4 out of 4 stars
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Fire Angels by Joseph Richardson is a profound novel recounting the racial discrimination at the start of the twentieth century, the memory of World War I and the 1918 influenza epidemic.
The story is set in Walako, a small town situated in Florida. David Cooper has struggled through life with the death of his parents and his younger brother, Ira. Things take a hopeful turn when he marries Sara and before long, they learn that they are expecting a baby. Still, World War 1 is looming closer and the racial tensions in Walako are growing with the Ku Klux Klan having some roots in the small town.
Fire Angels is expertly written covering crucial topics that relate to the making of a nation and the obstacles that had to be overcome. An important character in the book is Jack Harris, an African American man who is willing to fight for his nation in the war despite the racial discrimination he has witnessed and has been subjected to. Despite his accomplishments in the army, he is forced to return to Walako. He does not give up, rather, he adopts a new vision for his community. Jack and his wife Cora start a school for the African American community in the settlement.
David and Sara Cooper are adeptly created main characters. Unlike many around them, they are progressive and choose to see every person around them as their equals despite their skin color. Sara’s tenacity and willingness to learn to be independent especially with the possibility of David going off to war is admirable. David, on the other hand, is humble and he chooses to keep his sacrifices and accomplishments during the war to himself.
The pace of the story is appropriate. Joseph Richardson does not linger on details that do not help develop the plot. Instead, every scene is impactful and helps move the story forward. The conversations in the book are informative and they provide a glimpse into the attitude of the people in that era. The antagonist is given enough room in the book as well as the supporting characters.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and I did not find anything that I particularly disliked. The book is also professionally edited and contains very few errors. I recommend Fire Angels to readers who love stories that are created from historical viewpoints and events. Readers who do not enjoy these themes may not enjoy the book. I rate it 4 out of 4 stars.
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Fire Angels
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