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Our Yellow Tape Letters
Just days away from Germany's surrender, Lucy Skyes never expects to receive the same telegram that thousands of families across the world have since the start of World War Two: a notice of her brother's death in the service of his country. While reeling from the shock of losing her best friend, Lucy receives a letter from someone who knew her brother and can tell her two things she desperately wants to know: What her brother's life was like in the army and who is responsible for his death.
Jeremiah Sparrow wakes up in an army hospital, unable to remember what put him there, why he can't hear anything, or who he lost. When memories resurface of a plane crash, a parachute, and a friend, Jeremiah harbors deep guilt and secrets. Jeremiah sends a letter of his own to Lucy—and his words open a door that may cost him more than he realizes.
Everyone has secrets to unearth and stories to tell. War, loss, and letters—they are a lot like yellow tape: Once you cross that line, there is no going back. And sometimes, what you find on the other side looks nothing like you imagined it to.
Jeremiah Sparrow wakes up in an army hospital, unable to remember what put him there, why he can't hear anything, or who he lost. When memories resurface of a plane crash, a parachute, and a friend, Jeremiah harbors deep guilt and secrets. Jeremiah sends a letter of his own to Lucy—and his words open a door that may cost him more than he realizes.
Everyone has secrets to unearth and stories to tell. War, loss, and letters—they are a lot like yellow tape: Once you cross that line, there is no going back. And sometimes, what you find on the other side looks nothing like you imagined it to.
407 pages, Paperback
Published December 10, 2022
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January 5, 2023
Author's note:
As a writer in the twenty-first century, I have access to endless events, terms, and inventions that weren't around during the Second World War—one of those is yellow tape. Although not mentioned in the story for historical accuracy, I couldn't think of a better title for this book because it encompasses a major theme in the story: things aren't always as they seem. Behind yellow tape are secrets to be unearthed, truths to be discovered, and lessons to be learned.
Setting out to write this book, I dedicated myself to putting in the hard work it takes to get the historical facts and details right. Even though this is a work of fiction, I strove for accuracy. Of course, being a human with limited knowledge and a brain that loves to incorporate modern utilities or terms, it's impossible to make this story perfect. But I hope you'll take the mistakes with a grain of salt and offer grace as it's needed. All that to say, I spent countless hours searching and tracing the 34th Infantry Division's part in the war, particularly events I haven't seen in many other World War II books out there. Everything from the baseball game in Ireland, to the Calvin Club, to the less-than-tasteful coffee in the UK was all the result of extensive research and digging.
This story is really close to my heart because the personal things the characters struggled with, like depression or lost love or grief, are ones I have as well. I dug really deep into my spiritual roots because I wanted the lessons I’ve learned in real life to translate onto the pages of the book. Writing out what I've experienced and learned from those hardships was really hard but important to me. When I sit down to write, I want to tell a good story, yes, but also one where readers can go, "That's me—I understand exactly how that character is feeling." Because to me, those are the best kind of stories.
Life is hard and messy, but there are lessons we can walk away with that redeem those difficult seasons. That’s what God has shown me through the times I’ve struggled with anxiety, depression, and loss. Nothing is purposeless. Everything has a reason. I hope that’s what He shows you through Lucy, Ben, Jeremiah, Sage, and the rest of the gang’s story. Life is full of yellow tape and hard things, but God wants to meet us on the other side of the line and grow and heal us, if we’re willing to cross.
Happy reading!
Caitlin
As a writer in the twenty-first century, I have access to endless events, terms, and inventions that weren't around during the Second World War—one of those is yellow tape. Although not mentioned in the story for historical accuracy, I couldn't think of a better title for this book because it encompasses a major theme in the story: things aren't always as they seem. Behind yellow tape are secrets to be unearthed, truths to be discovered, and lessons to be learned.
Setting out to write this book, I dedicated myself to putting in the hard work it takes to get the historical facts and details right. Even though this is a work of fiction, I strove for accuracy. Of course, being a human with limited knowledge and a brain that loves to incorporate modern utilities or terms, it's impossible to make this story perfect. But I hope you'll take the mistakes with a grain of salt and offer grace as it's needed. All that to say, I spent countless hours searching and tracing the 34th Infantry Division's part in the war, particularly events I haven't seen in many other World War II books out there. Everything from the baseball game in Ireland, to the Calvin Club, to the less-than-tasteful coffee in the UK was all the result of extensive research and digging.
This story is really close to my heart because the personal things the characters struggled with, like depression or lost love or grief, are ones I have as well. I dug really deep into my spiritual roots because I wanted the lessons I’ve learned in real life to translate onto the pages of the book. Writing out what I've experienced and learned from those hardships was really hard but important to me. When I sit down to write, I want to tell a good story, yes, but also one where readers can go, "That's me—I understand exactly how that character is feeling." Because to me, those are the best kind of stories.
Life is hard and messy, but there are lessons we can walk away with that redeem those difficult seasons. That’s what God has shown me through the times I’ve struggled with anxiety, depression, and loss. Nothing is purposeless. Everything has a reason. I hope that’s what He shows you through Lucy, Ben, Jeremiah, Sage, and the rest of the gang’s story. Life is full of yellow tape and hard things, but God wants to meet us on the other side of the line and grow and heal us, if we’re willing to cross.
Happy reading!
Caitlin
September 5, 2024
5+ stars (7/10 hearts). My heart, I wasn’t ready for this. A new author always makes for a few qualms, but I have heard so much good of this author that I was positive I’d love this book. I was right—but I didn’t know how much I’d love it.
We all know how much I love WWII books. Caitlin Miller did a fantastic job with the army side of things. I loved seeing the war in Africa instead of Europe, the usual setting, and what the life of the troops was like. It was also really cool to see what life back home was like during this time. The writing style was superb—sharp, beautiful, and clear—and I loved how the book went endlessly between the past, the present, and the far past. It was paced and delivered so well. And I really admire how it was exclusively composed of letters, telegrams, notes, etc., yet told a full story and never made one feel that something had been left out.
The characters were my favourite part after the writing style and messages (more on those later). Jeremiah was so sweet and modest and broken and strong. It was marvellous to discover his heroics as he berated himself for not being enough. Ben was the quintessential hero soldier + big brother character—yet he too was broken and I was so happy with his humanity. Shorty, Robbie, and Gerry rounded up the gang perfectly, and Sage… she was delightful. (AND I LOVED THE ASL ADDITION!!) Grandpa, too, was a dear.
The plot was awesome. I found myself struggling with the realization that Ben was dead almost as much as Lucy did, and battling the realization of love lost as much as Sage. The author did a splendid job showing how final and hopeless and painful life can be, but she didn’t overdo it—rather, it was healing, to realize this and to see it mirrored in fiction instead of a happily ever after wrapped up in a little bow. The way the war was handled—realistic, yet not too gritty or dark—was excellent, and the balance of simple, everyday, slice-of-life mixed with the pain and action of war made for a gripping but tenderhearted read. There was only a tiny thread of romance—which was perfect—and the ending was… also perfect. I particularly appreciated the tiny pro-life thread, as well as the PTSD mention, and the addition of the Japanese children and the questions on the atomic bomb—also very human, but often pushed aside as too messy.
In fact, this book deals almost exclusively with the messiness of humanity, in a thoughtful, piercing, gentle way that almost comforts and soothes by making one come to terms with the complexity of life. Throughout the story, Caitlin Miller impresses upon us that existence is hard and happiness is frail, perfection doesn’t exist and questions abound, yet she also unveils the hope and wonder and beauty of this broken, confusing, God-created life. She touches on the uniqueness of persons and their multiple, complex emotions, so hard to handle and understand and push through. She points out how the deepest pain can be hidden so successfully none see it; that sometimes those we love most hurt us worst; that grief is absolutely baffling and trust is so hard to give once lost, and we are moved to grieve over this—yet she also tells us how courage exists in many forms, and is always rewarded; how the right choice is always there and we are responsible to take it; how God is greater than the pain and His truth stronger than the lies; and that life moves on and is worth living—through the pain always comes something better and more beautiful.
Content: a few euphemisms.
*Quotes to come. I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
We all know how much I love WWII books. Caitlin Miller did a fantastic job with the army side of things. I loved seeing the war in Africa instead of Europe, the usual setting, and what the life of the troops was like. It was also really cool to see what life back home was like during this time. The writing style was superb—sharp, beautiful, and clear—and I loved how the book went endlessly between the past, the present, and the far past. It was paced and delivered so well. And I really admire how it was exclusively composed of letters, telegrams, notes, etc., yet told a full story and never made one feel that something had been left out.
The characters were my favourite part after the writing style and messages (more on those later). Jeremiah was so sweet and modest and broken and strong. It was marvellous to discover his heroics as he berated himself for not being enough. Ben was the quintessential hero soldier + big brother character—yet he too was broken and I was so happy with his humanity. Shorty, Robbie, and Gerry rounded up the gang perfectly, and Sage… she was delightful. (AND I LOVED THE ASL ADDITION!!) Grandpa, too, was a dear.
The plot was awesome. I found myself struggling with the realization that Ben was dead almost as much as Lucy did, and battling the realization of love lost as much as Sage. The author did a splendid job showing how final and hopeless and painful life can be, but she didn’t overdo it—rather, it was healing, to realize this and to see it mirrored in fiction instead of a happily ever after wrapped up in a little bow. The way the war was handled—realistic, yet not too gritty or dark—was excellent, and the balance of simple, everyday, slice-of-life mixed with the pain and action of war made for a gripping but tenderhearted read. There was only a tiny thread of romance—which was perfect—and the ending was… also perfect. I particularly appreciated the tiny pro-life thread, as well as the PTSD mention, and the addition of the Japanese children and the questions on the atomic bomb—also very human, but often pushed aside as too messy.
In fact, this book deals almost exclusively with the messiness of humanity, in a thoughtful, piercing, gentle way that almost comforts and soothes by making one come to terms with the complexity of life. Throughout the story, Caitlin Miller impresses upon us that existence is hard and happiness is frail, perfection doesn’t exist and questions abound, yet she also unveils the hope and wonder and beauty of this broken, confusing, God-created life. She touches on the uniqueness of persons and their multiple, complex emotions, so hard to handle and understand and push through. She points out how the deepest pain can be hidden so successfully none see it; that sometimes those we love most hurt us worst; that grief is absolutely baffling and trust is so hard to give once lost, and we are moved to grieve over this—yet she also tells us how courage exists in many forms, and is always rewarded; how the right choice is always there and we are responsible to take it; how God is greater than the pain and His truth stronger than the lies; and that life moves on and is worth living—through the pain always comes something better and more beautiful.
Content: a few euphemisms.
*Quotes to come. I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
March 15, 2025
Our Yellow Tape Letters is a WWII novel following Lucy Skyes and her brother’s best friend Jeremiah Sparrow as they grieve Ben Skyes’ death. Told in letters, telegrams, journal entries, and notes is a beautiful, heartwrenching, and wonderfully written story highlighting the meaning of family, grief, duty, faith, and forgiveness. It takes a true talent to tell a story in an epistolary format, and Caitlin nailed it. I’ve read my fair share of WW2 historical fiction books, and this felt like something I hadn’t read before.
I loved the cast of characters and getting to see their different perspectives, development, struggles, and growth. The writing was raw, genuine, and real, giving you a true sense of what the characters were thinking, feeling, and experiencing. The friendships, sibling bonds, and small brotherhood were what made this book; you can’t help but grow connected to and love them. Although this book is incredibly sad and pulls at your heartstrings, Caitlin threw in some lighthearted and funny moments where I was laughing out loud.
The faith content and incorporation of Scripture were woven into the story in such a prominent, natural, and powerful way, where key themes and messages pointed back to Christ✝️
If you enjoy historical fiction, WW2 stories, wonderful characters, and prominent messages of faith, I highly recommend you check this one out!
I will definitely be reading Caitlin’s other book, and I’m looking forward to future books she writes!✨
Content to consider: Descriptions of war and injuries, minimal language (a few H words), death, loss, grief, depression, anxiety, abandonment, mention of parent drinking
I loved the cast of characters and getting to see their different perspectives, development, struggles, and growth. The writing was raw, genuine, and real, giving you a true sense of what the characters were thinking, feeling, and experiencing. The friendships, sibling bonds, and small brotherhood were what made this book; you can’t help but grow connected to and love them. Although this book is incredibly sad and pulls at your heartstrings, Caitlin threw in some lighthearted and funny moments where I was laughing out loud.
The faith content and incorporation of Scripture were woven into the story in such a prominent, natural, and powerful way, where key themes and messages pointed back to Christ✝️
If you enjoy historical fiction, WW2 stories, wonderful characters, and prominent messages of faith, I highly recommend you check this one out!
I will definitely be reading Caitlin’s other book, and I’m looking forward to future books she writes!✨
Content to consider: Descriptions of war and injuries, minimal language (a few H words), death, loss, grief, depression, anxiety, abandonment, mention of parent drinking
December 9, 2022
Endorsement:
Deeply moving and beautiful, Caitlin Miller’s Our Yellow Tape Letters delivers in all the best ways. With historical accuracy, this epistolary novel is rich with deep prose and brilliant characterization, infusing biblical truths and hope amidst a backdrop of a war-torn world. I simply adore this novel and will be reading it for years to come.
Review:
Sigh. Catie, you have such a way with words. This story broke me in the best way, and it touched the places in my soul that didn’t know needed healing. This story is powerful, beautiful, and very reflective of our favorite author, Amanda Dykes.
I’ve seen so much growth from your debut to this novel, and I seriously can’t wait for the world to read these words. You have such a gift!!
Deeply moving and beautiful, Caitlin Miller’s Our Yellow Tape Letters delivers in all the best ways. With historical accuracy, this epistolary novel is rich with deep prose and brilliant characterization, infusing biblical truths and hope amidst a backdrop of a war-torn world. I simply adore this novel and will be reading it for years to come.
Review:
Sigh. Catie, you have such a way with words. This story broke me in the best way, and it touched the places in my soul that didn’t know needed healing. This story is powerful, beautiful, and very reflective of our favorite author, Amanda Dykes.
I’ve seen so much growth from your debut to this novel, and I seriously can’t wait for the world to read these words. You have such a gift!!
September 2, 2022
Endorsement: Honest and moving, Our Yellow Tape Letters tackles the questions we all face when grief and trials inevitably pass through our lives. With beautiful prose and biblical truth’s, Miller paints a story of hope, courage, and forgiveness amidst a war-torn world. The story of Lucy and Jeremiah is a story our divided world needs to read.
Review: 4.5 ⭐️
Caitlin has such a beautiful way with words and the way she goes about disabilities will always be my favorite thing about her stories.
The story of Lucy and Jeremiah is one of grief and trials and the questions that accompany it and Catie handles all of it with such grace and compassion.
The entirety of her stories are so incredible but it’s the endings that get me every time. Full of so much truth and hope and I can’t wait to read more of her stories in the future.
Review: 4.5 ⭐️
Caitlin has such a beautiful way with words and the way she goes about disabilities will always be my favorite thing about her stories.
The story of Lucy and Jeremiah is one of grief and trials and the questions that accompany it and Catie handles all of it with such grace and compassion.
The entirety of her stories are so incredible but it’s the endings that get me every time. Full of so much truth and hope and I can’t wait to read more of her stories in the future.
May 18, 2023
“I’m learning that forgiveness will take my heart from a graveyard to a garden—from a place of death to a place of life. Where things can grow and heal.”
― Caitlin Miller, Our Yellow Tape Letters
Rating: ★★★★★
Cleanness: ★★★*
What words do I have to describe this beautiful story? This story of loss, beauty, forgiveness, siblings, friendship, war, peace, and second chances? What words do I have to describe this book of letters that makes me want to cry?
Caitlin writes such a beautiful and touching story. It’s a story of love and forgiveness. It’s a story about faith. It’s a story about finding home. It’s a story about guilt and learning to move past it and HEAL. It’s a story about loss that makes you remember the loss you have gone through and know to heal.
I don’t have enough words to describe how much I LOVE this story. I’m so incredibly thankful for my sweet friends Mady (@salted_caramel_novel) & Ella (@e.kmeyer) who recommended this book to me! Thank you!!!
Story
The story is incredible! I love how it was written and how it is in letters, journal entries, and telegrams. When I first got it I had no idea it was made of only letters. At first I didn’t know if I’d like it but I grew to love it! It’s so beautifully written and feels like you are just reading these found letters and are reading a real story. I really loved that!
This is set in WW2, one of my favorite time periods. I love (and hate) this time period. I’ve always been fascinated by it. It’s the one time in history I always want to learn more about and is a sure way to get me crying. One day—Lord willing—I want to write a story about this time. Honestly, Caitlin has inspired me to look back at my old story notes. I always hoped I would go back to that unwritten story. Thanks to this book that may just happen. So, thank you Caitlin for inspiring me to go back!
Characters
Jeremiah Sparrow is amazing! I love his character and his BACKSTORY !!! He has such a sad backstory of being abandoned, an orphan, and not having any friends or family. His life was changed in the army when he met his best friend Ben. He carries massive guilt because his best friend sacrificed his life to save him. He has such a beautiful and redemptive story. I love the friendships he built and his strong character.
I also love that he is a deaf character who learns ASL. I can’t remember if I’ve read about a character who is deaf and I thought this was just amazing. I love that the people around him—the people who care about him—learned ASL with him! That melted my heart. <3
I also love that he had a crush on Lucy for years. That was SO SWEET!
I have to say the ENDING was my FAVORITE!!! It is the sweetest thing and I just wanted to cry.
I love Lucy! She is such a good character! I love how her story was really about forgiveness. She went through the worst possible thing—losing the person she loves most in life—her big brother, Ben. I loved getting to see their history together and see just how much she loves her big brother. It was absolutely devastating losing Ben and she blamed Jeremiah—the man her brother sacrificed his life to save. Her journey is learning to forgive him and those she lost and the future she never will have. I thought that was really impactful. Sometimes you need to forgive people for what they did to you, but others you must forgive for what they didn’t do or what you will never be able to do with them. That was so beautiful and I LOVE how important forgiveness is in this book!
“Forgiveness—real forgiveness—is costly.”
Ben!!! Ben is my FAVORITE!!! He is sweet, kind, loyal, caring, a best friend, and the sweetest big brother! Ben made me want to have a big brother because he is just the best! I love how much he loves Lucy! Their relationship is precious. I love how he and Jeremiah became best friends and like brothers and how Ben showed Jeremiah what it meant to be open, vulnerable, and have a family.
His letter to Sage. *crying* That broke me. That was the sweetest, most saddest thing ever. I wish there was a different ending for them but still I love this story!
Ben also deals with heavy depression. I thought that was really well written. As someone who has gone through depression I know how hard it is and how you really do feel like you are “sinking…into a hole of mental darkness.” I love how Jeremiah was there for him, supported him, and kept him from falling.
Be prepared to cry while reading.
Sage is so sweet and such a good friend! I love how she was always there for Lucy and praying for her and encouraging her to forgive Jeremiah. She is such a good friend. My heart breaks for her and Ben. I wish there was another way. Still, I love where her story ended and how she is learning to move past her loss and FEEL emotions still. I love the friendship between her and Lucy.
“I loved him then, and I still do now.”
All in all this is such a beautiful story and I love these characters! There are so many other good ones but these are my favorites I wanted to talk about!
A Note On Content
So I feel like I need to write a note on content and trigger warnings before continuing. This is such a wonderful story and I highly recommend reading but there are things I want to warn you about.
First this is a story about loss and going through losing a loved one. There is also abandonment as a child and being an orphan and not having parents. The main part of the story is how Ben died and how that affects all these people around him who are mourning his death. This can be triggering if you have gone through loss (I know I was thinking of a loss I went through while I was reading and that was very emotional to me).
This story is also set in WW2 and talks about war, fighting, killing, loss, wounds, bleeding, etc. This is all talked about. It is not done in a gory or frightening way but it is a part of it and is very heavy.
Characters go through a ton of trauma—physical and mental. That is a challenge for them and could possibly be triggering.
Finally, depression is a heavy theme in this book. As I wrote above when talking about Ben, I think it was beautifully and accurately written and I really appreciate that. I will say it can be triggering. I know I was triggered while reading and felt depressed while reading (the characters were depressed and that makes me depressed). This isn’t a really bad thing because it moves past really fast but did happen. I also felt this while reading You've Reached Sam (another book about loss and depression that hit me).
I just wanted to warn you ahead of time if you struggle or have struggled with any of these things then this book can be triggering but I also think it’s healing. So, yeah! Just wanted to let you know!
Some Quotes I Love:
“…It was in situations like this where we didn’t need to hide our brokenness. We needed to embrace it—because embracing help isn't a sign of outward weakness; it’s an indicator of inward strength.”
“…true friends don’t leave when things get hard. They stick by.”
“That’s how it is with those closest to you—you sense they’re even when you can’t see them.”
“I don’t want to be angry anymore. I want to heal—and that means letting go.”
“Shadows had always been a home of sorts for me.”
“He simply spoke the truth over me when I needed it most.”
“Family makes up all the people who you care about because they’re the ones who care about you and stick with you no matter what.”
*Cleanness:
This book is clean!
The romance is sweet and cute and nothing bad (the characters don’t even kiss. They just touch foreheads *melts*).
As I wrote above, this is set during war times so there is war and topics relating to war and death and killing. There are also themes of depression and going through that. I go in more detail above in the “A Note On Content”.
There is very little curing and nothing really bad. Darn, dang, hell, and heck used a few times. “Dirty japs” is used twice & “jap lover” once (both used negatively).
These are just a few things to note. This is a really heavy book, though beautifully written and depicted. I highly recommend reading!
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To read the FULL post with Pinterest board & graphics…go to my blog here: https://fablerosemc.blogspot.com/2023...
December 27, 2022
My heart was not ready for this book. Oh my. I just don't even know how to write this review.
This book was deep, poignant, and just so very good. The first page had me tearing up. It is an epistolary told completely through journal entries and letters between the characters. But the author somehow wrote them in a way that felt natural, but also completely submersive in that world and the character's thoughts. I never felt as if I were on the outside looking in. I felt everything the characters were feeling through their written words.
I cried throughout the book as the characters dealt with various stages of grief, anger, bitterness, and ultimately forgiveness and healing. The emotion in this book was beautifully done.
The author wove faith throughout the entire book in such a natural, but powerful way. I loved seeing how the characters' supported one another and kept pointing back to Christ to fulfill their needs and help them heal and forgive.
I don't say this lightly, because I read a lot of books in various genres, but this may very well be my favorite book of all time. It's definitely one that I will reread and recommend to everyone. I can't wait to read more from this author!
This book was deep, poignant, and just so very good. The first page had me tearing up. It is an epistolary told completely through journal entries and letters between the characters. But the author somehow wrote them in a way that felt natural, but also completely submersive in that world and the character's thoughts. I never felt as if I were on the outside looking in. I felt everything the characters were feeling through their written words.
I cried throughout the book as the characters dealt with various stages of grief, anger, bitterness, and ultimately forgiveness and healing. The emotion in this book was beautifully done.
The author wove faith throughout the entire book in such a natural, but powerful way. I loved seeing how the characters' supported one another and kept pointing back to Christ to fulfill their needs and help them heal and forgive.
I don't say this lightly, because I read a lot of books in various genres, but this may very well be my favorite book of all time. It's definitely one that I will reread and recommend to everyone. I can't wait to read more from this author!
January 15, 2023
Our Yellow Tape Letters is an epistolary WWII novel following Lucy Skyes and her brother's best friend Jeremiah Sparrow as they grieve Ben Skyes' death. I'm ashamed to admit, I started reading it with fairly low expectations. I think most modern WWII novels aren't well researched or written and their main purpose is to be light entertainment and vehicles for the romance. But this novel, my friends, is nothing like the other WWII epistolary novels I've read lately. For one, it's Christian, the romance isn't the main focus of the story, and it's very well researched and written. So good!
Lucy never expected to receive the news of her brother Ben's death, especially mere days before Germany's surrender. The terrible news shakes her world and she's left floundering. PFC Jeremiah Skyes wakes up disoriented and completely deaf after barely surviving the incident that caused Ben's death. Ben has shared Lucy's letters with Jeremiah, a lonely orphan, and Jeremiah feels indebted to send Lucy letters of Ben's life as a soldier. Together, they mourn Ben's death and celebrate his life through their letters.
The plot was page-turning but not too fast (or slow). I was invested in the characters the whole way through. And I sobbed for the last quarter of this book, and I don't often cry while reading! This book isn't overly dark, but it is about the death of a loved one. At times I had to put it down just to be able to keep reading.
There were so many loveable characters in this novel. The author didn't limit the letters to Jeremiah and Lucy's exchange - there are telegrams from various people, letters from Lucy's pastor, family, and dear friend Sage, and Jeremiah uses notes to communicate with others after losing his hearing. So we see many characters mourning together and supporting Lucy and Jeremiah. One of the dearest side characters was Sage. I loved seeing her story and how Ben's death impacted her (they were a trio, Ben, Lucy, and Sage). I can't say much for fear of spoilers but her subplot broke my heart.
The themes of this novel were very well done. But before I actually discuss the themes, I want to say that this is deeply Christian. (Yes, it's clean. Honestly, just how clean it was felt kind of unrealistic - soldiers were not known to use such nice language. However, I guess they were all Christians so it does make sense.) Caitlin did a wonderful job weaving her faith into Our Yellow Tape Letters and it's just another reason I gave it five stars. The themes, too, are so well done. Grieving, forgiveness, and faith are all explored in lovely ways.
I was astounded by how well-researched Our Yellow Tape Letters was. I felt completely immersed in the mid-twentieth century and grounded in the harsh realities of WWII. Caitlin has clearly spent hours upon hours researching (in fact, she says so in the afterword). The epistolary format also served this book well - and never fear, it is told completely through letters and telegrams.
I hope you can tell how heartily I recommend this book. It may not be perfect, but it's definitely worth a read for people who enjoy epistolary novels and reading about WWII.
Lucy never expected to receive the news of her brother Ben's death, especially mere days before Germany's surrender. The terrible news shakes her world and she's left floundering. PFC Jeremiah Skyes wakes up disoriented and completely deaf after barely surviving the incident that caused Ben's death. Ben has shared Lucy's letters with Jeremiah, a lonely orphan, and Jeremiah feels indebted to send Lucy letters of Ben's life as a soldier. Together, they mourn Ben's death and celebrate his life through their letters.
The plot was page-turning but not too fast (or slow). I was invested in the characters the whole way through. And I sobbed for the last quarter of this book, and I don't often cry while reading! This book isn't overly dark, but it is about the death of a loved one. At times I had to put it down just to be able to keep reading.
There were so many loveable characters in this novel. The author didn't limit the letters to Jeremiah and Lucy's exchange - there are telegrams from various people, letters from Lucy's pastor, family, and dear friend Sage, and Jeremiah uses notes to communicate with others after losing his hearing. So we see many characters mourning together and supporting Lucy and Jeremiah. One of the dearest side characters was Sage. I loved seeing her story and how Ben's death impacted her (they were a trio, Ben, Lucy, and Sage). I can't say much for fear of spoilers but her subplot broke my heart.
The themes of this novel were very well done. But before I actually discuss the themes, I want to say that this is deeply Christian. (Yes, it's clean. Honestly, just how clean it was felt kind of unrealistic - soldiers were not known to use such nice language. However, I guess they were all Christians so it does make sense.) Caitlin did a wonderful job weaving her faith into Our Yellow Tape Letters and it's just another reason I gave it five stars. The themes, too, are so well done. Grieving, forgiveness, and faith are all explored in lovely ways.
I was astounded by how well-researched Our Yellow Tape Letters was. I felt completely immersed in the mid-twentieth century and grounded in the harsh realities of WWII. Caitlin has clearly spent hours upon hours researching (in fact, she says so in the afterword). The epistolary format also served this book well - and never fear, it is told completely through letters and telegrams.
I hope you can tell how heartily I recommend this book. It may not be perfect, but it's definitely worth a read for people who enjoy epistolary novels and reading about WWII.
January 11, 2023
Five stars are not enough; this book is incredible.
PFC Jeremiah Sparrow wakes up in an army hospital to find he's now deaf after sustaining injuries from parachuting from a failing aircraft. This incident also claimed the life of his best friend, Ben Skyes. While dealing with his own grief and changed life, he begins a correspondence with Ben's sister, Lucy. Jeremiah blames himself for Ben's death, as does Lucy, so he makes it his mission to share Ben's war experiences with her.
Told in letters, journal entries, telegram and notes, the characters share their experiences from the time Pearl Harbor was bombed until the death of Ben and slightly beyond. I adored following Jeremiah, Lucy, all the side characters and seeing Ben's life play out on the page. The depth of emotion conveyed in the writing is unmatched in anything else I've read. There were so many layers revealed in each person, and the way that the stages grief were displayed was almost healing to read. The faith displayed in the lives of the characters was so interwoven in their motivations and personality. I often find myself searching for the faith content in Chrisitan fiction, or it feels like an afterthought if it is included. That was not the case in this book; God was at the forefront and Scripture was clear in the text- but it all felt authentic and purposeful.
I absolutely adored this and cannot wait to read the author's other published book and everything else from her in the future!
PFC Jeremiah Sparrow wakes up in an army hospital to find he's now deaf after sustaining injuries from parachuting from a failing aircraft. This incident also claimed the life of his best friend, Ben Skyes. While dealing with his own grief and changed life, he begins a correspondence with Ben's sister, Lucy. Jeremiah blames himself for Ben's death, as does Lucy, so he makes it his mission to share Ben's war experiences with her.
Told in letters, journal entries, telegram and notes, the characters share their experiences from the time Pearl Harbor was bombed until the death of Ben and slightly beyond. I adored following Jeremiah, Lucy, all the side characters and seeing Ben's life play out on the page. The depth of emotion conveyed in the writing is unmatched in anything else I've read. There were so many layers revealed in each person, and the way that the stages grief were displayed was almost healing to read. The faith displayed in the lives of the characters was so interwoven in their motivations and personality. I often find myself searching for the faith content in Chrisitan fiction, or it feels like an afterthought if it is included. That was not the case in this book; God was at the forefront and Scripture was clear in the text- but it all felt authentic and purposeful.
I absolutely adored this and cannot wait to read the author's other published book and everything else from her in the future!
November 4, 2022
With utterly haunting prose and an emotional depth that will leave you breathless, Our Yellow Tape Letters will cut you open. There are few stories so rich, so poignant in their exploration of the deep burden of loss and love. In an era of our world's history so unimaginably scarred by sacrifice, Our Yellow Tape Letters demands a closer look at the effects of loss on the heart and the struggle to find peace amid the wars that exist both within and without.
June 25, 2024
I'm pretty sure Caitlin Miller is on a personal goal to rip out the remaining shreds of my heart with every book I read from her!!! Y'all where are the tissues?
Our Yellow Tape Letters is a journey that covers so many deep topics I couldn't possibly list them all here, but mostly it's about healing from grief, seeking forgiveness over hate, and fighting for your beliefs and loved ones above all. Miller's prose is amazing and so deserving to be quoted I wish I had a highlighter or something when reading so I could track and remember it all, and I liked how this novel covered aspects of World War 2 that I don't see appear in books much.
Favorite quote:
"God, I said under my breath, shaking my head. I would never take God's name in vain, but in the face of senseless acts of violence where people killed each other for the religion they practiced and their race, what other name could you whisper under your breath? What other name could you cry out to when everything was wrong and absolutely nothing made sense?"
Our Yellow Tape Letters is a journey that covers so many deep topics I couldn't possibly list them all here, but mostly it's about healing from grief, seeking forgiveness over hate, and fighting for your beliefs and loved ones above all. Miller's prose is amazing and so deserving to be quoted I wish I had a highlighter or something when reading so I could track and remember it all, and I liked how this novel covered aspects of World War 2 that I don't see appear in books much.
Favorite quote:
"God, I said under my breath, shaking my head. I would never take God's name in vain, but in the face of senseless acts of violence where people killed each other for the religion they practiced and their race, what other name could you whisper under your breath? What other name could you cry out to when everything was wrong and absolutely nothing made sense?"
March 28, 2023
this book felt like a warm hug. okay well first it was a cold shower in December, and then it was a warm hug. coming from someone who has experienced sibling loss, Lucy’s journey through grief really hit home for me. this is like the 2nd ever epistolary novel I’ve read and I really enjoyed it. usually I won’t read something unless I know it has some good engaging dialogue, and even though most of the book was character’s personal entries, I still felt invested and didn’t want to put it down. my only complaint is that the ending was too short 🥲 I needed more !
November 10, 2022
Ahhhh! There wasn't any doubt in my mind that I'd love this book. There's is just something so incredibly special about Caitlin's writing. It is so beautiful. She is truly a blessing.
I think I've only ever read 1 other episatory style novel and thought it was fun, but it didn't come anywhere close to the depth of Our Yellow Tape Letters. I loved how personal and raw it was with it all being in letters and journal entries, along with some notes and telegrams. I'm blown away by how the author was able to fully tell a heart-touching story in this style without ever making me feel like I missed something.
This is a touching read of loss, forgiveness, struggles with depression, sacrificial and brotherly love, with deep faith roots and God-inspired truths. This author's precious heart and love for Jesus shines through in her writing unashamedly, and I love it.
I usually shy away from WW2 reads, but I handled this book just fine (it helps, too, that it stays out of the concentration camps and takes place more on the battlefield instead). There was enough detail to paint a very real and accurate picture of warfare, but not to a graphic and gruesome extent, which led me to an emotion of extra compassion for what all our soldiers went through.
I know I won't soon forget Lucy, Ben, Jeremiah, and Sage. Or even Robby, Shorty, and Garry. Why, I might as well mention Grandpa too!! Precious characters all of them, who will find a special place in your heart. The brother-sister bond between Lucy and Ben was the sweetest, and Ben is the most amazing brother and selfless man. I liked how his science jokes was a recurring thing throughout the story as well. Just those little extra things that are so endearing to the reader. Lucy was a very relatable heroine, who felt deeply and learned hard lessons, which I feel like I felt and learned right along with her. Sage...well, every girl needs a friend like Sage. And Jeremiah. Oh, Jeremiah. I felt so sympathetic toward him with his new handicap, the feelings of survivor's guilt, the pain he felt at Lucy's initial words.
My heart was so warmed by the way things progressed through the exchanging of letters between Jeremiah and Lucy. And that ending! ABSOLUTELY PRECIOUS!!!
Okay, I have gushed long enough. Highly recommend this read.
Only thing I would point out that didn't set completely 100% with me was the occasional use of what Ben himself said was "borderline language for some people." Well, I'm in that "some people" category, but I also realize they were soldiers and I'm sure they didn't all use a filter. And they aren't strong words but more the usuals that keep creeping into more and more CF books. But everyone's standards are different and I respect that :)
I received an ARC copy from the author. All opinions are my own.
I think I've only ever read 1 other episatory style novel and thought it was fun, but it didn't come anywhere close to the depth of Our Yellow Tape Letters. I loved how personal and raw it was with it all being in letters and journal entries, along with some notes and telegrams. I'm blown away by how the author was able to fully tell a heart-touching story in this style without ever making me feel like I missed something.
This is a touching read of loss, forgiveness, struggles with depression, sacrificial and brotherly love, with deep faith roots and God-inspired truths. This author's precious heart and love for Jesus shines through in her writing unashamedly, and I love it.
I usually shy away from WW2 reads, but I handled this book just fine (it helps, too, that it stays out of the concentration camps and takes place more on the battlefield instead). There was enough detail to paint a very real and accurate picture of warfare, but not to a graphic and gruesome extent, which led me to an emotion of extra compassion for what all our soldiers went through.
I know I won't soon forget Lucy, Ben, Jeremiah, and Sage. Or even Robby, Shorty, and Garry. Why, I might as well mention Grandpa too!! Precious characters all of them, who will find a special place in your heart. The brother-sister bond between Lucy and Ben was the sweetest, and Ben is the most amazing brother and selfless man. I liked how his science jokes was a recurring thing throughout the story as well. Just those little extra things that are so endearing to the reader. Lucy was a very relatable heroine, who felt deeply and learned hard lessons, which I feel like I felt and learned right along with her. Sage...well, every girl needs a friend like Sage. And Jeremiah. Oh, Jeremiah. I felt so sympathetic toward him with his new handicap, the feelings of survivor's guilt, the pain he felt at Lucy's initial words.
My heart was so warmed by the way things progressed through the exchanging of letters between Jeremiah and Lucy. And that ending! ABSOLUTELY PRECIOUS!!!
Okay, I have gushed long enough. Highly recommend this read.
Only thing I would point out that didn't set completely 100% with me was the occasional use of what Ben himself said was "borderline language for some people." Well, I'm in that "some people" category, but I also realize they were soldiers and I'm sure they didn't all use a filter. And they aren't strong words but more the usuals that keep creeping into more and more CF books. But everyone's standards are different and I respect that :)
I received an ARC copy from the author. All opinions are my own.
December 11, 2022
*literally sobbing* This book reduced me to a complete emotional wreck but in the best of ways. Just when I thought I couldn’t possibly cry anymore, another section would hit me. Rarely has a book affected me this deeply.
Grief. Loss. Forgiveness. Overcoming. Catie powerfully wove these themes into the lives of characters you can’t help but fall in love with. Themes that touched my heart in ways I can’t even begin to express. They were exactly what I needed.
Sweet Jeremiah, protective Ben, comical Shorty & Robby & Hank, stubborn Lucy, overcoming Sage. These are characters I would love to hug, to be friends with, and to chat about life with over a cup of tea.
Though I finished this story days ago, yet it lingers with me. I’m in no hurry to say goodbye. It’s haunting. It’s emotional. It’s brimming with hope, heartache, and honest authenticity.
My heart is a million pieces—shattered and yet healing. Thank you so much, Catie! 💛
*I received an ARC copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
Grief. Loss. Forgiveness. Overcoming. Catie powerfully wove these themes into the lives of characters you can’t help but fall in love with. Themes that touched my heart in ways I can’t even begin to express. They were exactly what I needed.
Sweet Jeremiah, protective Ben, comical Shorty & Robby & Hank, stubborn Lucy, overcoming Sage. These are characters I would love to hug, to be friends with, and to chat about life with over a cup of tea.
Though I finished this story days ago, yet it lingers with me. I’m in no hurry to say goodbye. It’s haunting. It’s emotional. It’s brimming with hope, heartache, and honest authenticity.
My heart is a million pieces—shattered and yet healing. Thank you so much, Catie! 💛
*I received an ARC copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
November 17, 2022
Catie has done it again. My heart was broken, touched and healed while reading this story of heartache and forgiveness, and I have fallen madly in love with the characters. (Jeremiah, in particular, but who could blame me?)
I was drawn into the story immediately and my heart, oh my heart...I believed these people were real, and the letters truly penned during a world-changing war. So many good points I could touch on, but I don't want to give too much away. So I will do my best to keep from spoiling anything.
What caught my attention the most, as a massive WWII nerd and self-proclaimed historian, was that this felt REAL. So many authors (not to point fingers, but I am looking at you, Sarah Sundin) tend to write war, this war in particular, as some sort of jolly romp. So many of the male characters hope and pray they won't have to kill anyone today (not that I think killing is a grand thing, mind you) while treating battle as a job more than a mission. At times it seems authors romanticize the life as soldier, and that is something that always rubs me wrong.
Not Caitlin. Reading this novel, I saw the grief every soldier goes through. I saw the hate, the hurt, the confusion, yet also saw love, patriotism, brotherhood, and faith. I saw a young soldier wrestling with his grief and struggling to maintain love and compassion in a horror-filled black hole.
I liked how she touches on hatred against the enemy. The cold hard fact is that everyone struggles to love and forgive, and this made the story all the more real to me. Jerremiah's loving sermons are something I pray every soldier can experience during a time of hate and pain.
The friendship between Shorty, Gary, Robby, and all the rest of the men was beautiful. It brought to mind the men from the series/book "Band of Brothers". And that is a high, high compliment from me. I am a huge fan of Easy Company.
Lucy and Ben's relationship is absolutely beautiful, and my heart ached over and over again as I watched Lucy long for her brother's comforting presence. Their loving letters, teasing, reminiscing...it felt like something I would share with my own brother, had he ever left to defend our nation.
I could go on and on, but I won't spoil the story. I will leave you with this:
This novel is sad, yes. It will break your heart and kick you in the gut, but then God's love and peace and mercy will also come through like a shining beacon, mending all those holes and piecing you back together again. It's a story of love and forgiveness amid grief and sorrow, and the ending had me smiling through tears.
Well done, Catie. Well done
I was drawn into the story immediately and my heart, oh my heart...I believed these people were real, and the letters truly penned during a world-changing war. So many good points I could touch on, but I don't want to give too much away. So I will do my best to keep from spoiling anything.
What caught my attention the most, as a massive WWII nerd and self-proclaimed historian, was that this felt REAL. So many authors (not to point fingers, but I am looking at you, Sarah Sundin) tend to write war, this war in particular, as some sort of jolly romp. So many of the male characters hope and pray they won't have to kill anyone today (not that I think killing is a grand thing, mind you) while treating battle as a job more than a mission. At times it seems authors romanticize the life as soldier, and that is something that always rubs me wrong.
Not Caitlin. Reading this novel, I saw the grief every soldier goes through. I saw the hate, the hurt, the confusion, yet also saw love, patriotism, brotherhood, and faith. I saw a young soldier wrestling with his grief and struggling to maintain love and compassion in a horror-filled black hole.
I liked how she touches on hatred against the enemy. The cold hard fact is that everyone struggles to love and forgive, and this made the story all the more real to me. Jerremiah's loving sermons are something I pray every soldier can experience during a time of hate and pain.
The friendship between Shorty, Gary, Robby, and all the rest of the men was beautiful. It brought to mind the men from the series/book "Band of Brothers". And that is a high, high compliment from me. I am a huge fan of Easy Company.
Lucy and Ben's relationship is absolutely beautiful, and my heart ached over and over again as I watched Lucy long for her brother's comforting presence. Their loving letters, teasing, reminiscing...it felt like something I would share with my own brother, had he ever left to defend our nation.
I could go on and on, but I won't spoil the story. I will leave you with this:
This novel is sad, yes. It will break your heart and kick you in the gut, but then God's love and peace and mercy will also come through like a shining beacon, mending all those holes and piecing you back together again. It's a story of love and forgiveness amid grief and sorrow, and the ending had me smiling through tears.
Well done, Catie. Well done
October 17, 2022
Endorsement: Our Yellow Tape Letters, by Caitlin Miller, is a poignant, profound story of redemption and love amid the ashes of WWII. Told through letters, diary entries, and notes, this story captures your heart from the first page as you cheer for the hero and heroine, and all the others who are forever changed by war. A beautiful look at the healing power of words, hope, and forgiveness. ~ Gabrielle Meyer, author of When the Day Comes.
March 13, 2023
"Helplessness—I’d lived my life trying to outrun that feeling, but it always kept pace with me, like a twin shadowing me everywhere I went. But maybe . . . we’re not meant to be enough. Because if we were, then all our efforts wouldn’t mean anything to us. We wouldn’t know the difference
between giving it our all or giving nothing. Nothing would hold value or purpose."
Our Yellow Tape Letters was a really sweet and introspective epistolary novel that was easy to read and get into! I haven't read many epistolary novels (because there aren't that many to begin with!), so I always get excited about a historical fiction one. I really enjoyed the glimpses into WWII that aren't often shown, such as the war front in the Middle East and Italy and minor battles that came before/after larger ones. I felt like I was able to see a different and unique side to the war that isn't often portrayed in larger media.
That said, there were a few modern references or inferences that stood out to me throughout the novel. I only mention this because, as a history major who studied World War II from multiple angles and as someone who has read/am reading several mental health books, I noticed the inconsistencies in language and perception (1940s vs modern day) every now and then. But I know, as a historical fiction author myself, it is really difficult to do all the historical research and make everything "flawless"! There is no "perfect" historical fiction book and I still applaud Miller's efforts shown in my previous mention of the "underdog" war fronts. As far as mental health, this was a huge topic in OYTL. While some vocabulary around the issues were more modern, I appreciated Miller tackling subjects like PTSD and depression in a WWII setting and helping to normalize trauma and its side effects.
"There are so many things I regret, Lucy. So many I wish I could change. Learning to live with the fact that I can’t undo or change any of them is one of the hardest things I’ll ever have to accept."
I really, really enjoyed Sparrow's character. I felt like he was relatable, funny, endearing and I loved his character development surrounding the concept of longing/looking for a home. And that ending...I won't spoil, so all I'll say is if someone learned a new language to say something important to me, I'm pretty sure I'd fall in love with them, too, haha. I also really enjoyed Miller's writing style, as showcased by my three favorite quotes spread throughout this review. Those three really hit home for me.
Overall, I think OYTL is perfect for readers wanting to escape into a WWII novel that touches on deep topics, but isn't too gritty. Especially Christian readers who want to delve into that world from the perspective of Christian characters and through the effortless storytelling of letters. There really is nothing more romantic to me than a well-written letter.
Looking forward to reading TMWP and other books by Caitlin Miller!
"Maybe in a crazy way, my hardest memories and the
lessons I learned from them were what would keep me alive
out there on the battlefield."
between giving it our all or giving nothing. Nothing would hold value or purpose."
Our Yellow Tape Letters was a really sweet and introspective epistolary novel that was easy to read and get into! I haven't read many epistolary novels (because there aren't that many to begin with!), so I always get excited about a historical fiction one. I really enjoyed the glimpses into WWII that aren't often shown, such as the war front in the Middle East and Italy and minor battles that came before/after larger ones. I felt like I was able to see a different and unique side to the war that isn't often portrayed in larger media.
That said, there were a few modern references or inferences that stood out to me throughout the novel. I only mention this because, as a history major who studied World War II from multiple angles and as someone who has read/am reading several mental health books, I noticed the inconsistencies in language and perception (1940s vs modern day) every now and then. But I know, as a historical fiction author myself, it is really difficult to do all the historical research and make everything "flawless"! There is no "perfect" historical fiction book and I still applaud Miller's efforts shown in my previous mention of the "underdog" war fronts. As far as mental health, this was a huge topic in OYTL. While some vocabulary around the issues were more modern, I appreciated Miller tackling subjects like PTSD and depression in a WWII setting and helping to normalize trauma and its side effects.
"There are so many things I regret, Lucy. So many I wish I could change. Learning to live with the fact that I can’t undo or change any of them is one of the hardest things I’ll ever have to accept."
I really, really enjoyed Sparrow's character. I felt like he was relatable, funny, endearing and I loved his character development surrounding the concept of longing/looking for a home. And that ending...I won't spoil, so all I'll say is if someone learned a new language to say something important to me, I'm pretty sure I'd fall in love with them, too, haha. I also really enjoyed Miller's writing style, as showcased by my three favorite quotes spread throughout this review. Those three really hit home for me.
Overall, I think OYTL is perfect for readers wanting to escape into a WWII novel that touches on deep topics, but isn't too gritty. Especially Christian readers who want to delve into that world from the perspective of Christian characters and through the effortless storytelling of letters. There really is nothing more romantic to me than a well-written letter.
Looking forward to reading TMWP and other books by Caitlin Miller!
"Maybe in a crazy way, my hardest memories and the
lessons I learned from them were what would keep me alive
out there on the battlefield."
July 22, 2024
Well written. The words flowed together beautifully, to where you almost forget you're reading.
The entire story was written through letters and notes the characters sent each other, which was very interesting!
The book was clearly well researched, which is amazing!
My father and sister, who dropped in in the middle, thought it was a true story until I clarified.
She tied up the story well. It was bittersweet and satisfying.
The heart that leaks through almost every page is beautiful.
I do have a few questions, but I'd definitely read more by this author! 📚
The entire story was written through letters and notes the characters sent each other, which was very interesting!
The book was clearly well researched, which is amazing!
My father and sister, who dropped in in the middle, thought it was a true story until I clarified.
She tied up the story well. It was bittersweet and satisfying.
The heart that leaks through almost every page is beautiful.
I do have a few questions, but I'd definitely read more by this author! 📚
January 10, 2023
"But maybe... we're not meant to be enough. Because if we were, then all our efforts wouldn't mean anything to us. We wouldn't know the difference between giving it our all or giving it nothing." This quote is from the beautifully written Our Yellowed Taped Letters which explores grief, anger, and the injustice of not only war but hatred.
Jeremiah Sparrow is injured and his memory is hazy after an accident that left him not only deaf but without his best friend.
Lucy Skyes is angry, grief-riddled, and desperate for answers over how her brother died just days before the war's end. Answers she can only get from the man she claims aided in her brother's death: Jeremiah Sparrow. In her search for answers she copiously reads through the letters, Jeremiah sends detailing his days in the war with Lucy's brother Ben not only does one learn the events of World War II on the front of North Africa, but how grief, hatred, and the trauma of war affects not only the soldiers but the family they leave behind.
This book's emotional effect is hard for me to put into words, which is rather strange because my job is to express myself. Yet every time I would pick up the pages of this book I was struck again by its impact. The exploration of grief and its many components were handled so eloquently and poignantly by Miller that it left me stunned. I had to close the book many times which is a point for its benefit. Not many books made me think or feel as this one did, and there were many times when I would be dramatically exclaiming in my own grief over this book... one word, Sage. (If you've read it you know what I mean) The camaraderie in this book made my heart warm and made me ball my eyes out by the end because while I knew the ending of the story at the very beginning it didn't change the fact that I didn't want it to actually be the ending. That is how I know that is novel is superbly written. The subjects themselves are not easy to digest because they are heavy and sometimes they make you want to cry, but if you want a book that discusses the hard things in excellence Our Yellow Tape Letters are you.
This book broke me, by making me think of not only people in my life that I've lost, but making me think of how I loved them and I think that's a good lesson. Love those around you selflessly before it's too late and when it's their time to go, don't be angry, instead grieve with those who've lost for it makes the burden that much easier to bear.
Jeremiah Sparrow is injured and his memory is hazy after an accident that left him not only deaf but without his best friend.
Lucy Skyes is angry, grief-riddled, and desperate for answers over how her brother died just days before the war's end. Answers she can only get from the man she claims aided in her brother's death: Jeremiah Sparrow. In her search for answers she copiously reads through the letters, Jeremiah sends detailing his days in the war with Lucy's brother Ben not only does one learn the events of World War II on the front of North Africa, but how grief, hatred, and the trauma of war affects not only the soldiers but the family they leave behind.
This book's emotional effect is hard for me to put into words, which is rather strange because my job is to express myself. Yet every time I would pick up the pages of this book I was struck again by its impact. The exploration of grief and its many components were handled so eloquently and poignantly by Miller that it left me stunned. I had to close the book many times which is a point for its benefit. Not many books made me think or feel as this one did, and there were many times when I would be dramatically exclaiming in my own grief over this book... one word, Sage. (If you've read it you know what I mean) The camaraderie in this book made my heart warm and made me ball my eyes out by the end because while I knew the ending of the story at the very beginning it didn't change the fact that I didn't want it to actually be the ending. That is how I know that is novel is superbly written. The subjects themselves are not easy to digest because they are heavy and sometimes they make you want to cry, but if you want a book that discusses the hard things in excellence Our Yellow Tape Letters are you.
This book broke me, by making me think of not only people in my life that I've lost, but making me think of how I loved them and I think that's a good lesson. Love those around you selflessly before it's too late and when it's their time to go, don't be angry, instead grieve with those who've lost for it makes the burden that much easier to bear.
June 26, 2023
I loved this book. It was raw and real... but it was amazing. It dealt with faith even in loss and hardship so well... It was awesome. that's really all I have to say.
My best friend and I have been waiting for the church library to have this book ready to check out for weeks now, so when I saw it on that shelf, I grabbed it and checked it out... and read the almost 400 page book in one day.
It gripped me immediately. The characters' struggles and their grief seemed so real, I was drawn into the story at once and accidentally read for part of the sermon..🤦 Lucy was so real, and every little thing about her made her seem that way. She didn't seem like a fictional character at all, because there were so many aspects to her character that made her seem like a real person. Same with all the other characters. This was in no means a light, fun read, but you heal from watching the characters heal.
One of the things I loved about this book was the way it dealt with grief and brokenness and healing. It talks about how it's okay to grieve, even Jesus grieved, but He will bring healing in unexpected ways and unexpected times.
I also loved that this was an epistolary novel- I don't think I've actually read one before this, but I loved it, especially how the story isn't told strictly through letters, but through an amalgam of things like journal entries, telegrams, notes slid under doors and left on tables, and first drafts of letters. It lets you see so many different sides of the story and understand the characters in all sorts of new ways.
I also have to mention the historical setting- I love WWII books. I haven't read a lot of historical fiction in the last few years, but when I was a little younger WWII historical fictions were my favorite. So that was a huge plus. And the way the historical setting was presented, and how every little detail was researched, made the story come alive in a whole new way. It took me back to a time that I never got to experience, and reminded me why I love historical fiction so much.
Overall, this was a beautiful epistolary novel dealing with grief, brokenness, healing, and God that I would highly recommend to anyone 11 or 12 and older, especially lovers of Christian novels and historicals. It was absolutely beautiful!
My best friend and I have been waiting for the church library to have this book ready to check out for weeks now, so when I saw it on that shelf, I grabbed it and checked it out... and read the almost 400 page book in one day.
It gripped me immediately. The characters' struggles and their grief seemed so real, I was drawn into the story at once and accidentally read for part of the sermon..🤦 Lucy was so real, and every little thing about her made her seem that way. She didn't seem like a fictional character at all, because there were so many aspects to her character that made her seem like a real person. Same with all the other characters. This was in no means a light, fun read, but you heal from watching the characters heal.
One of the things I loved about this book was the way it dealt with grief and brokenness and healing. It talks about how it's okay to grieve, even Jesus grieved, but He will bring healing in unexpected ways and unexpected times.
I also loved that this was an epistolary novel- I don't think I've actually read one before this, but I loved it, especially how the story isn't told strictly through letters, but through an amalgam of things like journal entries, telegrams, notes slid under doors and left on tables, and first drafts of letters. It lets you see so many different sides of the story and understand the characters in all sorts of new ways.
I also have to mention the historical setting- I love WWII books. I haven't read a lot of historical fiction in the last few years, but when I was a little younger WWII historical fictions were my favorite. So that was a huge plus. And the way the historical setting was presented, and how every little detail was researched, made the story come alive in a whole new way. It took me back to a time that I never got to experience, and reminded me why I love historical fiction so much.
Overall, this was a beautiful epistolary novel dealing with grief, brokenness, healing, and God that I would highly recommend to anyone 11 or 12 and older, especially lovers of Christian novels and historicals. It was absolutely beautiful!
January 7, 2024
Lucy and Ben are siblings. Their relationship has grown strong and inseparable by the loss of their parents at a young age. When Ben signs up for the Army and is deployed across seas, both determine to keep one another close in their hearts and prayers, as well as letters. But nothing prepares Lucy for the telegram she receives, informing her of Ben’s death.
Jeremiah Sparrow has been orphaned and on his own almost his entire life. When he is drafted into the army he meets Ben Skys and the two become fast friends. Over time, the two form a brotherhood and Jeremiah finally gets a taste of what family feels like. Through years of fighting for their lives against the enemy, the two hang on to each other for strength. Until one mission goes very wrong—Ben is killed and Jeremiah seriously wounded. Jeremiah reaches out to Lucy via letter and offers to chronicle Ben’s last years and days as Jeremiah knew him in hopes it will be a comfort to her.
This epistolary novel was achingly beautiful and tender! Set in WW2 but so unlike any book from this time period I’ve read. Incredibly poignant and poetical, it is comprised of letters, journal entries, little notes, and telegrams from different years and POV’s. Because of this, each characters narrative is genuine, gripping and to be honest, raw because this is a book that deals largely with grief. I loved the approach the author took because we got to read and ultimately, feel what the characters felt as they processed their thoughts and emotions. Each character‘s story intertwined masterfully together.
The magnitude of what each character lost in Ben: a brother, a friend, a grandson, a potential husband… it was heartbreaking to read, even haunting and then finally, inspiring as the characters took their pain, surrendered it and turned it into purpose. Their faith played a large part in the story and healing; I love when faith is so intricately woven throughout and Christ is glorified in a story. Yes, the characters struggle and their pain is heavy and raw. But, that’s when God does His best, transforming work in our hearts. Lots of nuggets of wisdom for the reader!
Jeremiah Sparrow has been orphaned and on his own almost his entire life. When he is drafted into the army he meets Ben Skys and the two become fast friends. Over time, the two form a brotherhood and Jeremiah finally gets a taste of what family feels like. Through years of fighting for their lives against the enemy, the two hang on to each other for strength. Until one mission goes very wrong—Ben is killed and Jeremiah seriously wounded. Jeremiah reaches out to Lucy via letter and offers to chronicle Ben’s last years and days as Jeremiah knew him in hopes it will be a comfort to her.
This epistolary novel was achingly beautiful and tender! Set in WW2 but so unlike any book from this time period I’ve read. Incredibly poignant and poetical, it is comprised of letters, journal entries, little notes, and telegrams from different years and POV’s. Because of this, each characters narrative is genuine, gripping and to be honest, raw because this is a book that deals largely with grief. I loved the approach the author took because we got to read and ultimately, feel what the characters felt as they processed their thoughts and emotions. Each character‘s story intertwined masterfully together.
The magnitude of what each character lost in Ben: a brother, a friend, a grandson, a potential husband… it was heartbreaking to read, even haunting and then finally, inspiring as the characters took their pain, surrendered it and turned it into purpose. Their faith played a large part in the story and healing; I love when faith is so intricately woven throughout and Christ is glorified in a story. Yes, the characters struggle and their pain is heavy and raw. But, that’s when God does His best, transforming work in our hearts. Lots of nuggets of wisdom for the reader!
December 11, 2022
Our Yellow Tape Letters is a Christian story is told in novel chapters, letters, and telegrams, jumping back and forth between two timelines only a few years apart. The story explores primarily the theme of grief, and mixing in with it adjacent themes and struggles.
The author clearly put a lot of her own heart and struggles into this story, and much of the positive/encouraging dialogue is accompanied by a Bible story or paraphrased scripture, which sometimes felt a little preachy to me but I could see it being helpful for someone young in their faith, showing how the Bible relates to every situation.
I will say I felt a distinct layer of separation from this story, even having experienced sudden loss and the grief that comes with it, but I wasn't able to connect deeply with any of the characters. The juxtaposition of the novel portions and the letters also gave me a bit of whiplash, as I felt constatly pulled in a new direction and never able to settle completely into one form or the other.
This book was definitely a very easy read, and I found that I was able to get through big chunks easily as the story just streamed along. If you like Christian books with cozy pacing, epistolaries, and war novels, Our Yellow Tape Letters may just be your cup of tea!
I received an eARC of this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The author clearly put a lot of her own heart and struggles into this story, and much of the positive/encouraging dialogue is accompanied by a Bible story or paraphrased scripture, which sometimes felt a little preachy to me but I could see it being helpful for someone young in their faith, showing how the Bible relates to every situation.
I will say I felt a distinct layer of separation from this story, even having experienced sudden loss and the grief that comes with it, but I wasn't able to connect deeply with any of the characters. The juxtaposition of the novel portions and the letters also gave me a bit of whiplash, as I felt constatly pulled in a new direction and never able to settle completely into one form or the other.
This book was definitely a very easy read, and I found that I was able to get through big chunks easily as the story just streamed along. If you like Christian books with cozy pacing, epistolaries, and war novels, Our Yellow Tape Letters may just be your cup of tea!
I received an eARC of this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
October 2, 2022
Our Yellow Tape Letters is a tender look into the war-torn heart of affliction and sacrifice, an epistolary novel that highlights the immeasurable power of love, grace, and forgiveness. Caitlin Miller will keep you eagerly turning the pages of this poignant and beautiful step into the past. I absolutely recommend this one.
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November 29, 2022Through letters and journal entries, the readers are drawn into the lives of Lucy Skyes and Jeremiah Sparrow as they wrestle with questions of forgiveness and find hope and healing. Our Yellow Tape Letters is a wholehearted journey alongside characters from the past who feel as real as friends. This gentle but powerful novel not only paints a vivid picture of the triumph and grief of war, but also demonstrates the bonds of friendship, faith, and love that are worth fighting for.
(From endorsement)
(From endorsement)
April 7, 2025
Another masterpiece by this author! Highly recommend!
January 17, 2023
Heart-wrenching in the best of ways, Our Yellow Tape Letters beautifully dissects issues of faith, hope, grief, love, and forgiveness - without romanticizing the struggle. This is the kind of book that grows one’s faith without sermonizing! Thank you, Caitlin, for showing me how incredible grace can be 💛
I was pulled into Lucy & Jeremiah’s world, and I never want to leave. There’s something so innocent and nostalgic about OYTL, and everything is just so *perfect* - the characters, the settings, everything.
If you love WWII fiction, deep themes, and sweet, clean romance, Our Yellow Tape Letters is the book for you!
I received an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.
I was pulled into Lucy & Jeremiah’s world, and I never want to leave. There’s something so innocent and nostalgic about OYTL, and everything is just so *perfect* - the characters, the settings, everything.
If you love WWII fiction, deep themes, and sweet, clean romance, Our Yellow Tape Letters is the book for you!
I received an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.
July 22, 2023
Epistolary writing is fascinating to me because I think it takes a special skill to write a complete story in this way. This entire book is made up of letters, journal entries, notes and telegrams but it tells a sweet, sad story of friendship, grief, forgiveness and eventually a sweet love formed over the bond of letters and shared grief. There were a couple more details I would have liked to see for some of the side characters and a little more on how things happened to bring Jeremiah and Lucy together but otherwise this was an enjoyable read.
Content Notes: Death of sibling, war violence
Content Notes: Death of sibling, war violence
January 31, 2024
This is it officer … right here … the book that stole my heart !
This is a beautifully crafted novel. The writing is poetic and combines themes of friendship, God and family. The characters are so fleshed out and their struggles were so real and relatable! I how effortlessly the important messages of Jesus and the Gospel and God are weaved into the novel and they serve as such important reminders !
Will defo read the memories we painted !!
This is a beautifully crafted novel. The writing is poetic and combines themes of friendship, God and family. The characters are so fleshed out and their struggles were so real and relatable! I how effortlessly the important messages of Jesus and the Gospel and God are weaved into the novel and they serve as such important reminders !
Will defo read the memories we painted !!
January 19, 2025
Told completely through journal entries and letters. Ben dies while serving in WWII, and we are following his sister and friends dealing with their memories of him and their grief and anger. I enjoyed reading about the friendships created and the close brother/sister relationship that Ben and Lucy shared. Lots of talk of forgiveness, sacrifice, and dealing with grief. Lucy struggles, but we see her come to terms with her feelings and finding peace. I liked the way it ended for the characters, but I would have liked to have known more about how this all developed.
December 28, 2022
Before I start my review, I just want to say thank you so much, Caitlen, for giving me the opportunity to read and ARC of this book. It was a truly magical experience that I will cherish forever. Your writing is like nothing I have never read before, and I cannot wait to read more of your work.
When I submitted my name for this ARC, I knew that it was a WWII novel, but what I didn’t know was that it is also a book on grief and loss. A book on forgiveness, and what that means as a Christian. There wasn’t a single time where the character’s faith felt “unnatural” or “forced”. The story follows the lives of Lucy, Jeremiah, Ben, and Sage both during the war and after the war and their relationships with each other, other people and family members, and The Lord. The whole story felt so real.
I couldn’t relate to the characters on a grand level, because I’ve never experienced grief like that. However I have witnessed others experience grief. And I am confident that this will help me help others in the future, and eventually help me help myself. Grief is part of life, and OYTL highlights that just because it’s part of life, doesn’t make the process any easier.
As an ARC reader I really did try and find things that I didn’t like about the book, because I owe her an honest review, and this review is as honest as I can get. There wasn’t a thing I didn’t love. It was the small details that really set this book over the edge for me. The censored parts of Ben’s letters, because that’s what really would’ve happened, and Lucy’s anger with The Lord, because even the best Christians falter sometimes with their relationship with The Lord.
If I influence you to read one book, please please please let it be this book. If it means ignoring all my other reviews, so be it. This book deserves to be well loved by every single person. And thank you again Caitlen for allowing me to receive an ARC, I am truly grateful.
(a few side notes: 1: the character of Sage was so similar to one of my closest friends it was a little scary, also I am going to make that friend read this book. 2: do yourself a favor and don’t read this book in public, because you will cry.)
When I submitted my name for this ARC, I knew that it was a WWII novel, but what I didn’t know was that it is also a book on grief and loss. A book on forgiveness, and what that means as a Christian. There wasn’t a single time where the character’s faith felt “unnatural” or “forced”. The story follows the lives of Lucy, Jeremiah, Ben, and Sage both during the war and after the war and their relationships with each other, other people and family members, and The Lord. The whole story felt so real.
I couldn’t relate to the characters on a grand level, because I’ve never experienced grief like that. However I have witnessed others experience grief. And I am confident that this will help me help others in the future, and eventually help me help myself. Grief is part of life, and OYTL highlights that just because it’s part of life, doesn’t make the process any easier.
As an ARC reader I really did try and find things that I didn’t like about the book, because I owe her an honest review, and this review is as honest as I can get. There wasn’t a thing I didn’t love. It was the small details that really set this book over the edge for me. The censored parts of Ben’s letters, because that’s what really would’ve happened, and Lucy’s anger with The Lord, because even the best Christians falter sometimes with their relationship with The Lord.
If I influence you to read one book, please please please let it be this book. If it means ignoring all my other reviews, so be it. This book deserves to be well loved by every single person. And thank you again Caitlen for allowing me to receive an ARC, I am truly grateful.
(a few side notes: 1: the character of Sage was so similar to one of my closest friends it was a little scary, also I am going to make that friend read this book. 2: do yourself a favor and don’t read this book in public, because you will cry.)
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