Book Review: Front Lines / Michael Grant

 If you love stories about war or re-imagined history - this might be the book for you. Between the covers of this book you will find the story of three women fighting during WWII after it has been legalized for women to join the military (that is the re-imagined part).  You will meet: Rio who joins up after her sister is killed in the Navy and after telling a boy that she is enlisting, Rainy who is an intelligence officer with little action until there is no other choice, Frangie - a black medic. 

So much of this story is true - the experiences of soldiers in WWII - even the experiences of soldiers today. (Want to know what bootcamp is like? Here you will find out.) The fact that these soldiers are women is outside the realm of fact - but the prejudice and treatment they get are real - and still real in 2021. The treatment of black soldiers in WWII also rings of truth. 

Book Review: A Spy in the House / Y. S. Lee

 

Mary Quinn, after being sentenced to hang for thievery (London, mid 1800s) is spirited away to a school for destitute girls, a place designed for girls to better themselves and rise above the circumstances of their time. Mary learns and grows there until she reaches the age of 17 when she learns that the school is a front for a women's detective agency and decides that this is the life she wants to live. Mary takes a quick training then accepts her first job, working under cover in the home of the Thorold family as a companion to their fairly spoiled and pretentious daughter, Angelica. The Agency has charged her with discovering information about smuggling, but Mary quickly oversteps her job description and makes some hasty decisions.

This is an OK book, the secondary characters aren't fully formed. But it could be fun for fans of mysteries and historical fiction. There is also a bi-racial Asian aspect to this story that will add intrigue for some readers. 

This book can be found on Overdrive through the Nashua Public Library (or through SORA using your public library card).