Get Lost in the Stacks

Two Brothers by  Ben Elton Title: Lilac Girls Series name and number:  Lilac Girls, #1 Author: Martha Hall Kelly Genre: Historical Fiction Sub-genre: World War II, Holocaust Pages: 487 Publisher: Ballantine Books ISBN: 1101883073

Summary: New York socialite Caroline Ferriday has her hands full with her post at the French consulate and a new love on the horizon. But Caroline’s world is forever changed when Hitler’s army invades Poland in September 1939—and then sets its sights on France.An ocean away from Caroline, Kasia Kuzmerick, a Polish teenager, senses her carefree youth disappearing as she is drawn deeper into her role as courier for the underground resistance movement. In a tense atmosphere of watchful eyes and suspecting neighbors, one false move can have dire consequences.For the ambitious young German doctor, Herta Oberheuser, an ad for a government medical position seems her ticket out of a desolate life. Once hired, though, she finds herself trapped in a male-dominated realm of Nazi secrets and power.The lives of these three women are set on a collision course when the unthinkable happens and Kasia is sent to Ravensbrück, the notorious Nazi concentration camp for women. Their stories cross continents—from New York to Paris, Germany, and Poland—as Caroline and Kasia strive to bring justice to those whom history has forgotten.

My Evaluation: Oh god, this book... So Good!!!!!! Based on real events and people, it's very very clear the author has done her research! I knew some about what happened at Ravensbrück but not a lot so this was absolutely fascinating. I do like that the author included an "afternote" so to speak.My only small qualm about the ending is that I wish Kasisa could have gotten some closure and get better... I know she's fictional but it just kind of seemed like her story just stopped. But this is a really small piece and this book is absolutely fantastic

Rating: 5 out of 5

Title:  The Royal Wedding Series and number: Crown Jewels, #2 Author: MJ Summers (Listed here as Melaine Summers) Genre:  Romance Sub-genre:  Women’s lit, Royalty Pages: 238 Publisher:  Pronoun ISBN: B071NLT9LJ

Summary: 

When most girls get engaged, at most they face a disapproving mother-in-law, but in Tessa Sharpe’s case, it’s a disapproving nation. No one in Avonia wants the former anti-royal blogger to wed Prince Arthur. The anti-royals haven’t forgiven her for abandoning ship and swimming over to the Prince’s yacht, and the royal watchers won’t ever forget all the horrible things she wrote about their beloved Royal Family. Up against all odds, Tessa has only six months to prove herself worthy of the title of Princess. Her nasty father-in-law is going to throw every obstacle in her way, including the beautiful, poised, and highly accomplished Lady Doctor Brooke Beddingfield. But Tessa is determined to make this work and keep her fledgling career as a reporter intact. Will Tessa manage to fight her way down the aisle and find her Prince Charming waiting? Or will one of them succumb to mounting pressure and run the other way before they can say I do?

My Evaluation:

Ok, I'll be the first to admit, it takes a lot for me to cry for characters in books but Ms. Summers did it with this one. I was sniffling through the last quarter of this book. So delicious and good!! Again, excellent writing and character development. The grandmother is just.. awesome. You definitely need to tear the first book but still. I can't wait to read the final book!

Rating: 4.9 out of 5

Related:

Title:   The Royal Treatment Series and number: Crown Jewels, #1 Author: MJ Summers Genre:  Romance Sub-genre:  Women’s lit, Royalty Pages: 301 Publisher:  Mcmillan ISBN: 0995030154

Summary: 

Ultra-private, ridiculously handsome Crown Prince Arthur has always gotten by on his charm. But that won’t be enough now that the Royal Family is about to be ousted from power once and for all. When Prince Arthur has to rely on the one woman in the kingdom who hates him most, he must learn that earning the love of a nation means first risking his heart. Twenty-eight-year-old Tessa Sharpe, a.k.a. The Royal Watchdog, hates everything about Prince Arthur. As far as she’s concerned, he’s an arrogant, lazy leech on the kingdom of Avonia. When he shocks the nation by giving her the keys to the castle, Tessa has no choice but to accept and move in for two months. It’s lust at first sight, but there’s no way she can give in to her feelings—not if she wants to have a career or a shred of pride left when her time at the palace ends…

My Evaluation: Wow, this was way better than I expected! I was expecting a cheesey romance and while there is romance and some cheese factor but damn, there are some really funny bits in here! I do wish the grandmother was a little more prominent because she was awesome, especially at the end! The book is very similar to the book, The Royal We but it's also it's own because the characters are do different.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Related:

Title:  Tumbling Author: Caela Carter Genre:  Fiction Sub-genre:  Young Adult, gymnastics Pages: 432 Publisher:  Viking Books for Young Readers ISBN: 0451473000 

Summary: Five gymnasts. One goal. Grace lives and breathes gymnastics—but no matter how hard she pushes herself, she can never be perfect enough. Leigh, Grace’s best friend, has it all: a gymnastics career, a normal high-school life…and a secret that could ruin everything. Camille wants to please her mom, wants to please her boyfriend, and most of all, wants to walk away. Wilhelmina was denied her Olympic dream four years ago, and she won’t let anything stop her again. No matter what. Monica is terrified. Nobody believes in her—and why should they? By the end of the two days of the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials, some of these girls will be stars. Some will be going home with nothing. And all will have their lives changed forever

My Evaluation

I was really surprised about how good this book is (I'd love to give it 3.5 stars). I was really really impressed at most of the gymnastics (though some of the skills? GIVE ME A BREAK!!! A double pirouette on bars is absolutely impossible, a one armed giant into a release move?! OMG so can't happen) and that it was realistic. The writing was also very good in that there was drama but it wasn't stupid teenage drama that a lot of young adult novels have. I also liked that there was lesbian character and wasn't portrayed in your stereotypical lesbian.

Note: if you're a hardcore gymnastics fan, just be forewarned about it because there are some problems with the gymnastics part of it.

Title:  The Daughter’s Walk Author: Jane Kirkpatrick Genre:  Historical Fiction Sub-genre:  Christian Fiction, Women’s lit Pages: 388 Publisher:   WaterBrook ISBN: 1400074290

Summary: In 1896 Norwegian American Helga Estby accepted a wager from the fashion industry to walk from Spokane, Washington to New York City within seven months in an effort to earn ten thousand dollars and save the family farm. She brought along her eighteen-year-old daughter, Clara, and the two made their way on the 3,500-mile trek by following the railroad tracks. After returning home to the Estby farm more than a year later, Clara chose to walk on alone, leaving the family and changing her name. Her decisions initiated a more than twenty-year separation from the only life she had known.

My Evaluation:

I don't know what to think on this book. Now granted it's been a while since a read a Kirkpatrick book but something about this didn't click with me. The first part of the book was fine and flowed well but then once the walk ended, it felt disjointed in parts and it didn't flow as nicely as the first part did. Also, many times, Clara is just downright spoiled, annoying, and a brat. So that made it really hard to feel connected to her or even feel sorry for her. So while Kirkpatrick's writing is great, this definitely is not one of my favorite books. Also, the lack of dates made it really hard to put into perspective as a historical fiction novel and with what else was happening around them. So frustrating! Also? Shout out to using one of my former boss' in the research! That was awesome to see his name in the acknowledgements!

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 Related:

Title:  The Eye of God Series and number: Sigma Force, #9 Author: James Rollins Genre:  Mystery Sub-genre:  Thriller, Science, Historical Fiction, Adventure Pages: 530 Publisher:  Harper ISBN: 0061785679

Summary: In the wilds of Mongolia, a research satellite has crashed, triggering an explosive search for its valuable cargo: a code-black physics project connected to the study of dark energy—and a shocking image of the eastern seaboard of the United States in utter ruin.   At the Vatican, a package arrives containing two strange artifacts: a skull scrawled with ancient Aramaic and a tome bound in human skin. DNA evidence reveals that both came from the same body: the long dead Mongol king Genghis Khan.   Commander Gray Pierce and Sigma Force set out to discover a truth tied to the fall of the Roman Empire, to a mystery going back to the birth of Christianity, and to a weapon hidden for centuries that holds the fate of humanity. 

My Evaluation: SPOLIERS AHEAD!

This has to be one of Rollins's worst books. Don't get me wrong, the writing is fine but this book had WAY to many scientific details that added nothing to the book. The book could have been cut by at least 100 pages and would have been much better.  In addition, the last 20 or so pages... just weird and  then act like you're killing off both Vigor and Rachel, only to have it be some sort of dream? I so didn't get how that happened and frankly was really dumb. 

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 Related:

- The Blood Gospel by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell

- Bloodline by James Rollins

Title:  Devil’s Cut Series and number: The Bourbon Kings, #3 Author: J. R. Ward Genre:  Romance Sub-genre:  Mystery, Thriller, Saga Pages: 397 Publisher:  Ballantine Books ISBN: 0451475305

Summary: SPOILERS AHEAD IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THE OTHER TWO BOOKS!!

At first, the death of William Baldwine, the head of the Bradford family, was ruled a suicide. But then his eldest son and sworn enemy, Edward, came forward and confessed to what was, in fact, a murder. Now in police custody, Edward mourns not the disintegration of his family or his loss of freedom . . . but the woman he left behind. His love, Sutton Smythe, is the only person he has ever truly cared about, but as she is the CEO of the Bradford Bourbon Company s biggest competitor, any relationship between them is impossible. And then there s the reality of the jail time that Edward is facing.  Lane Baldwine was supposed to remain in his role of playboy, forever in his big brother Edward s shadow. Instead he has become the new head of the family and the company. Convinced that Edward is covering for someone else, Lane and his true love, Lizzie King, go on the trail of a killer only to discover a secret that is as devastating as it is game-changing.  As Lane rushes to discover the truth, and Sutton finds herself irresistibly drawn to Edward in spite of his circumstances, the lives of everyone at Easterly will never be the same again. For some, this is good; for others, it could be a tragedy beyond imagining. Only one thing s for certain: Love survives all things. Even murder. 

My Evaluation:  Great, Great finish to the trilogy! Really enjoyed this book and how the author wrapped everything up.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Related:

- The Bourbon Kings by J. R. Ward

Title:  The Invisible History of the Human Race: How DNA and History Shape Our Identities and Our Futures Series and number: Author: Christine Kenneally Genre:  Non-Fiction Sub-genre:  Race, Genetics, Biology, Science Pages: 368 Publisher:  Penguin Books ISBN: 0143127926

Summary: We are doomed to repeat history if we fail to learn from it, but how are we affected by the forces that are invisible to us? In The Invisible History of the Human Race, Christine Kenneally draws on cutting-edge research to reveal how both historical artifacts and DNA tell us where we come from and where we may be going. While some books explore our genetic inheritance and popular television shows celebrate ancestry, this is the first book to explore how everything from DNA to emotions to names and the stories that form our lives are all part of our human legacy. This book shows how trust is inherited in Africa, silence is passed down in Tasmania, and how the history of nations is written in our DNA. From fateful, ancient encounters to modern mass migrations and medical diagnoses, Kenneally explains how the forces that shaped the history of the world ultimately shape each human who inhabits it. The Invisible History of the Human Race is a deeply researched, carefully crafted, and provocative perspective on how our stories, psychology, and genetics affect our past and our future.

My Evaluation: There are definitely good parts to this book but overall, Ms. Kenneally is trying to hard to be like Mary Roach and it doesn't work. There are many parts of this book that don't need to be there and many parts get way to technical.  The best chapter was on how and why your DNA results may look different then what you were told about your family history

Rating: 2.8 out of 5 Related:

- Woman: An Intimate Geography by Natalie Angier

- Breasts: A Natural and Unnatural History by Florence Williams

- Mother Nature: Maternal Instincts and How They Shape the Human Species by Sarah Blaffer Hrdy

-Demonic Males: Apes and the Origins of Human Violence by Richard W. Wrangham

- Next of Kin by Roger Fouts

- Straight: The Surprisingly Short History of Heterosexuality by Hanne Blank

Title:  The Sound of Gravel: A memoir Series and number: Author: Ruth Wariner Genre:  Non-Fiction Sub-genre:  Memoirs, Biographies, Religion, Cults Pages: 336 Publisher:  Flatiron Books ISBN: 1250077699

Summary: Ruth Wariner was the thirty-ninth of her father’s forty-two children. Growing up on a farm in rural Mexico, where authorities turned a blind eye to the practices of her community, Ruth lives in a ramshackle house without indoor plumbing or electricity. At church, preachers teach that God will punish the wicked by destroying the world and that women can only ascend to Heaven by entering into polygamous marriages and giving birth to as many children as possible. After Ruth's father--the man who had been the founding prophet of the colony--is brutally murdered by his brother in a bid for church power, her mother remarries, becoming the second wife of another faithful congregant. In need of government assistance and supplemental income, Ruth and her siblings are carted back and forth between Mexico and the United States, where her mother collects welfare and her step-father works a variety of odd jobs. Ruth comes to love the time she spends in the States, realizing that perhaps the community into which she was born is not the right one for her. As Ruth begins to doubt her family’s beliefs and question her mother’s choices, she struggles to balance her fierce love for her siblings with her determination to forge a better life for herself.

My Evaluation: wow wow what a great book. The ending is both heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time...

Rating: 4.7 out of 5 Related:

-  I Am Hutterite: The Fascinating True Story of a Young Woman’s Journey to Reclaim Her Heritage by Mary-Ann Kirkby

- The Fathermothergod by Lucia Greenhouse

- The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

- Waiting to Be Heard by Amanda Knox

Title:  A People’s History of the United States Series and number: Author: Howard Zinn Genre:  Non-Fiction Sub-genre:  History, United States Pages: 729 Publisher:  Harper Perennial ISBN: 0060838655

Summary: Known for its lively, clear prose as well as its scholarly research, A People's History of the United States is the only volume to tell America's story from the point of view of—and in the words of—America's women, factory workers, African Americans, Native Americans, working poor, and immigrant laborers.

My Evaluation: I very much disagree with the summary in that it’s lively… it’s not. It’s very much a historical textbook. While I'm glad that I read it, I definitely see how this book is controversial. I got halfway through it (I had never read it in college even though I was a history major) and then talking with my boss, I found out Zinn's biases and that tainted how the rest of the book read. There are definite parts that I think people should read, but good lord, Zinn could have cut the book down some if he'd left out 2/3 of the labor stuff in put in. And this is where his bias comes in. He researched labor so of course he's going to focus on that. And don't get me wrong, it's an important part of US history but damn there was WAY too much of it in here. Not to mention he barely focuses on women and even less on other minorities.

Rating: 1.6 out of 5 Related:

- Secret Lives of the Tsars: Three Centuries of Autocracy, Debauchery, Betrayal, Murder, and Madness from Romanov Russia by Michael Farquhar

- Fates and Traitors by Jennifer Chiaverini

- The Complete Jack the Ripper by Donald Rumbelow

Title:  The Bourbon Thief Series and number: Author: Tiffany Reisz Genre:  Fiction Sub-genre:  Romance, Contemporary, Mystery Pages: 379 Publisher:  Mira ISBN: 0778319423 

Summary: When Cooper McQueen wakes up from a night with a beautiful stranger, it's to discover he's been robbed. The only item stolen—a million-dollar bottle of bourbon. The thief, a mysterious woman named Paris, claims the bottle is rightfully hers. After all, the label itself says it's property of the Maddox family who owned and operated Red Thread Bourbon distillery since the last days of the Civil War until the company went out of business for reasons no one knows… No one except Paris.  In the small hours of a Louisville morning, Paris unspools the lurid tale of Tamara Maddox, heiress to the distillery that became an empire. But the family tree is rooted in tainted soil and has borne rotten fruit. Theirs is a legacy of wealth and power, but also of lies, secrets and sins of omission. The Maddoxes have bourbon in their blood—and blood in their bourbon. Why Paris wants the bottle of Red Thread remains a secret until the truth of her identity is at last revealed, and the century-old vengeance Tamara vowed against her family can finally be completed. 

My Evaluation: I liked this book. HOWEVER, this book REALLY needs to have warnings on it as there is discussion of incest and rape.  Such a strange twist to the end and I don't know if I really liked the ending... kind of unsatisfying. I don't like that Tamara just forgave her mother so quickly... just seemed weird.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Related:

Title:  The Nazi Hunters Series and number: Author: Andrew Nagorski Genre:  Non-Fiction Sub-genre:  Nazism, World War II, True Crime, Holocaust, History Pages: 416 Publisher:  Simon & Schuster (NYC) ISBN: 1476771863 

Summary: The Nazi Hunters reveals the experiences of the young American prosecutors in the Nuremberg & Dachau trials, Benjamin Ferencz & Wm Denson; the Polish investigating judge Jan Sehn, who handled the case of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss; Germany’s judge & prosecutor Fritz Bauer, who repeatedly forced his countrymen to confront their country’s record of mass murder; the Mossad agent Rafi Eitan, in charge of the Israeli team that nabbed Eichmann; & Eli Rosenbaum, who rose to head the US Justice Department’s Office of Special Investigations that belatedly sought to expel war criminals who were living in the USA. But some of the Nazi hunters’ most controversial actions involved ambiguous cases, such as former UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim’s attempt to cover up his wartime history. Or the fate of concentration camp guards who have lived into their 90s, long past the time when reliable eyewitnesses could be found to pinpoint their exact roles.  The story of the Nazi hunters is coming to an end. It was unprecedented in many ways, especially the degree to which the initial impulse of revenge was transformed into a struggle for justice. The Nazi hunters have transformed fundamental notions of right & wrong. Nagorski’s book is a richly reconstructed odyssey, a tale of gritty determination, at times reckless behavior & relentless pursuit.

My Evaluation:  I knew some of the information but there was stuff I didn't know. My main issue with the book was there was information that was just not relevant to the narrative. This led to the last chapter being very short and not as flushed out as the others.

Rating: 2.6 out of 5 Related:

- The Perfect Horse: The Daring U.S. Mission to Rescue the Priceless Stallions Kidnapped by the Nazis by Elizabeth Letts

- In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson

- The Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman

- Two Brothers by  Ben Elton

- Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi

Title:  A Beautiful Child Series and number: Author: Matt Birkbeck Genre:  Non-Fiction Sub-genre:  True Crime, Crime, Mystery Pages: 320 Publisher:  Berkley ISBN: 0425204405

Summary: Sharon Marshall was a brilliant and beautiful student whose future was filled with promise. But her murderous, fugitive father had drawn her into a lifetime of deception that became one of the most baffling cases in the annals of American crime.

My Evaluation: Wow! What a good book. The writer really knows how to keep a reader interested! The case was absolutely bananas with a lot of twists and turns. I know how to go look to see if there are any updates as this book was published in 2005.  I highly recommend this!

Rating: 5 out of 5 Related:

Title:  Somewhere in France Series and number: The Great War, #1 Author: Jennifer Robson Genre:  Historical Fiction Sub-genre:  World War I, France, English, Romance Pages: 373 Publisher:  William Morrow Paperbacks ISBN: 0062273450

Summary: Lady Elizabeth Neville-Ashford wants to travel the world, pursue a career, and marry for love. But in 1914, the stifling restrictions of aristocratic British society and her mother’s rigid expectations forbid Lily from following her heart. When war breaks out, the spirited young woman seizes her chance for independence. Defying her parents, she moves to London and eventually becomes an ambulance driver in the newly formed Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps—an exciting and treacherous job that takes her close to the Western Front. Assigned to a field hospital in France, Lily is reunited with Robert Fraser, her dear brother Edward’s best friend. The handsome Scottish surgeon has always encouraged Lily’s dreams. She doesn’t care that Robbie grew up in poverty—she yearns for their friendly affection to become something more. Lily is the most beautiful—and forbidden—woman Robbie has ever known. Fearful for her life, he’s determined to keep her safe, even if it means breaking her heart.

My Evaluation: I really enjoyed this book, both as a historical fiction novel and as a romance novel. I don't read many World War I historical fiction novels but this one was very good. It was pretty predictable, even for a romance novel but sometimes you just need a fluff piece, ya know?

Rating: 4.2 out of 5 Related:

- After the Last Dance by Sarra Manning

- Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín

- The Perfect Letter by Chris Harrison

Title:  As If!: The Oral History of Clueless as told by Amy Heckerling and the Cast and Crew Series and number: Author: Jen Chaney Genre:  Non-Fiction Sub-genre:  Television, Memoirs, Biographies, Oral Histories Pages: 336 Publisher:  Touchstone ISBN: 1476799083

Summary: Will we ever get tired of watching Cher navigate Beverly Hills high school and discover true love in the movie Clueless? As if! Written by Amy Heckerling and starring Alicia Silverstone, Clueless is an enduring comedy classic that remains one of the most streamed movies on Netflix, Amazon, and iTunes even twenty years after its release. Inspired by Jane Austen's Emma, Clueless is an everlasting pop culture staple. In the first book of its kind, Jen Chaney has compiled an oral history of the making of this iconic film using recollections and insights collected from key cast and crew members involved in the making of this endlessly quotable, ahead-of-its-time production. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how Emma influenced Heckerling to write the script, how the stars were cast into each of their roles, what was involved in creating the costumes, sets, and soundtrack, and much more. This wonderful twentieth anniversary commemoration includes never-before-seen photos, original call sheets, casting notes, and production diary extracts. With supplemental critical insights by the author and other notable movie experts about why Clueless continues to impact pop culture, As If! will leave fans new and old totally buggin' as they understand why this beloved film is timeless.

My Evaluation:  I really enjoyed this book and the history about this iconic movie. I knew some of the info in the book but others like a lot of the casting decisions I didn't know.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Related:

- Life in Motion by Misty Copeland

- Giant George by Dave Nasser and Lynne Barrett-Lee

- Show Dog by Josh Dean

- We Bought a Zoo by Benjamin Meed

Title:  Paris Series and number: Author: Edward Rutherfurd Genre:  Fiction Sub-genre:  Historical, French, Pages: 809 Publisher:  Ballantine Books  ISBN: 0345530764

Summary: Moving back and forth in time, the story unfolds through intimate and thrilling tales of self-discovery, divided loyalty, and long-kept secrets. As various characters come of age, seek their fortunes, and fall in and out of love, the novel follows nobles who claim descent from the hero of the celebrated poem The Song of Roland; a humble family that embodies the ideals of the French Revolution; a pair of brothers from the slums behind Montmartre, one of whom works on the Eiffel Tower as the other joins the underworld near the Moulin Rouge; and merchants who lose everything during the reign of Louis XV, rise again in the age of Napoleon, and help establish Paris as the great center of art and culture that it is today. With Rutherfurd’s unrivaled blend of impeccable research and narrative verve, this bold novel brings the sights, scents, and tastes of the City of Light to brilliant life. 

My Evaluation: I thought it was just okay. I really enjoyed the Dublin Saga but this... I just could not get into it. I think all the jumping around in time points didn't help. If you're going to do that, have less people to follow. However, the book was well written and well researched.

Rating: 2.6 out of 5 Related:

- The Princes of Ireland by Edward Rutherfurd

- The Rebels of Ireland by Edward Rutherfurd

Title:  The German Girl Series and number: Author: Armando Lucas Correa Genre:  Historical Fiction Sub-genre:  World War II, Holocaust, adventure Pages: 360 Publisher:  Atria Books ISBN: 1501121146

Summary: In 1939 before everything changed, Hannah Rosenthal lived a charmed life. Her family moved in Berlin’s highest social circles, admired by friends and neighbors. Eleven-year-old Hannah was often taken by her mother for an afternoon treat at the tea room of the beautiful Adlon Hotel, both dressed in their finest clothes. She spent her afternoons at the park with her best friend Leo Martin. But, in an instant, that sunlit world vanished. Now the streets of Berlin are draped with red, white, and black flags; their fine possessions are hauled away, and they are no longer welcome in the places that once felt like home. The two friends make a pact: come what may, they promise to have a future together. As Hannah and Leo’s families desperately begin to search for a means of escape, a glimmer of hope appears when they discover the Saint Louis, a transatlantic liner that can give Jews safe passage to Cuba. After a frantic search to obtain visas, the Rosenthals and the Martins depart from Hamburg on the luxurious passenger liner bound for Havana. Life aboard the ship is a welcome respite from the gloom of Berlin—filled with masquerade balls, dancing, and exquisite meals every night. As the passengers gain renewed hope for a bright future ahead, love between Hannah and Leo blossoms. But soon reports from the outside world began to filter in, and dark news overshadows the celebratory atmosphere on the ship; the governments of Cuba, the United States, and Canada are denying the passengers of the St. Louis admittance to their countries, forcing them to return to Europe as it descends into the Second World War. The ship that had seemed their salvation seems likely to become their death sentence. After four days anchored at bay, only a handful of passengers are allowed to disembark onto Cuban soil, and Hannah and Leo must face the grim reality that they could be torn apart. Their future is unknown, and their only choice will have an impact in generations to come. Decades later in New York City on her eleventh birthday, Anna Rosen receives a mysterious envelope from Hannah, a great-aunt she has never met but who raised her deceased father. In an attempt to piece together her father’s mysterious past, Anna and her mother travel to Havana to meet Hannah, who is turning eighty-seven years old. Hannah reveals old family ties, recounts her journey aboard the Saint Louis and, for the first time, reveals what happened to her father and Leo. Bringing together the pain of the past with the mysteries of the present, Hannah gives young Anna a sense of their shared histories, forever intertwining their lives, honoring those they loved and cruelly lost. 

My Evaluation: SPOILERS AHEAD!!!! This book was okay... I was really interested in the plot and that of the St. Louis but something was just off... about this. I'm not sure if something was lost in the translation or what... but there was just really awkward parts, especially in Anna's side of the story. Two major things bothered me was how they dealt with Anna's father's death and how he's related to Hannah exactly. Because Hannah is not Anna's aunt, it’s her great aunt. But throughout most of the book that's not explained and it's weird, which I thing relates back to translation issues. The other thing that bothered me was how they had Anna go to Diego's house and he have all this Jewish stuff that seems to belong to Hannah but then it's just left hanging and they don't address it after that. It seems like Hannah was forced to a different home in Havana but then the author keeps talking as if they weren't. So it's very weird.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 Related:

- The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

- The Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian

- Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian

- Season of Suffering by Nicole H. Taflinger

- In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson

- The Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman

- Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi

- Bridge of Scarlet Leaves by Kristina McMorris

- Two Brothers by  Ben Elton