Review by Booklist Review
Ackerman's WWII novel is a close-up look at how wartime chaos affects a tight-knit group of women living on Hawaii in 1944 at the height of Pacific combat. As told through the eyes of Violet Iverson and her daughter Ella, the war touches the Iverson family in an unusual way: through the mysterious disappearance of Herman, Violet's husband. As Violet and Ella search for answers about Herman's disappearance, the ongoing war interrupts with new tensions. The residents of their once-sleepy Hawaiian community begin to turn on each other, divided by race when Japanese neighbors are sent to internment camps. The arrival of American soldiers brings even more activity, enforcing curfews and running drills on the island terrain. But some of the soldiers' disruptions are welcome, as families reunite and life is celebrated. One soldier in particular handsome and earnest Sergeant Stone presents the opportunity of new love for Violet. Her journey overcoming her trials and grief through friendship, family, and romance is a story of strength and perseverance.--Foti, Nicole Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
[DEBUT] Herman Iverson was last seen on September 10, 1943, leaving behind his wife, Violet, and their young daughter, Ella. Focused on helping Ella heal from the trauma, Violet finds support in the form of their friends and neighbors in the small Hawaiian town of Honoka'a, where they soon open a pie shop for the soldiers at the nearby base. But will searching for the truth behind Herman's disappearance be the solution or the start of even larger troubles? Addressing the struggles of the Nisei (Japanese American) population in the wake of Pearl Harbor adds a welcome depth to some of the relationships depicted and to the novel as a whole. The missing, presumably dead, husband allowing for Ella to be a troubled child and Violet the opportunity to fall in love with a soldier sensitive to her daughter's needs feels a little contrived. And having a young adult lion, the mascot for one marine division, instinctively know he should gently hold down the bad guy during a simulated conflict, may distract some readers as an implausible detail. Verdict Strong female friendships and an unusual World War II home front setting add to this debut novel's appeal for historical fiction fans.-Stacey Hayman, Rocky River P.L., OH © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
