shannonmiz
Written on Nov 1, 2016
Gah, this book was beyond beautiful. Much like its predecessor Nora & Kettle (which I also loved so, so much), it is full of postwar heartache and obstacles. It's a lovely story about Sunny, who lost her parents in the Vietnam war after an attack and is now trying to navigate life with her grandparents, and Breaker, who fought in the war and is still dealing with a lot of PTSD and lingering prejudices and is unsure of how to move forward.
This book is just another example of the author's gorgeous writing and fabulous character development. I loved both characters, and felt quite deeply for them. Even as I was sometimes angered by Breaker's prejudiced thoughts, he had been through a lot, and it was clear that he wanted to do better. And Sunny was just remarkable. She had to endure these prejudices all around her, and her courage and strength in the midst of her losses was incredible. She was smart, and driven, and compassionate. I adored her loving, yet sometimes challenging relationship with her grandparents- especially her grandmother who could be quite strict and serious. But her grandfather helped bring a levity to the family that I loved.
Breaker had his own family struggles, too. He had a wonderful, loving relationship with his little brother that is very well developed throughout the story, and he was dealing with parents who were... well, they weren't particularly supportive. It's something you should just read for yourself, really.
Bottom Line: This book was an absolute gem, I adored the journey these characters took. Between the diversity, historical elements, and touches of magical realism, this book is one you won't want to miss.