tristans_library 's review for:

The Last Assignment: A Novel by Erika Robuck

5.0

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“No matter what they did to my body, they are incapable of destroying my mind or spirit.”

This is one of those historical fiction stories that I think will appeal to many readers, even those who may not typically pick up a historical novel. If you like The Women by Kristin Hannah, you may want to add this to your TBR! 

I had never heard of Dickey Chappelle before, so I was excited to read this novel and learn more about her and her work. This book is pretty heartbreaking. The stories of the people fleeing from their governments, being tortured…it’s pretty heavy. But it was also very inspiring. Dickey was often in these countries and war zones as a photojournalist, but she and many other people provided a lot of aid to those in need. My heart ached equally with sadness and awe at everything everyone in this book went through. 

“She knows she must be the eyes of those who need to see the pain in the world, to make it better, but who aren’t willing to go to the ends of the earth themselves. She has resolved to do so, and it will make the world better.” 

This book is set mostly in the 1950’s and 1960’s but the story also made me think about people who are still experiencing these situations to this day. My heart aches for them, and for the people like Dickey who are brave enough to enter these dangerous situations in order to help others escape them!