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What a Wave Must Be

November 13, 2023 by Emma Filbrun · Leave a Comment

13 Nov

Title: What a Wave Must Be
Author: Angela Hunt
Major Themes: Death, Grief, Suicide
Synopsis: When the most unimaginable thing happened to their family and Susan and Frank found themselves welcoming their granddaughter Maddie into their home, they had no idea how they could navigate the waves of grief that threatened to destroy all of them.

I had an inkling before I started reading What a Wave Must Be that it might be a sad story. I was not prepared for how much shock and grief was in this book. There was also, however, a lot of hope. As I have experienced myself, God can use horrific events in our lives to teach us the lessons we need to learn and bring us to where he wants us to be.

Susan and Frank were looking forward to spending some time with their son’s family after Christmas. When, instead, the unthinkable happened, their lives were thrown into turmoil and shock. With his unexpected death, their son Daniel made the whole family feel like he had betrayed them. Their granddaughter, Maddie, especially, was sent into a maelstrom of grief.

Thinking that it might help her daughter to get away, Maddie’s mother sent her to live for a few months with her grandparents in Florida. She quickly made friends and seemed to be settling in and starting to adjust, and then more tragedy sent all their lives into turmoil again. How could all of them cope? Was there any possibility of healing, or would they all be broken for the rest of our lives?

Even though this was a very hard book for me to read because of memories it brought back of a similar tragedy in my own life, it reminded me again of why I like Angela Hunt’s books so well. She has tackled a very hard subject, grief, in What a Wave Must Be, and has illustrated the possibility of hope for believers in God, even when things happen that cannot be understood humanly. I really appreciated the way she pointed her readers to God through the conversations between characters in this book as they attempted to heal and make sense out of what happened.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

WARNING: Three suicides are pictured, and two attempted suicides.

Age levels:

Reading Independently—Adults

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Hardcover | Audible Audiobook (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com

If the Stars Awaken

November 10, 2023 by Esther Filbrun · Leave a Comment

10 Nov

Title: If the Stars Awaken
Author: Kate Willis
Major Themes: Fantasy, Adventure
Synopsis: With the stars predicting the end of the world, and civil unrest in the kingdom, three young people risk their lives as they set out on a journey to discover the answers to their most pressing problems.

Years ago, I read Kiera by indie author Kate Willis, and loved it. It was my first dystopian read, but the way she formed her characters and told the story won my heart. So when I saw recently that she was coming out with another novel, If the Stars Awaken, I knew I wanted to read it, too. After my fun experience with her first novel, I figured I’d probably love this one, too—and I did enjoy it, not as much as Kiera, but it was still a good read.

Queen Marianne is delighted, yet apprehensive as she comes closer to the birth of her baby. After her heartache in the past from losing a child, she knows the dangers her baby may face—but she’s also confident in the Maker’s love and care for them.

Meanwhile, Dynast, a starreader’s apprentice, is concerned. The heavens seem to be silent, aside from the new star that seems to be growing larger in the night sky, obscuring other stars as it grows. When his master appears unconcerned and leaves him to his own devices, he decides to try to seek out the truth on his own.

Then there’s Arrow, a loyal elite guard who is willing to do whatever it takes to protect the kingdom and royal family. Despite his own worries and concerns, he finds himself saddled with a task that could mean life or death for everyone involved. When a prophecy comes, warning of the end of the world, every skill he’s developed and honed will be brought to the test—but even that may not be enough to protect the ones in his care.

There was a lot to love in If the Stars Awaken. I enjoyed seeing different ones’ loyalties to each other, and how Marianne loved and cared for her husband, child, and anyone else that showed up in her life. I also appreciated the way the main characters spoke of and relied on their Maker for decisions and guidance—that was a great reminder to me that I can rely on the Lord, even if it feels like He is being silent.

There were parts of this story I struggled with, though, and that made my overall reading experience a bit more difficult. The biggest part was probably the way this story bounced between points of view frequently. Changes in point of view were clearly marked (which I appreciated), but many sections from different characters were very short, which meant it ended up feeling like I was constantly head-hopping. That made it harder for me to get “into” the story. I also felt like there wasn’t quite enough explanation of some of the fantasy elements to really “get” what was going on, which meant I was confused about events throughout much of the book.

Then there’s the whole star reading thing…from what little I know, it almost felt like Christianized astrology. In my opinion, the way that was presented here was fine—every time that came up, the characters always pointed back to the Maker (who is clearly God)—and in this world, characters read the stars to predict events or receive other divine knowledge or help. I would liken what they were doing to prayer, but since the concept is basically astrology, some people may have a problem with it. I found this aspect of the story intriguing, original, and somewhat confusing.

Overall, while I enjoyed aspects of If the Stars Awaken, I’m coming away from the book with mixed feelings. I really enjoyed parts of the story, and those, combined with the adventure aspects of the book, were excellent! I was disappointed that some aspects of this world weren’t as clear as I would have liked them to be; if I re-read the book, it’s possible it would make more sense on a second pass than it did the first. This was a good book; just not my favorite. If you have children who enjoy unusual fantasy stories with a strong Christian theme and who have a penchant for adventure, this could be a good pick.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.

WARNING: Cursed is used in ch. 11, 35, and 36. There is lying in ch. 20 and 31. A married couple kisses in ch. 1, 3, 5, 6, and 8. An unmarried couple takes a long journey together through much of the book, with him acting as her guard/protector. Occasionally, there are vague references to a man’s mother entertaining “guests”. This is most clear in ch. 27, where he says, “My mother was a… fallen woman.” Throughout the book, a woman occasionally thinks about her daughter who died before the story started. Occasionally, people derive energy from leaves by laying them on their wrists. A woman is in labor and someone steals something in ch. 4. Someone sees a drowned horse in ch. 9. There is an attack, explosions, a fight, and several people are killed in ch. 11. There is more fighting and a woman’s life is threatened with a knife at her throat in ch. 12. Someone sees a man being killed in ch. 13. A man remembers seeing the remnants of a fight in ch. 15. A woman almost drowns in ch. 17. A woman is threatened and people are discovered, apparently comatose, in ch. 18. A woman dreams about someone who died in ch. 23. A man is injured in ch. 26. There is a desperate fight with wolves in ch. 28, with several wolves killed and someone badly injured. A child apparently dies in ch. 33. Someone steals something and tries to kill people in ch. 34. Someone discovers a dead man in ch. 35. Someone is shot in ch. 36.

Age levels:

Reading Independently—Ages 12 – 15, 15 and Above

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com

The Warsaw Sisters

November 8, 2023 by Esther Filbrun · Leave a Comment

8 Nov

Title: The Warsaw Sisters
Author: Amanda Barratt
Major Themes: Family, World War II, Holocaust, Polish Resistance
Synopsis: As two Polish sisters try to find their way in war-ravaged Warsaw, they get involved with resistance efforts and do their best to help protect the Jewish population in the city and fight back against the German occupation.

Esther’s review:

I was intrigued, when I saw that The Warsaw Sisters was coming out, to see what it would contain. I feel like Poland is one of those countries you rarely hear any stories from—everyone knows it’s there, but it feels like other European countries get the spotlight more often. I do remember reading The Silver Sword, which begins in Warsaw, and the family in The Endless Steppe were Polish—but other than those two books, I’m not sure I’ve read anything else set in Poland. Anyway, I was excited to read this book, and eagerly dove into it soon after I got it. And wow…it’s hard to put into words what I think of this story! Brilliant, heart-wrenching, well-written, and unforgettable are a few adjectives I can think of off the top of my head.

With war looming on the horizon, Antonina and Helena Dąbrowska say goodbye to their father as he goes to defend their homeland against the advancing Germans. The twins have never been apart, and after losing their mother at a young age, their father has been the one they’ve always leaned on—now, all they have is each other. The next day, the city is bombed, reducing it to a shell of its former glory. As the Germans quickly defeat the Polish army and occupy the country, the women do their best to keep life and soul together, despite the shortages they face. Then, Antonina’s dear friend, Marek, a Jew, is forced into the ghetto the Germans cordoned off…and before long, Jews are being deported. Fearing for his life, but unable to do anything to help him, Antonina throws herself into work she can do—sheltering Jewish children who are smuggled out of the ghetto. Meanwhile, Helena joins Poland’s secret army, working as a courier to carry vital information around the city. With their secrets and the war driving a deeper and deeper wedge between the sisters, will they be able to still love and protect each other as more and more is demanded of them? Will they be called to sacrifice everything for their homeland?

The Warsaw Sisters is one of the most gut-wrenching books I’ve read in a long time. Although I’m sure this doesn’t portray the worst of war’s atrocities, it also doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities that far too many men and women faced during World War II. The brutalities described in here were almost too difficult to read at times, and it took me a while to get through the book because it was such heavy going.

At the same time, this book is a masterpiece! The amount of research that went into it, combined with a solid storyline, relatable characters, and an easy-to-read writing style, makes this an unforgettable story. Several times as I was reading the story, I talked to Mom about this or that happening, and even though I had to acknowledge how awful many of the pieces of the story were, I also marveled at how well-written the book was. I think that’s what made this book memorable and worth reading; without careful handling, this book would have been not only a drag but could easily have been downright terrible. But it wasn’t—and I’m grateful for that!

This book isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you appreciate realistic fiction with a good dose of history and a gripping story, this could be a great book for you. This isn’t the kind of book I like to read just any day, but I appreciate works of this caliber occasionally. It’s inspiring to read about men and women who laid their lives on the line for their country, and incredible to read about the sacrifices many, many people made as they tried to protect others. Stories like this aren’t easy reads, but they are worthwhile, and I’m glad I got a chance to read The Warsaw Sisters. I doubt I’ll ever look at Poland—and especially Polish history—in the same way again, and in my opinion, that’s a good thing.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.

Emma’s review:

I rarely read a book that I would describe as “heavy” in the same way that The Warsaw Sisters felt while I was reading it. This book described one tragedy after another after another all the way through. It’s been a long time since I read a book set in Warsaw, Poland during World War II, and I had forgotten, if I ever knew, just how horrible the war was in that city.

Amanda Barratt doesn’t mince words. She shows the horrors of war in enough detail to make you feel like you are there. The Warsaw Sisters is not a book to read just before bed! I appreciated the glimpses of hope that shone through here and there, though. One scene that stands out shows a man and woman and baby who crawled from underneath a pile of bodies, and the man helped the woman and baby escape at the cost of his own life. Other little things shone as examples of love and decency, as well. I liked the ending. It was a lovely, happy ending—but not the unrealistic ending that you sort of hope for all the way through. I recommend this book for those who like to read World War II fiction.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Baker Publishing, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

WARNING: This book is an unflinching look at the horror and brutalities that many people faced during World War II. There are numerous descriptions of bombings and people being badly injured, mistreated, killed, or starving to death. There is occasional lying, and “for goodness’ sake” or other phrases like that are used a few times. In ch. 3, people hack up a horse that died in its traces. In ch. 15, a character commits fornication—this is not on-page; you just know what is going to happen and then see their regret afterward. Unmarried couples occasionally kiss, but that is never described in-depth. In ch. 17, the ghetto burns while people laugh. From ch. 26–34, there are horrific descriptions of war and many people badly injured or dying (several scenes are quite graphic). Ch. 27 and 28 describe a massacre, which is also horrific. A character believes it is right to fight for their country, and kills several people.

Age levels:

Reading Independently—Adults

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Hardcover
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com

A Million Little Choices

November 6, 2023 by Esther Filbrun · Leave a Comment

6 Nov

A Million Little Choices by Tamera Alexander

Title: A Million Little Choices
Author: Tamera Alexander
Major Themes: Time-Slip Fiction, Civil War, Infidelity, Slavery
Synopsis: Struggling to come to terms with her husband’s infidelity, Claire Powell’s life is further upset when she finds out he has accepted a new position and plans to move them across the country—all without consulting her first.

As someone who has tuned into Focus on the Family occasionally over the years, I was intrigued to see they are coming out with their own fiction line now. As I understand it, A Million Little Choices is one of the first books to be released in the new line, and I was quite excited to get a chance to read it for myself.

Claire Powell’s life is crumbling around her. First came the news that her husband cheated on her, and now, despite her budding career as an interior decorator in their hometown, Denver, he’s accepted a high-paying position for a prestigious Atlanta law firm and bought a house sight unseen for them. Leaving now would mean losing her chance to continue building her career as a newly made partner in the design business she works for. How could Stephen expect her to do this? And how could God ask her to leave her only child in college and her son’s grave behind in a cross-country move? With her marriage on the rocks, and forced into a house she hates, Claire grapples with what her life has become. There are no easy answers.

In 1863, Charlotte Thursman’s life is a living nightmare. Everyone in her household fears her husband, an abusive tyrant who cares little for human life beyond what he can get out of people. Each day, she begs the Lord to protect her unborn child—all the while fearing that her prayers won’t be enough. She knows the slaves in her home and on their plantation are also in danger, but how can she help them? If her husband has his way, she may never have the chance to do anything, anyway.

Gripping, immersive, and heart-wrenching, this book is a portrait of what sin—and the inevitable resulting brokenness—does to people. My heart was broken for Claire and Charlotte’s situations. This book did an excellent job showing a bit of the grief journey people go on as they try to grapple with the unthinkable in their lives. Though it wasn’t an easy story, I found it gripping and well-written—two things I greatly appreciate in fiction.

I didn’t agree with everything in this story and was also made uncomfortable by some of the descriptions in the book, so unfortunately, those took the overall rating down for me. Throughout the book, one of the characters repeatedly thinks about how she has Biblical support for divorce due to infidelity, and this is never really addressed. There is a lot of encouragement toward doing whatever possible to save the marriage, but divorce “stays on the table”, so to speak. There is also a case where someone takes justice into their own hands—that didn’t sit well with me. For the description side of things, see the warnings.

A Million Little Choices is an engaging, memorable story, and a good reminder of the grace the Lord gives us. From a faith perspective, it isn’t the most powerful story I’ve ever read, but paired with a solid contemporary and historical plot, this was a good read. I’d be interested to read more books by this author someday.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.

WARNING: “Thank goodness” is used in ch. 1, 10, and 12; swear or swore or a variant is used in ch. 5, 18 (three times), 21, 22, 29, 31, 35, and 47; gracious is used in ch. 9, 26, 43, 50, and 55; “Oh, God” is used in ch. 12; curse or cursed is used in ch. 31 and 40; “heaven knew” is used in ch. 33; and “Lord in heaven” is used in ch. 50. There is lying in ch. 1, 15, 17, 26, 31, 51, 53 (confessing the lie), and 54.

In ch. 2, and again in 54 and 56, there are brief descriptions of women wearing revealing clothing. Having sex is mentioned multiple times, in ch. 1, 4 (a bedroom scene—this one had slightly too much description for me before the fade to black), 18 (a brief description of lead-up), 23, 28, 29 (someone remembering the circumstances around when her son was conceived), 35, 40, 44, 54, and 58. A married couple kisses in ch. 9, 10, and 59. A woman mentions a man “taking her to the shed” in ch. 22, and a woman thinks about her abusive husband and how her child was conceived “in a loveless way”. A woman mentions a man “doing with us as he pleased” and making sure a girl could never have children again in ch. 46.

Throughout the book, from ch. 11 on, people talk about a rumor that a house is haunted. Occasionally, people hear moans or see other strange phenomena. Also throughout the book, a woman thinks about her son who died at a young age (she tells the circumstances of his death in ch. 49). Occasionally, there are mentions of children who died at a young age.

A man gets drunk in ch. 11. A woman gets angry and smashes things in ch. 19. Characters verbally fight in ch. 28. A man is drunk and beats a woman in ch. 31. A woman tells about how she cheated on her husband, got pregnant, and almost had an abortion in ch. 43. A man is drunk, there is some shooting, several people are hurt, and two are killed in ch. 47 (some description both in this chapter and ch. 48). A woman is in labor and there is a mention of someone being the daughter of a master and slave in ch. 50. Someone bleeds to death in ch. 51 (this is mentioned again in ch. 59). A woman tells how her husband was a serial cheater in ch. 55.

There are occasional mentions of drinking wine. Several times throughout the book, a character thinks about how God “made provision for someone whose spouse had broken his covenant”. Two or three times, a character thinks about “a special language” God had given someone to pray with. A character praises someone for killing someone else. In ch. 59, someone writes, “You’s already praying for us from the other side I know.…”

Age levels:

Reading Independently—Adults

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Hardcover | Audible Audiobook (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com

World War II: Fight on the Home Front

November 3, 2023 by Esther Filbrun · Leave a Comment

3 Nov

World War II: Fight on the Home Front by Kate Hannigan

Title: World War II: Fight on the Home Front
Author: Kate Hannigan
Series: History Comics
Major Themes: Graphic Novels, World War II
Synopsis: An engaging overview of how World War II America helped support the war effort, and how it changed American culture in the process.

I’ve always found history fascinating, and when I saw World War II: Fight on the Home Front recently, I was intrigued. In my opinion, graphic novels are an excellent way to share history with a generation with short attention spans—and while I don’t think I have the problem of a short attention span, I find the comic format both easy to read and informative. I was impressed by the information that was packed into this book, too—and I was surprised by how much was new to me!

As the subtitle suggests, the focus of this book is on what happened to Americans at home while World War II was being fought overseas. Having read many books set during or close to World War II, but few actually set in the US at that time, I found this focus fascinating. This book starts with a brief overview of how the war started and what countries, up to the point of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, were involved in the war. Then it details how men enlisted or were drafted to fight, and how the children of the US worked together to support the war effort. I found it fascinating to read about vehicle factories being transformed into producers of military vehicles, how victory gardens took off, and how the war forced people into jobs they wouldn’t normally have taken otherwise.

One of the most interesting things (to me, anyway) was thinking about how things that happened during the war influenced where the US is now. For example, this book talked about the sugar shortage, and how people were encouraged to use things like molasses or corn syrup for sweetening instead—and that made me wonder if that’s part of the reason why corn syrup is still heavily used as a sweetening agent today. Other things are more obvious, such as women taking up the slack in jobs that were typically male-dominated before; although that wasn’t the start of feminism, it certainly helped boost the movement.

I found World War II: Fight on the Home Front to be a fast, easy, gripping read. Much of what was in here felt new to me or it had been years since I last heard about it. Although it can be fascinating to read about battles and adventure as people escape their enemies, I believe books like this can be just as important in showing us what it was like for the average person with the war being waged elsewhere. Everyone made sacrifices—but not all sacrifices looked the same. If you’re looking for a resource to help your children get a more rounded picture of World War II, I’d highly recommend this book. It isn’t perfect, but it covers a wide swath of the events and realities children and adults faced in America over the war years—everything from the beginning of paperback books to SPAM loaves, how ration books were used, the American Japanese internment camps, Navajo code talkers, and even a brief mention of conscientious objectors. I’m looking forward to sharing this book with my siblings!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.

WARNING: As is fairly typical with books like this, it tends to be pro-war and fighting, not something I believe Christians should take part in. Pg. 14: Story of a 15-year-old boy who was killed in fighting. Pg. 34 (and elsewhere): Messaging encouraging women to work away from home. Throughout the book, there are mentions of men who were killed in the fighting (no description of how they died, just that they died.) Pg. 109: Illustration of a skull when telling of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, a quote from Captain Robert A. Lewis: “My God, what have we done?”

Age levels:

Reading Independently—Ages 10 – 12, 12 – 15

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Hardcover
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com