasingly worse as she is plagued by nightmares. Can she cure herself of her cursed family legacy?
Meg Lelvis draws a vivid portrait of mental illness with grounded characters who face overwhelming challenges in their everyday lives. Back of the Yard is a tale about a family hampered by the unexpected twists and turns of fate, now having to rely on each other to get themselves out of their testing circumstances. Mental health plays a crucial part in the narrative, with two main characters, including the protagonist, suffering from depression-related psychological issues that they have to navigate. Despite the seemingly enormous problems faced by the O'Leary family, there is a sense of love and care between them that makes them easy to root for, especially the siblings, Betty, Maureen, and Dennis. Highly recommended.
Back of the Yard: A Great Depression Family Saga by Meg Lelvis follows an Irish Catholic family during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Growing up near the stockyards of South Chicago, Betty O'Leary, the youngest of her siblings, desperately wanted the confidence and quick wit of her pretty older sister, Maureen. However, the accidental death of her brother Joey leaves the O'Leary family in an abysmal state they struggle to recover. While Betty is sent to live with her aunt and uncle, her mother is admitted to a mental asylum. As the years pass by, Betty grows up and lands her first job in Milton, Wisconsin, where she meets Philip Lundgren (Phil), an English college instructor. Now married with two healthy sons, Betty's postpartum struggles become increasingly worse as she is plagued by nightmares. Can she cure herself of her cursed family legacy?
Meg Lelvis draws a vivid portrait of mental illness with grounded characters who face overwhelming challenges in their everyday lives. Back of the Yard is a tale about a family hampered by the unexpected twists and turns of fate, now having to rely on each other to get themselves out of their testing circumstances. Mental health plays a crucial part in the narrative, with two main characters, including the protagonist, suffering from depression-related psychological issues that they have to navigate. Despite the seemingly enormous problems faced by the O'Leary family, there is a sense of love and care between them that makes them easy to root for, especially the siblings, Betty, Maureen, and Dennis. Highly recommended.
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