A gripping novel that you won’t want to put down!
This book is a gripping tale you will not be able to put down! As we follow Pia starting in 1918 the pages flew by as I eagerly followed her journey. Pia begins the story as a sweet, but shy, child living with her mother and young twin baby brothers in an impoverished area of Philadelphia. Obviously the readers know why this location and time matter and what will happen as we read about the parade. I only had a vague awareness of the 1918 Spanish flu with has obviously taken on a new interest with today’s times which makes this book that much more interesting. I remember reading a sample of this book months ago and being surprised by a description of a man not allowed to board a trolley without a mask which is no longer surprising today.
The author does not shy away from descriptions of the horrible circumstances that will grip Philadelphia during this time. She paints a grim portrait of people trying to survive and of course young Pia is facing the worst of it. While Pia is the center of the story we also have some chapters from the POV of Bernice, the young widow whose baby dies. Much of her narration is focused on hating immigrants which is a prejudice Pia is facing as America is still in the middle of the Great War or WWI as it would become known. As the book description leaves out what happens after the beginning of the book I will be vague so you can follow it yourself. The author writes very well and I found myself completely caught up in Pia’s story and where it was going. Even in the worst of circumstances Pia is sympathetic and caring. Unfortunately I felt like the villain of the story was unnecessary and took away from Pia’s story and the true awfulness of the times. What actually occurred would have made a better story in my opinion. Along those same lines for a novel of historical fiction I find the choice of extraordinary abilities an odd one. Aside from those criticisms I still found this a gripping novel that I enjoyed very much. Given our current unusual times I found the details of 1918 fascinating. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The author does not shy away from descriptions of the horrible circumstances that will grip Philadelphia during this time. She paints a grim portrait of people trying to survive and of course young Pia is facing the worst of it. While Pia is the center of the story we also have some chapters from the POV of Bernice, the young widow whose baby dies. Much of her narration is focused on hating immigrants which is a prejudice Pia is facing as America is still in the middle of the Great War or WWI as it would become known. As the book description leaves out what happens after the beginning of the book I will be vague so you can follow it yourself. The author writes very well and I found myself completely caught up in Pia’s story and where it was going. Even in the worst of circumstances Pia is sympathetic and caring. Unfortunately I felt like the villain of the story was unnecessary and took away from Pia’s story and the true awfulness of the times. What actually occurred would have made a better story in my opinion. Along those same lines for a novel of historical fiction I find the choice of extraordinary abilities an odd one. Aside from those criticisms I still found this a gripping novel that I enjoyed very much. Given our current unusual times I found the details of 1918 fascinating. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.