The Boat People, by Sharon Bala

[Celia]

Published in 2018, it fits prompt 52.

It IS politically inspired as it addresses how the Canadian government handles boats coming unbidden from Sri Lanka.

This book also is a debut book by author, I changed it to satisfy prompt 10.

[Peter]

I read this for the 2019 topic of a book from multiple perspectives. I really enjoyed it. I thought it was a very well written book with engaging characters with a lot of emotional impact. I did not, however, like the character of Grace. I thought her character was the weakest and least developed and she was basing her professional decisions on personal biases - something I know happens, but shouldn't in the field she is in. She was also very willfully blind to the way her actions and biases were doing what had previously been done to her grandparents. I also did not enjoy the ending because there is a lack of closure, but I'm assuming that was an intentional choice by the author (view spoiler)[to leave the reader with similar ambiguous feelings that refugees have as they go through this process. (hide spoiler)]

Overall, it was a good read and one that tackles some difficult topics.