Amazing Arc : The Unexpected lives of ordinary girls

Vanessa Bettencourt
Jun 26
2 min read

5 Stars 🌟 wonderful tale

Releases Sept 2015

One of my top 5 fav authors: J. Anderson Coats

My review:

This author always has amazing stories to tell at the core, and this book is evidence that we all have an amazing story of perseverance, bravery, or dreams to follow even if others don't understand and disagree... we must not quit our path. This tale was inspired by a Slovene family in Colorado in the 1910s, and it's so emotional (not too long, under 250 pages) and powerful, especially in our times. I love these historical tales filled with genre hardships that are still relatable today. The author dedicates this one to her grandmother, and I can see why.I used to hear many scenes mentioned in this book in my grandmother's stories of her past and own childhood (she too left home at a young age and ended up running a sector of a brand new hospital in her capital as a head nurse, she always made sure all her children and grandchildren went to college, including me.) Thank you, author, for this amazing tale, paying homage to all young girls who did not let society put them down.

The story shows us a Slovene family who lives in America but is still very rooted in their traditional culture, some members not learning english etc... I can understand both sides (not wanting to let go of traditional names, songs, traditions, past, place of birth, because the opposite feels like losing themselves, their identity and betraying their ancestors) at the same time, coming to America in search of a better life and freedom some of the characters are willing to be open minded and carve new paths, create new families, new hybrid traditions, otherwise they will be stuck. Our young main character, "Sylvia," wants to learn, go to college, and have nothing to do with cooking, cleaning, and taking care of younger siblings and babies until it's time to have her own. She wants to find a better life for herself that is rooted in knowledge and education. At such a young age (shy from being a preteen), she must make a decision: she has to run away. She must deny the tradition and claustrophobic expectations that dictate: That's how things are done. The freedom her family seeks seems to be only for the males who still live in hardship but look down on education as a path.

I love how Sylvia runs from Colorado to find a path in Denver, and how a library opens new opportunities for her.She is so young. But determined and brave. Pick up this book that will be released in September 2025. While you wait, check out the previous historical fiction from this author. Sylvia's journey is scary but empowering, inspirational, and uplifting.

This is another author that... If she writes, I'll read it.

Thank you, author, for the advance copy. The gift does not influence my honest review just made me run to read it before September.