ellieb_reads 's review for:

The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan

4.5

dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

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There are a lot of WWII historical fictions out there, but this one explores a part of it that I knew very little about. I learned quite a bit, and it’s always a bonus for me when a fiction novel doubles as an educational read. The story is absolutely heartbreaking, and there are a number of graphic and traumatic scenes that were painful to read. But Chan’s prose is gorgeous and the characters were complex and well-developed. Hard to believe The Storm We Made is her debut! I didn't love the POV of the youngest daughter. I understand why her story was important, but I think she would’ve been better as a supporting character only. I’m still torn over how I feel about the ending (which kind of goes off the rails, thanks to said youngest daughter). But all in all, this was a beautifully-written book with a new perspective on the WWII era, and I was engaged from start to finish.