The Leavers by Lisa Ko

Immigration is a passionate issue in America, with loud voices screaming from both sides.  Lisa Ko writes an engaging fictional story depicting what it might be like to "belong" ....and not belong.

Six year old Deming is separated from his birth mother when the hair salon where she worked is raided by ICE.  His well meaning "aunt" signs papers for his adoption by a white family, in a small white community...where he doesn't belong.  He becomes Daniel and tries his best to be assimilated into a new environment....but he forever misses his Chinese mother.

This story evokes so many feelings as I reflect on my 2 adopted grandsons, and my 2 Ethiopian nephews.  Can adoption by parents of a different culture make a difference? How can the parents keep a balance between their love and desire for their kids to become part of their family and culture...but not let the kids' culture and family be left behind?  Lots of unanswered questions to ponder in this novel.

The Orphan's Tale by Pam Jenoff

Pam Jenoff has authored many historical novels, several during the World War II era where she captures a variety of different perspectives and ways in which Jewish people were hidden, and transported to safety from war torn Europe.  This story centers around two young women, Noa and Astrid, both with backgrounds of rejection by those who had loved them.  They meet in Germany in 1944 and work at a German circus, Astrid from a Jewish circus family, and Noa with no circus experience...but hiding a Jewish baby she had discovered in a boxcar full of babies meant to be discarded by the German government.  This was an entirely different storyline.  Jenoff researched the circus aspect of sheltering Jews and based this book on the true story of Irene Danner.  I so admire the courage it took for the German circus-owner to get involved by defying his country and saving those who came into his sphere of control.

As I get older the stories told about my parents' generation hold a special place in my heart.  The history that was happening around them, the ways that they faced the challenges, and their ability to move ahead all make me so proud of them.  This was a good read.