Search This Blog
December Reviews Link-Up
2024 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama (1)
- Alaska (1)
- Arizona (1)
- Arkansas (1)
- California (11)
- Colorado (1)
- Connecticut (2)
- Delaware (1)
- Florida (3)
- Georgia (4)
- Hawaii (1)
- Idaho (3)
- Illinois (4)
- Indiana (4)
- Iowa (1)
- Kansas (1)
- Kentucky (2)
- Louisiana (1)
- Maine (1)
- Maryland (1)
- Massachusetts (4)
- Michigan (1)
- Minnesota (2)
- Mississippi (1)
- Missouri (1)
- Montana (1)
- Nebraska (1)
- Nevada (2)
- New Hampshire (1)
- New Jersey (1)
- New Mexico (1)
- New York (10)
- North Carolina (4)
- North Dakota (1)
- Ohio (3)
- Oklahoma (2)
- Oregon (2)
- Pennsylvania (2)
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina (1)
- South Dakota (1)
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (4)
- Utah (5)
- Vermont (2)
- Virginia (2)
- Washington (3)
- West Virginia (1)
- Wisconsin (1)
- Wyoming (2)
- Washington, D.C.* (2)
International:
- Argentina (1)
- Australia (6)
- Austria (1)
- Bolivia (1)
- Canada (4)
- China (2)
- England (27)
- France (2)
- Ghana (1)
- India (1)
- Indonesia (1)
- Ireland (4)
- Italy (1)
- Poland (2)
- Russia (2)
- Scotland (4)
- The Netherlands (1)
2024 Build Your Library Reading Challenge
Monday, March 26, 2018
Hawaiian Home Front Comes to Life in New WWII Novel
3:02 PM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
A Minnesota farm girl raised by stern, emotionless parents, Violet Iverson never dreamed she would someday end up living on the lush, exotic island of Hawaii. When a whirlwind romance leads to a one-way ticket to the Big Island and a marriage proposal, she takes a chance and goes. A decade later, warm, gentle Hawaii feels more like home than cold, grim Minnesota ever did. Violet's been happy in Honoka'a, where she teaches at the high school and lives on its campus among friends who feel like family. Recently, however, war has brought unwelcome change to the small town, including rationing, air-raid drills, and the unexplained disappearance of Violet's husband, Herman. Although it's been a year since he vanished, no one can say whether Honoka'a High's former principal is alive or dead. Violet thinks her daughter, 10-year-old Ella, knows something about her father's disappearance, but the girl won't admit to it no matter how hard Violet prods.
When Honoka'a suddenly becomes overrun with soldiers training for a special mission, Violet and her friends decide to earn some extra cash by opening a pie stand near the military base. With suspicion swirling in the sultry island air, the women soon find themselves accused of spying for the enemy. Their Japanese friends are also being targeted. Desperate to clear all of their good names, Violet relies on a handsome Marine to help her find out what really happened to her husband. Exposing secrets is dangerous business, as she soon discovers. With danger all around, can Violet solve a mystery, save her friends, and keep her daughter safe?
I haven't read many World War II novels set entirely on American soil, so I was immediately interested when I heard about Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers by Sara Ackerman. Inspired by the experiences of the author's grandparents—who lived in Honoka'a during World War II and hosted many soldiers in their home while the men were at Camp Tarawa before shipping out for Iwo Jima and Saipan—the novel offers a vivid setting and an intriguing story. Ackerman's prose isn't quite as dynamic, as it's a bit stiff and more tell than show. Her characters aren't all that memorable either, although they're likable enough. Overall, though, I ended up liking Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers. I didn't love it like I wanted to, but I enjoyed the read overall.
(Readalikes: Um, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a handful of F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, and sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Subscribe to:
Posts
(Atom)
Reading
Listening
Followin' with Bloglovin'
-
-
-
The Neighbor's Secret by L. Alison Heller3 hours ago
-
-
Sunday Post/Sunday Salon6 hours ago
-
-
-
Glimpses of the Savior17 hours ago
-
-
Goals for 2024 Final Check-In20 hours ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
106. Little Christmas Carol3 days ago
-
Swordheart3 days ago
-
-
A Review of The Christmas Mourner3 days ago
-
-
-
-
I have been reading...1 week ago
-
-
-
Sunday Post 5583 weeks ago
-
-
I'm Still Reading - This Was My October5 weeks ago
-
Open for Murder by Mary Angela1 month ago
-
Reading Recap September 20242 months ago
-
-
Review: The Duke and I4 months ago
-
Girl Plus Books: On Hiatus4 months ago
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?1 year ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?2 years ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Grab my Button!
Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ▼ 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
- ► 2015 (188)
- ► 2014 (133)
- ► 2013 (183)
- ► 2012 (193)
- ► 2011 (232)
- ► 2010 (257)
- ► 2009 (211)
- ► 2008 (192)