A review by alwyshaveabook82
Painting the Rainbow by Amy Gordon, Richard Tuschman

4.0

This story of girl cousins growing up during a summer at their grandparents place on a New Hampshire lake is historical fiction with nicely drawn characters. Holly and Ivy are thirteen years old and finding their strengths. This summer seems different because Holly’s parents are in California and Ivy’s parents are fighting. Still, the traditional hikes, boating, games, and playacting are fun. The list of campfire songs in 1965 is great.
With twenty-year-old Randy concerned with life choices during wartime, questions arise about Uncle Jesse who died in 1942. Several clues are found and questions asked but only the appearance of a stranger can unravel the secrets and heal the hurt.
The book has many characters and the mystery is well disguised. The unfamiliar history of conscientious objectors is intriguing. The loving descriptions of summers in the woods are marvelous. Readers will learn about American history and enjoy a good yarn. This is a great addition to books about the internment of Japanese and the Japanese Americans.