J. Anderson Coats

This is a book you fall into and it just flows. Great characters, loosely based on author's grandparent. Has a lot to say about choosing your own future and knowing your own mind. Celebrates the choices that immigrants make, and how hard that life often turns out to be. Offers a clear sighted look at public institutions, specifically the library, which can either be a welcoming place or an intimidating and judgmental one. I love how firm Sylvia is in her own mind. I love how so much of this show more story is relatable, including the unspoken mental illness and the self-awareness of racism and othering that Sylvia confronts. I love the Mrs. Frankweiler fantasy of staying overnight in the library. I love that the library staff are all individuals -- some kind, some wrong. I also adored that there's a safe place to land. Thoughtful, dreamy, and full of heart. show less

Spectacularly well written ship adventure, with tons of political intrigue and characters constantly trying to make their ways through shifting sands and betrayals. It ultimately feels like a deep meditation on war and politics -- that leaves you questioning every motivation, as we should. I really love J. Anderson Coats, but I think I have to accept that her work will be bleak. Realistic? Perhaps. Not entirely without hope, but that hopefulness is found within each person's will and show more determination and decisions. It's a hard lesson, and one I dislike. show less

Spectacular history, and very realistic about the experiences of women in war, particularly focusing on the trauma of surviving the slaughter of your family and rape. Somehow I didn't realize quite how dark it would be. Elen is an extraordinary character -- her strength in refusing to relinquish her own humanity and kindness in the face of never ending cruelty is amazing, and ultimately offers her freedom. It is, however, extremely triggering, and her dissociative episodes are sometimes show more confusing. I guess it's the kind of book that you want to hand to abusers so they never become abusers, but it's also a bleak tale.

Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss. show less

I found this book wildly appealing -- my inner history dork was delighted with the pacific NW slant, with the inclusion of Mercer's brides, even with the depiction of the textile mills in Lowell. I'm not entirely sure why I could not put it down (probably the excellent writing and pacing), but it kept me up late as I wanted to see the end of Jane's adventures. Love the plucky heroine, not least for growing during the book. Love the pragmatic depiction of the hardships many people faced in show more this time, but also the threads of kindness and strength that flow through the book. Jane has many caring adults who fight for her to the best of their abilities, even though it's clear that she doesn't always understand all the aspects of their care. That sounds cryptic, but even the very contentious relationship she has with her stepmother has another side to it -- she never abandons Jane, and Mrs. D does, in the end, do whatever she can to ensure their survival as a family.

Anyway, my last favorite bit is that this is a great recommendation for history kid readers who are on the sensitive side -- unlike the wonderful Our Only May Amelia, this Northwest adventure remains tragedy free, or at least the tragic loss of Jane's father happens well before the book opens. Also, props to the author for due diligence in consulting a Duwamish tribal member for a Native perspective. show less