BMN Book Review
by Jennifer Thai
I’ve never been to Saskatchewan nor was I alive during the Great Depression of the 1930s. However, Joseph Simons made me feel as if I were really there with his characters in his new novel, Under a Living Sky. The novel tells of a farming family struggling during this time, with the spotlight on the youngest daughter, Mary Elizabeth Vannieuwenhuizen. The main points of conflict are between Mary and her older sister Judith. Throughout most of the book, they fight for the affection of their parents.
Although Mary is seven years old, she is unable to go to school due to a childhood heart condition. Also, she hopes for new shoes for Christmas because her hand-me-downs from Judith have worn out. However, her parents could only afford shoes for Judith; Mary instead receives a handmade doll made from a horse’s nosebag. Struck by the unfairness of these two situations, the reader sides with Mary and develops loathing towards Judith.
Other members of the family include Mary and Judith’s little brother, Joseph, and their parents, Raynold and Ruth. There is tension between the parents as well, primarily because of Ruth’s post-miscarriage depression and Raynold’s constant worry of another war.
As the story goes on, the narrator’s voice continues to guide you seamlessly through the cold winter months with the Vannieuwenhuizen family. In Mary’s eyes, her sister appears to be extremely annoying, but Judith was the real reason I liked this book. While she seems to be much more superior to Mary, Judith is envious of her younger sister. The reader starts to wonder what the source of Judith’s jealousy really is.
One day, when an enormous storm makes its way to the farm, Mary’s doll, Jessy, mysteriously goes missing. Even though Mary is overcome with sadness, her relationship with Judith takes a turn for the better. The two sisters discover a friendship that was once hidden by envy.
When spring rolls around and the snow has melted, Jessy appears once again. Will this cause Mary and Judith’s relationship to fall apart once again? You’ll have to read Under a Living Sky by Joseph Simons to find out!
© Boyle McCauley News, used by permission
by Jennifer Thai
I’ve never been to Saskatchewan nor was I alive during the Great Depression of the 1930s. However, Joseph Simons made me feel as if I were really there with his characters in his new novel, Under a Living Sky. The novel tells of a farming family struggling during this time, with the spotlight on the youngest daughter, Mary Elizabeth Vannieuwenhuizen. The main points of conflict are between Mary and her older sister Judith. Throughout most of the book, they fight for the affection of their parents.
Although Mary is seven years old, she is unable to go to school due to a childhood heart condition. Also, she hopes for new shoes for Christmas because her hand-me-downs from Judith have worn out. However, her parents could only afford shoes for Judith; Mary instead receives a handmade doll made from a horse’s nosebag. Struck by the unfairness of these two situations, the reader sides with Mary and develops loathing towards Judith.
Other members of the family include Mary and Judith’s little brother, Joseph, and their parents, Raynold and Ruth. There is tension between the parents as well, primarily because of Ruth’s post-miscarriage depression and Raynold’s constant worry of another war.
As the story goes on, the narrator’s voice continues to guide you seamlessly through the cold winter months with the Vannieuwenhuizen family. In Mary’s eyes, her sister appears to be extremely annoying, but Judith was the real reason I liked this book. While she seems to be much more superior to Mary, Judith is envious of her younger sister. The reader starts to wonder what the source of Judith’s jealousy really is.
One day, when an enormous storm makes its way to the farm, Mary’s doll, Jessy, mysteriously goes missing. Even though Mary is overcome with sadness, her relationship with Judith takes a turn for the better. The two sisters discover a friendship that was once hidden by envy.
When spring rolls around and the snow has melted, Jessy appears once again. Will this cause Mary and Judith’s relationship to fall apart once again? You’ll have to read Under a Living Sky by Joseph Simons to find out!
© Boyle McCauley News, used by permission
