Margaret Dilloway

Tuesday Beals lives with her mother Dana, an archaeologist, in Zion National Park; they are both grieving the death of Tuesday's uncle and Dana's brother Ezra, an astronomer. When Tuesday discovers that Hedges ranch, next door to Zion, has been bought by developers, she is desperate to find a way to save it; Hedges is pristine, and having buildings there will create light pollution, so Zion couldn't get the Dark Sky designation. Tuesday enlists her best friend Carter, a rock climber, and show more artist-in-residence Silas to help with her mission: finding an unknown archaeological site so construction will have to stop.

Quotes

Uncle Ezra says it's fine to try things on your own, but you should probably do research to see if someone else already did it first, to make it easier on yourself. (65-66)

"We're always looking for the things we wish were there instead of the things that actually are there. You have to be careful." (Ezra to Tuesday, 94)

I know why the school history books don't say anything about it. They don't want people to feel bad about what their ancestors did. But just because someone doesn't want to know a fact, or doesn't like a fact, doesn't mean the fact doesn't exist anymore....Not knowing facts always leads to trouble. (98)

I guess you have to want to be paying attention before you see things sometimes. (115)

"Grief is a funny thing. It's not an event with a beginning and an end. It can pop up again." (Danielle to Tuesday, 119)

Why does it feel like people are using the word smart as an insult against me? (215)

"You have to learn to be okay with uncertainty. That's all life is. Nobody is guaranteed anything." (230)

Maybe we're all caught up in our own stories, and we don't even know it. (249)

It suddenly occurs to me that my mother is a totally separate person from me, who has thoughts I will never know, and it feels strange. (253)

You have to be lucky sometimes and be in the right place at the right time. (269)

Maybe it shows you have to be open to changing what you're looking for, when you get new information. (314) show less

An excellent book -- one that doesn't stint on the traumas and behavioral issues caused by abandonment, uncertainty, homelessness and addiction. There is so much going on in here, from the family rift, to concerns about DACA and illegal immigration, to trying to make a small business succeed and earning the trust of those around you, in addition to homelessness, grief over the death of one parent and the alcoholism of a second, the foster system, celiac disease, and a young girl with a show more profound love of cooking and interest in flavors. I loved that Great British Bakeoff was central to it, I loved that the people around Cady are all developed as people with big worries of their own, I loved that her aunt is in a lesbian relationship and that isn't made a big deal of. I loved the interest in food and flavors and organic ingredients. It's also a quick paced story that's easy to fall into and hard to put down. The only things I wasn't convinced by was Shel's reluctance to try new flavors in her store -- however, as plot devices go it's a pretty minor quibble. show less

I love novels with cranky heroines, and the one in this novel has a good reason for her attitude, having suffered from kidney disease since childhood that has left her hooked up to dialysis machines every other night. I like the way that Gal very slowly and very slightly softens up after the appearance of her niece Riley. She is also impacted by the hiring of a new teacher at the private school where she teaches biology. Through these relationships and several others, Gal realizes eventually show more that although her illness has put limitations on her life, she has to give to others as well as get something from them, and that she was not the only family member who was adversely affected by her illness. Without losing any of her edge, Gal does grow a little by the novel's conclusion. The rose/thorn metaphor might be a bit obvious, but the uniqueness of Gal's character keeps this book from lapsing into cliche. Definitely recommended. show less

This is an absolutely beautifully written book. Sometimes the words just took my breath away. The Snow sisters, Rachel and Drew, are very different from each other and have fought a lot throughout their lives. But now they are drawn together as their mother, Haruki, falls deeper and deeper into the depths of dementia. The sisters are united in ensuring their mother continues to get the best care possible, while their father Killian is only concerned about the expense.

During one of show more Rachel’s visit with her mother, Hakuri asks for a book that is in her sewing room. Then she sinks back into her dementia. Rachel and Drew find the book; however, it is written in Japanese. Thus they find a translator who feeds them portions of the book as he completes the translation.

The story in the book is from twelfth-century Japan, and tells of two “sisters of the heart”. Tomoe, a female warrior, loves Yoshinaka but can bear him no children. Thus, he brings a bride, Yamabuki, to his home. At first Tomoe sees Yamabuki as a threat but eventually she learns to love her as a sister. Tomoe is torn between always being at the side of her samurai lover Yoshinaka or staying to protect delicate Yamabuki. However, the women find strength from each other to deal with formerly foreign ways of life.

“Sisters of the Heart and Snow” alternates between the stories of the Snow sisters and the story they read of the “sisters of the heart”. Both Rachel and Drew draw strength from the story of Tomoe and all her trials and tribulations. They even learn about sisterly love from the story of real-life female samurai Tomoe Gozen. Rachel and Drew use the book to better understand their relationship with their mother and with each other. show less