A review by serenereadssally
The View from Half Dome by Jill Caugherty, Jill Caugherty

emotional informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I was kindly sent this ARC by @Netgalley and Black Rose Writing in exchange for an honest review. 

In 1934 San Francisco, Isabel dreams of escaping her life of poverty and invents an imaginary island with her little sister. After a tragic event, she leaves her mother and flees to Yosemite where her brother is serving with the CCC and spends a summer with the inspirational Mrs Michael and her husband. Enid Michael is the only female ranger naturalist in the park and Isabel begins to long to live this life permanently. 

I initially wanted to read this book due to my love of Yosemite. I was transported instantly in those chapters back to all the places I love. The mist trail, Vernal Falls, Camp Curry and of course Half Dome. The writer describes in such detail the beautiful plants and wildlife and all given a human touch by Enid who liked to use female pronouns for flora and fauna. It was so evocative of the park and it’s inhabitants and the history behind things was fascinating and well researched.

But this book is so much more than that! In the chapters prior to Isabel arriving at Yosemite the characters and storyline gripped me. It was heartbreaking and I could really feel our protagonist’s sadness and daily struggles and her desire for escape and redemption. 

The story kept my interest the whole way through and the ending was good and not too ‘and they all lived happily ever after’ which I did have a slight fear may happen. 

This book is for everyone that likes a well told story of family and challenges with a twist of nature and adventure thrown in. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am now thinking about my next trip to SF and Yosemite.

4 Stars