The Same Sky features two concurrent stories that come together in a remarkable way at the conclusion of the book. Alice has a nice life in Austin, TX. She and her husband own a successful BBQ restaurant that is making money and getting a lot of attention. Despite feeling like she should be happy, Alice yearns for one significant thing that is entirely beyond her control. While Alice spends her time frustrated in Texas, Carla is struggling to survive in a poverty & violence-striken part of Honduras. When her grandmother dies unexpectedly, Carla decides to try to save herself and her troubled brother making the treacherous journey to America. She may never make it all the way, or be able to find her mother when she gets there, but she's willing to take the risk at the chance for a better life.
Why It's Worth Reading:
No dragons. No time travel. No boarding school mystery. The Same Sky is just great, solid realistic fiction. It's the kind of book that you find yourself chatting about with family and friends without knowing how you got onto the subject. I was completely drawn in to both stories portrayed in book. I found myself disappointed when a chapter would end and switch to the other narrator, and then equally disappointed when I had to switch back. The story brings up a few hot-button issues, like adoption and immigration, but handles them in a very sensitive and personal way. Both Alice and Carla were wonderfully sympathetic characters who I found myself rooting for throughout the novel. I predict that this will be one of those books that, suddenly, everyone you know is reading it. Add it to your to-read list now.
Book Details:
ISBN: 9780553390513
Format: eBook
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publication Date: January 20, 2015
Source: NetGalley
Awards: None yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if it happened at some point later in the year.
Do We Own a Copy?: On order