Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar and Louder than Hunger by John Schu

 

Last week, I read Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar. This historical fiction novel is about four girls from different generations of the same Jewish family beginning in 1492 and ending in 2003. During the Spanish Inquisition in Toledo, Benvenida's family decides to leave Spain and journey across the Mediterranean Sea to Turkey rather than convert to Catholicism. Hundreds of years later, in 1923 after the Turkish War of Independence, Reina's father ships her off to Cuba for an arranged marriage as punishment for going to a party with Sadik, a Muslim boy her own age. A few decades later, in 1961 Cuba, Reina's daughter, Alegra, is excited to teach reading and writing in the countryside as a brigadista for Fidel Castro, but as her family struggles to survive during the crackdowns on businesses, they make the difficult decision to send her to Miami all alone. Finally, in 2003 Miami, Alegra's daughter, Paloma, is fascinated by her family's past when she goes on a trip with her parents and grandmother to Spain where she can learn more about her heritage. Connected by Sephardic music and a love of learning, these four girls long for a place they can call home where everyone is welcome.

I thought this novel was breathtakingly beautiful. All four girls were lovely, and I enjoyed getting to know them over the course of their individual stories. While they do experience tragedy and heartbreak, I was struck by how courageous they were when facing the challenges of their lives. I'd especially be terrified if I was sent away from home, like Reina and Alegra were. I also really liked the inclusion of Sephardic songs because, along with some of the food they ate, these songs showed how the traditions of their family were passed down for hundreds of years and many generations. I thought that was incredible because I don't think my family has any older traditions left besides listening to older Christmas carols. What I loved the most, though, was how the story ended exactly where it began. It made me so happy that Paloma could see the Jewish quarter in Toledo, Spain, where Benvenida lived with her parents and brothers. The story really came full circle. Something I found interesting was how the language they spoke evolved over the years. Because of her roots in Turkey, Reina speaks Ladino, which preserves the old Spanish that Benvenida spoke and is considered endangered. Additionally, Across So Many Seas has backmatter that includes an author's note and sources. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys family stories and tales of courage.

Over the weekend, I read Louder than Hunger by John Schu. This novel in verse taking place from 1996 to 1998 is about Jake Stacey, a 13-year-old boy who volunteers at the nursing home by reading to Ms. Burns, likes Emily Dickinson poems, and enjoys spending time with his grandma, especially listening to the original Broadway cast recording of Into the Woods. Because of bullying at school, there's a voice in his head telling him to constantly exercise and not eat. When his parents take him to Whispering Pines for treatment, he is diagnosed with anorexia nervosa and other mental health disorders. He hates it there, but as he spends more time at the facility receiving therapy, he slowly realizes that he has to stop listening to the Voice and quit punishing himself.

Wow, this book was absolutely riveting. Although it only took me two days to finish, it was a tough story to read at times, but I grew to care so much about Jake and wanted him to get well. I could relate to Jake's love for reading and musicals, and even though he occasionally had an outburst, it just seemed like he was simply a good person struggling with his mental health. I especially loved his relationship with his grandma and it was absolutely devastating when she became sick with pancreatic cancer while Jake was at Whispering Pines. My heart definitely broke for Jake because she was the only person that he felt loved him, due to his issues with his parents and at school. On the bright side, I like that Jake was able to befriend Kella, another teen at Whispering Pines. I think it was realistic that they both were in and out of the treatment facility because sometimes healing doesn't always happen in one go and failure can be a necessary step towards success. My favorite of the staff at Whispering Pines was Pedro, who facilitated art therapy, because I think he helped Jake the most in discovering self love and their relationship wasn't fraught with conflict. Louder than Hunger is the first time I've read a story about a boy who has an eating disorder and Schu does an outstanding job portraying Jake's story because he himself experienced an eating disorder when he was younger, as explained in the afterward. Additionally, there is a foreword by Kate DiCamillo before the story and a list of sources at the end. Because this book is brave and important, everyone should read it, no matter what age they are.