Westering Women by Sandra Dallas

WESTERING WOMEN  by Sandra Dallas  

Characters are all important in this book that relates what it might have been like for a group of women, two ministers (who arranged the trip), and a few men (to drive the teams) traveling by wagon across the country from Chicago to the gold fields of California in 1852.  The object was to provide the men working the male dominated gold fields with honorable women as brides and co-workers. 

The women, their reasons for making the perilous journey, their personalities and their growing sisterhood are the basis for the book. Dallas excels at characterization and the book shines because of her deftness in examining the women through the hardships and dangers of the trip. Maggie, the main character, carries lies, burdens, secrets, and fear with her as do many of the other women.  None are prepared for the trek through plains, mountains and deserts as they make their way across the country. 

Although the hardships of the journey are made clear, this book is about the women.  The epilogue informs us of the resolution for each of the women the reader has come to know intimately.

Book groups will find much to discuss, including answering the questions “Would you have made this trip?” and “Would you have survived?”

5 of 5 stars

THE PRISONER'S WIFE by Maggie Brooks

THE PRISONER’S WIFE  by Maggie Brooks

Based on a true story, THE PRISONER’S WIFE tells of a Czech farm girl who falls in love with the British POW assigned to work on her family’s farm.  When it becomes apparent the POW’s will be moved to another area, Izabela and Bill decide to marry and then have Izabela pose as a mute British soldier. The privations and terror of prison camps, hard forced labor, fear of discovery and then a forced march ahead of the Russian Army as the German’s face defeat make up the whole of the book.

The characters are well defined and grow and change as time passes. Each of the POW’s is a complete and complex person.  The guards are more “stock” characters.  The situations are believable and grab your attention from the first pages. 

My one complaint is – I want to know the outcome of all the characters we have become so intimate with, what happened to them when the POW camps were disbanded and they returned to civilian life, were they able to achieve their desires as war’s end? My desire to lnow more confirms the writer’s ability to draw me in to each character’s story.

Book groups might discuss the decision’s that were made, the morality of various deaths, the culpability of civilians, the actions of the guards, the treatment of POW’s in time of war, the endurance of the human spirit, etc.

5 of 5 stars

A COUNTESS BELOW STAIRS by Eva Ibbotson

A COUNTESS BELOW STAIRS  by Eva Ibbotson

If you are enamored with the Russian Revolution and the Tsar’s family or you are a fan of British TV you will like this sweet story of a Russian Countess reduced to serving as a housemaid in England.  Anna is almost too sweet and industrious to believe, but this tale written for middle and high schoolers has just enough heft to be an enjoyable romp.

You will learn a bit about the Revolution and quite a lot about being an immigrant in a country that is not quite welcoming to the impoverished Russians flowing into England.  You will also learn a bit about how wealthy and titled Brits ran their households and treated their servants and fellow gentry.

Ibbotson produces well written books with engaging and well developed characters.  This one is well worth the effort to read it.

4 of 5 stars

NEXT YEAR IN HAVANA by Chanel Cleeton

NEXT YEAR IN HAVANA   by Chanel Cleeton

A two generation story of Cuban refugees centers on Elisa, 19, when her wealthy family is forced from Castro’s Cuba because of their support of Battista, and Marisol, Elisa’s granddaughter, who travels to Havana when the country reopens to tourists. Marisol carries her grandmother’s ashes with the directive to scatter the ashes in Elisa’s home country.

Secrets abound as the story looks back to Elisa’s activities leading up to the family’s escape and in the present as Marisol befriends a politically active young Cuban.  Strong characterizations and a healthy dose of history (not always favorable to America) make this a tale of revolution, passion for freedom, morality, friendship, politics and loyalty.

Complicated love is a strong element that carries the story along for those not so interested in the history neatly interwoven in the tale of family pride and love of country.  Book groups will have much to discuss.  This would be a good book for teen daughters and their mothers to discuss.

4 of 5 stars

THE GLOVEMAKER by Ann Weisgarber

THE GLOVEMAKER  by Ann Weisgarber

I almost stopped reading this novel because of the stream of consciousness style of writing and the repetition of a certain phrase. However, by page 20 I was hooked. Samuel is missing and Deborah, his wife, is waiting for his return when she is surprised by a stranger knocking on her door and seeking assistance.

Utah Territory in the 1880’s is the setting for Junction, a tiny hamlet of Mormon saints who are not anxious to have the official LDS church or the law visit them.  The mysteries of Samuel and the stranger make a compelling tale.  The tension of the community builds almost to the breaking point. Weisberger handles the tension and the setting very well. Deborah, and Nels, her neighbor and Samuel’s best friend, are realistically written.  The forbidding climate and terrain become a part of the story as the tension builds. 

A good story, a good writer, and interesting, well drawn characters all combine to make this read well worth your time.

4 of 5 stars

THE RISE OF MAGICKS by Nora Roberts

THE RISE OF MAGICKS   by Nora Roberts

This third and final installment in the CHRONICLES OF THE ONE gives a satisfying and fully anticipated conclusion to the series. Roberts is a good writer who has command of her characters and story line. While the conclusion is apparent from the first pages of the series, that does not take away from the tension and dread of the survivors of THE DOOM who are establishing a new, kinder, gentler world – after 20 years of killing and war, of course. And, yes, beloved characters succumb to the evil of the Dark Uncanny and the Purity Warriors.

If you started this series, you must finish it. If you haven’t started it, do begin at the beginning. These are not stand alones and while you may enjoy the books if you read them independently, you will find yourself wondering what everyone else knows that you do not and being slightly befuddles by some of the references and the meanings of various actions.  Do yourself a favor, read them in order.

5 of 5 stars

THE FOUNTAINS OF SILENCE by Ruta Sepetys

THE FOUNTAINS OF SILENCE  by Ruta Sepetys

Sepetys writes teens beautifully and accurately. Her teens are impetuous, naïve, full hearted, empathetic, selfish, quick thinking and foolhardy. THE FOUNTAINS OF SILENCE tells of teens caught up in the tyrannical world of General Francisco Franco in the aftermath of the Spanish Revolution of 1939.  

In 1957 as Spain was beginning to open up to the outside world, a family of American citizens, including their teenage son, entered Franco’s world.   Daniel, a camera buff who wants to become a photojournalist, meets Ana, his family’s assigned maid.  Ana’s family, formerly professors and Republicans, has been decimated by the Nationalists.

Through Daniel and Ana, Sepetys tells of tyranny, torture, death and bull fighting, friendship, kindness and a people’s yearning for freedom.  As good historical fiction does, she teaches us painlessly the truths of dictators and freedom fighters and the good people caught between them.

Written for teens, this book will resonate with adults as well. It offers a multitude of topics for book group discussion.  This is an altogether worthy read.

5 of 5 stars