All We Thought We Knew
Mattie Taylor arrives back in Tullahoma, Tennessee in 1969 to see her dying mother before it is too late. She left her parents’ horse farm in anger a year ago after her twin brother Mark was killed in Vietnam. Mattie blamed her father for his death, as he had not tried to keep Mark from volunteering to go to war. Her brother’s best friend Nash McCallum is now working at the farm. Nash had joined the military the same day as Mark but lost his arm in battle and was sent home. Mattie’s mother Ava does not have long to live but has requested that Mattie read some old letters Ava has stored away.
In 1942, Ava has received word of her husband Richard’s death at Pearl Harbor. She is living on the Delaney farm with her mother-in-law and is grieving for a man she barely knew, as they were only married for a short time. In need of money and a way to keep busy, Ava applies for and is accepted for a job at a military base, Camp Forrest, which she soon learns is being used to house German immigrants in an “internment camp” situation. As Ava becomes closer to one of the Germans being held against his will, Gunther Schneider, she faces scorn and judgment for their friendship.
This heartwarming but sad novel sheds light on the internment of thousands of innocent people in the United States during World War II, as well as the healing and recovery efforts for wounded Vietnam veterans. The themes of grief, forgiveness, and faith are addressed throughout the book. There is also the question, “Why does God allow good people to suffer?” The revelation of long-held secrets is heart-touching and compelling. The main characters are easy to connect with, and the story is enjoyable. Recommended.
