Laurie M. (reading-galore) - , reviewed on 8/30/2019 + 115 more book reviews

This is the first book by John Shors that I have been thrilled to read and am eager to read his book "Beneath a Marble Sky." The characters in "Beside a Burning Sea" are brilliantly developed as they escape the sinking of their World War II hospital ship "Benevolence" and fight to survive on a deserted island for eighteen days. I was absolutely captivated by the love story between Akira, an injured Japanese soldier, and Annie, an American nurse, which I felt was the most beautiful part of the book. Each chapter had a haiku poem at the beginning that seemed to be written by Akira. I won't give away the ending but it was very dramatic. There were points when positive outcomes in the story were unrealistically created by having items miraculously washing up on the beach at the right moment. I also wondered why the characters weren't worried that they might not get off the island. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and found it to be an engaging and enlightening book about the dangers and heartbreak of serving on a hospital ship during World War II. Highly recommend this!

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