Fiction Pick of the Week: Far Side of the Sky

Far Side of the Sky by Daniel Kalla 2011

Nominated for the OLA Evergreen Award, Far Side of the Sky is a novel which interweaves fact and fiction in a fast-paced, fascinating novel. Franz Adler, his daughter Hannah, and his sister-in-law Esther seek passage out of Austria following the Kristallnacht in Austria. Many countries have closed their borders to Jewish refugees, but secure passage is found on the Italian liner Conte Biancamano. China’s borders are still open so the family flees to Shanghai looking for a better life. Life in Shanghai is foreign and difficult for the family. It is here that they meet Sunny, a half-Asian nurse, and their lives become interwoven with hers. The novel is divided into 6 major parts and takes place between November 1938 and August 1942.

Far Side of the Sky is a beautifully written story of adversity, triumph, love, and the strength of the human spirit. Daniel Kalla has done a wonderful job describing this lesser known event in World War II history. This is a must read for those who enjoy a mix of historical, wartime, and romance fiction.