Tisha by Robert Specht

As a literature major in college, I overdosed on fiction. On summer vacations and for years after I graduated, nonfiction was the only form of literature I could stand. It seemed simpler, somehow. Now that I’m over that period of life, I realize that real life is far less simple than fiction, and both are reasonable stories. That said, when I can find a book which blends both story and biography well, I devour it delightedly.

Tisha is the true story of a young school teacher’s first year in the Alaskan wilderness. The Alaska of the early 1920’s isn’t all that different from the Alaska of today, so something about this young woman’s story rang true to my heart when I first read it. I was a college student, the same age as Anne Hobbs, the protagonist, and I was teaching Bible school in rural Alaskan villages, both Native American and white settlements. Anne’s compassion is irresistible, and her battle against prejudice fueled my own determination to do the best I could. Copies of this book are hard to come by, and when I found one in a used bookstore in Farmington, New Mexico, I had to buy it. The story was just as delightful the second time around (a hard feat to accomplish), and if you can get your hands on it, I recommend you read it at once. My copy is on its way to a friend.

The River Between Us by Richard Peck

As a brilliant and prolific author, one might never know that Richard Peck specialized in young adult fiction unless they new that he had written books awarded with The Newbery Medal and Honor. It’s not that his books aren’t short, it’s just that they are so full of life, story, character, and drama, that it’s always a surprise that they’re of typical young adult length. In addition, he never talks down to his readers, treating his young adult readers as though they deserve the very best of his writing. I am in awe of his skill, and while I can’t say that I would recommend every one of his books, I certainly commend him to you as an excellent author.

The River Between Us follows a family through the early years of the Civil War, retelling oft forgotten stories of the time, of soldiers dead through disease more than battle, of vibrant cultures unheard of in the postwar years. The story is brilliant, but the details drew me in: long underwear, scrapple, dances, bonnets, candles, and oil lamps. Never before has this time period so real to me. And Peck isn’t content to leave it at that. He also weaves in the next generation, just prior to U.S. involvement in World War I. In doing so, he successfully accomplishes what many good authors fail to do – he finishes the story. I closed the final page of this short novel with a satisfied sigh, content with how I left them. The story wasn’t over, but I was able to leave my part in it without feeling cheated, and for an author to accomplish that is a great achievement indeed.