Saturday, February 28, 2009

Tallgrass (Audio) by Sandra Dallas


After the surprise attack of Pearl Harbor during WWII, President Roosevelt signed an act that forced Japanese American's to be relocated to interment camps. One such camp, built on beet field land in Colorado, brought much change to the small town of Ellis. Rennie, 13, and her family of 5 own the beet farm close to the camp and through this innocent, yet wise little girl we learn the perils of such a blatant act of prejudice.

Rennie and her family find the Japanese American's to be good people, thus hiring them for farming and help within their home to the chagrin and chastising of many residents of Ellis. Much upheaval brews, including the rape and sodomy of a Susan Riddick, a young friend of Rennie's. Enraged that something this heinous hadn't happened in their little town before the "Japs" came, many Ellis residents blame the Japanese American internees. There in lies a mystery entwined into a book about people unnerved by change and riled by ignorance.

Sandra Dallas's characters seem like everyday folks to me. Adding a mystery to her plots keeps the reader engrossed, unsettled, angered and ultimately richer in knowledge. That is what a great book is suppose to do and Sandra Dallas delivers. I cant wait to read Prayers For Sale, which is getting great reviews.

Debbie

9 comments:

  1. This sounds really good; the camps are something we don't hear too much about in our history lessons. Thanks for sharing.

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  2. I just read Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet that addresses this same subject.

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  3. Nice review!

    Thanks for entering our giveaway!

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  6. This was an enjoyable story and I also liked the mystery that was weaved into it. Thanks for stopping by my blog and entering my contest!

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  7. I have been wanting to read this for a while and was thinking of audio. Thanks for the review, it looks like a good one.

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  8. Hi!

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    http://etsyitup.blogspot.com/

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  9. Sounds really interesting! Let me encourage you to drop by my book giveaway for A Walk With Christ To The Cross.

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