BookBrowse Reviews The Same Sky by Amanda Eyre Ward

BookBrowse:

A novel about two families on both sides of the American border and how they intersect in a profound and surprising way.

Emotionally charged and and compellingly written, our readers couldn't help but empathize with the two central characters in The Same Sky. 34 out of 38 readers gave Amanda Eyre Ward's novel a 4 or 5-star rating.

Why did our readers feel so connected to this novel?

The Same Sky covers the lives of Alice, who lives in Texas dealing with the heartache of not being able to have a child; and Carla, an eleven-year-old girl who, with her brother, tries to make her way from Honduras to Texas. What I liked most about these two characters was their resilience and faith to believe that they will get what they want (Christine P). The stories of Alice and Carla are told alternately, until their lives finally intersect. This is a story of motherhood and childhood. It is a story of longing for family. It is a tale of loss, hope, faith, and love (Barbara L). Carla and Alice are portrayed in such detail that the reader emotionally connects with each one (Barbara H). Though I do not specifically relate to the experiences of the characters, the way they are written makes them so accessible, so relatable, I found their story to connect deeply to my own life. This book is why I love reading (Sarah H). I was lucky that I picked up this book the night we changed the clocks back – it gave me an extra hour of uninterrupted reading. I kept wondering how these two lives were going to intersect. Fabulous! (Sarah N)

Many of our readers were deeply moved by the timely nature of the story:

The Same Sky puts a human face on the recent stories of children crossing the border illegally - the desperation and brutality they experience. It reminds us that they are children who need our compassion and understanding (Cecilia Z). The author must have done much research to describe so well the perils faced by children attempting to get into the United States from the South. I knew it must be difficult, but this book helped me understand how very treacherous it is, and how very hard life must be that these people will risk the dangers to get through the borders to a new and hopefully better life (Jan M). No matter where you stand on immigration, The Same Sky gives you many things on which to reflect (Donna N). This was a well-written and believable narrative that evoked both sympathy and anger over some of the issues we are faced with today. The easy flowing story highlighted the dichotomy between protecting our borders, and protecting the welfare of the endangered. The writer exemplified the difficult balance that lies between protection for current laws on the one hand, and protecting those who would break them on the other, subtly suggesting there is no simple "one size fits all" answer (Pam M). The Same Sky will make you view your fellow members of the world in a new way and hopefully soften your heart (Liz M).

These are but a few of the comments from our readers about the surprising way the two main characters lives intertwine in The Same Sky:

The ending was a surprise, but pleasantly joyful (Priscilla K). Alice and Carla's lives collide, but not in the way I had anticipated (Susan B). As the story progressed, I thought I had figured out how the story would end. Surprise! The story does not end in quite the way I'd imagined, but in a much more satisfying manner (Roseanne S).

And our readers wholeheartedly recommend The Same Sky:

The Same Sky explores a multitude of up-to-the-moment and universal themes. Infertility, immigration, family, motherhood, loss: this novel walks a fine line between heartache and hope, offering rich – and potentially controversial – fodder for book-group discussion (Darra W). I highly recommend The Same Sky to everyone who loves a good story about families struggling to live the American Dream (Sharon R). I foresee The Same Sky being a book club selection in our school (Amy M). Book clubs would enjoy this novel for its comparison of cultures, and high school literature classes for the cultural comparison and for the adventure, as well (Robin M). This will appeal to book clubs, and anyone who loves to read of characters who evolve and find joy, in spite of circumstances, as they fight their inner demons (Elizabeth P). Read this book! It will educate you about immigrant struggles. And the characters will stay in your heart for a long time (Carol R).

This review was originally published in The BookBrowse Review in February 2015, and has been updated for the September 2015 edition. Click here to go to this issue.