To me it seems like no small feat to write historical fiction that is interesting, informative, and engaging. The main character is Victor, a 15 year old Chinese immigrant living in New York in the 1950's. He has Hansen's Disease (leprosy) and is compelled (pretty much required) to live in a leprosy community in the deep south. We learn about separation from family and discrimination based on his disease as well as his ethnicity. The characters in this story are diverse and engaging. The story is fascinating. Wonderful book!

Sometimes I really liked this book, and other times I needed to reread to be sure I was catching the right meaning...and then I still wasn't sure. I was really interested in the subject matter, but I was just not drawn in to the characters and I did not feel enlightened about how the South African Immorality Act effected people during that time. I was more disappointed than drawn in.

I usually do like mysteries. Yet this one didn't "grab me". The plot seemed good. It was interesting idea to have the lead detective be a woman who had just broken us with with same-sex partner. I just never looked forward to reading it. I didn't have any interest in knowing more about the characters.

This is a very well written book about 2 sisters during World War 1. They grew up during a male dominated time in history, yet both of them chose non-traditional life trajectories. It was so interesting to read the obstacles they encountered, and it was enthralling to get such detailed descriptions of how it was on the front line during the Great War.