sassyredca's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
staceyjl's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
kbranfield's review against another edition
5.0
Heartbreaking yet ultimately uplifting. Rosie's situation is absolutely harrowing yet she does not let it permanently define her or prevent her from reaching her goals. While she is enduring the unthinkable, her friend, Helen Calvert is seeing Adolf Hitler and the Nazi depravity firsthand. After the war ends, she knows it is time to return home and she sets out to find Rosie after learning what happened to her. The two storylines are seemingly unrelated yet the similarities soon become apparant. Based on real life events, this beautifully rendered novel is incredibly moving and details some of the most horrific and shameful events in both the United States and World War II.
creaseinthespinebooks's review
5.0
This is one of my most anticipated books I wanted to read this year and right now I am lost for words because this was an exceptional book.
Now, to write my review...
Honesty, I can’t even fully describe or put into words how Meissner dove right in and captured my heart as she masterfully weaved together the worlds of two fascinating women during a fraught time about the stigma surrounding unmarried mothers, inhumane medical treatments and procedures, and taking away a person’s rights and injustice. A powerful narrative about an ordinary person who does something extraordinary, her fight for justice
Told with dual timelines, California, 1938 and Austria, 1947, written from two POVs: Rosie and Helen.
This is a powerful book and one I will never forget. I recommend completely
Now, to write my review...
Honesty, I can’t even fully describe or put into words how Meissner dove right in and captured my heart as she masterfully weaved together the worlds of two fascinating women during a fraught time about the stigma surrounding unmarried mothers, inhumane medical treatments and procedures, and taking away a person’s rights and injustice. A powerful narrative about an ordinary person who does something extraordinary, her fight for justice
Told with dual timelines, California, 1938 and Austria, 1947, written from two POVs: Rosie and Helen.
This is a powerful book and one I will never forget. I recommend completely
qmm1503's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jeehernandez87's review
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book was so hard to read at times due to the ugly history of eugenics. Most have heard about the horrors that occurred during the time of WWII, but rarely do you hear of the absolutely evil acts that were being committed in the USA before, during and after that time. The goal of mutilation and murder in many ways mirrored the acts that Hitler and his regime carried out in what most Americans consider “so far away”. It was happening here, in the United States. I found the number of years it continued to happen to be shocking to say the least.
My heart broke so many times, and I was on the verge of tears throughout so much of this book. Rarely do I feel this emotional when reading, but this one literally gave me all the feels. I don’t want to share spoilers, but near the end there was a moment that gave me goosebumps, and then immediately my heart sank just a bit as I empathized with the character and what this meant for their future. This happened many times throughout the book, and those that read this, will understand. I rarely give five stars but this certainly deserves it.
On a final note, I think everyone should take the time to learn a bit about this time period, and what was happening in the USA. This was very eye opening for me, especially after reading through the author’s notes at the end. There are books that change you, your perception of history and what you think possible. This book will stay with me long after I finished reading it’s pages.
My heart broke so many times, and I was on the verge of tears throughout so much of this book. Rarely do I feel this emotional when reading, but this one literally gave me all the feels. I don’t want to share spoilers, but near the end there was a moment that gave me goosebumps, and then immediately my heart sank just a bit as I empathized with the character and what this meant for their future. This happened many times throughout the book, and those that read this, will understand. I rarely give five stars but this certainly deserves it.
On a final note, I think everyone should take the time to learn a bit about this time period, and what was happening in the USA. This was very eye opening for me, especially after reading through the author’s notes at the end. There are books that change you, your perception of history and what you think possible. This book will stay with me long after I finished reading it’s pages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Death, and Genocide
Moderate: Car accident, Murder, Rape, Death of parent, and Mental illness
Minor: Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, and Miscarriage
tatianasv's review
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
m301welhoff's review
dark
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.25