The Riveter

by Jack Wang

In the vein of All the Light We Cannot See, a cross-cultural love story set against the dramatic backdrop of the Allied invasion of Europe during WWII.

Vancouver, 1942. Josiah Chang arrives in the bustling city ready to make a new life for himself. The Second World War is in full swing, and Josiah, like so many Canadians, wants to prove his loyalty by serving his country. But Chinese Canadians are barred from joining the army out of fear they might expect citizenship in return. So, Josiah heads to the shipyard where he finds work as a riveter, fastening together the ribs and steel plates of Victory ships. 

One night, Josiah spots Poppy singing at a navy club. Despite their different backgrounds, they fall for each other instantly, and soon Josiah is spending his nights at Poppy’s small wartime house. Their starry-eyed romance lasts until Poppy’s father comes to visit and the harsh reality of their situation is made clear. Determined to prove himself to Poppy, her parents, and the world, Josiah travels to Toronto where he’s finally given the chance to enlist. Josiah rises to the occasion, but is the world changing as fast as his dreams?  

From the critically acclaimed author of We Two Alone, Jack Wang’s gorgeous debut novel explores what one man must sacrifice to belong in the only home he has ever truly known. 

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Canada, Historical, World War II, Romance, Literary Fiction

368 pages, Hardcover

Published February 11, 2025

About the author

WE TWO ALONE: STORIES

* Winner of the Danuta Gleed Literary Award from the Writers' Union of Canada for best debut collection in English
* Shortlisted for the Kobo Emerging Writer Prize
* CBC Books Best Canadian Fiction of 2020
* Quill and Quire 2020 Books of the Year
* 49th Shelf 2020 Fiction: Books of the Year

JACK WANG ’s fiction has been shortlisted for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize and longlisted for the Journey Prize. In 2014–15, he held the David T. K. Wong Creative Writing Fellowship at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England, and in 2020, he was awarded a residency at Historic Joy Kogawa House in Vancouver. He holds a BSc from the University of Toronto, an MFA from the University of Arizona, and a PhD from Florida State University, and he is an associate professor in the Department of Writing at Ithaca College. Originally from Vancouver, he lives in Ithaca, New York, with his wife, novelist Angelina Mirabella, and their two daughters.

Reviews

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Every rivet a bullet.”

I like to support Canadian authors, so when the synopsis of this book caught my attention, I knew I needed to read it. Stories about underappreciated or forgotten people or parts of our country’s history appeal to me.

Chang’s male main character is interesting! He leaves northern BC, and his employment in the forestry industry, to relocate to Vancouver. Unable to find housing, he camps out in Stanley Park and is hired to drive rivets as one of three in a rivet gang at Burrard Drydock. I was in awe of his attitude; wanting to prove his loyalty, he sees himself as an essential fighter of the good fight with a rivet gun in his hand.

Poppy Miller, the female main character, is just as interesting. She’s hired as a jitney driver at the Burrard Drydocks just as women enter the workforce to help with the war effort. Poppy ‘lived’ about a mile down the road from me and I was captivated with descriptions of wartime housing in my neighbourhood. I was in awe of her tenacity at a time when females experienced so many restrictions.

As I got further into the book, my heart ached for a group of people who were ostracized, facing inequality and injustice in our country at a time when everyone was needed and a united front was necessary. I was unaware of the government’s change in enlistment policy; at the start of the war, the Chinese were allowed to enlist, but when it was discovered that the potential reason could be for citizenship, government policy was changed. Seeing how this affected Josiah and his continual quest to prove himself was engaging. The reasons for his enlistment and his choice during advanced training were heartbreaking.

I was glued to the pages learning about the history of the Commodore Ballroom, how difficult it was to get alcohol in Vancouver during the war, why British subjects (Canadians) didn’t marry resident aliens, and what life was like in the shipyards. My only disappointments were (1) a slight struggle with the non-linear timeline and (2) the infrequent swearing.

Wang’s novel about a Chinese Canadian who served during WW2 was a worthwhile read because it held my attention and stirred my emotions. I was fascinated, wanting to learn more about the Chinese diaspora and the Chinese North American experience.

I was gifted this copy by House of Anansi Press Inc and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 I haven’t wanted to read another war story in a very long time, but I saw so many good reviews -and it is Canadian-that I gave it a try. It turned out to be one of those books I always wanted to get back to reading and will go on my favourites and will recommend it widely. I hadn’t known much at all about the Chinese experience during the war-nor that they were not considered citizens , without a vote or able to marry non-Chinese without their wife losing her citizenship. Jack Wang wrote an effortless book to read and managed to make you feel as if you lived this war with these characters-actually-it felt more like reading narrative non-fiction. My kind of book.

[Mai H.]

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and HarperVia

[Kristin Kurek · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you think that another World War II novel is white noise, you would be wrong about The Riveter by Jack Wang. I can guarantee that this book offers a fresh perspective. The Riveter follows Josiah Chang, a man of Chinese descent living in Canada. Though his family has been living in Canada for multiple generations, people of Chinese descent are not granted citizenship. When Josiah falls in love with Poppy, a fascinating and beautiful Canadian woman, he wants nothing more than build a life with her. However, if they marry, she will lose her Canadian citizenship. Though people of Chinese descent cannot join the military in fear that they will expect citizenship, Josiah finds a way to join the fight.
This book tackles the themes of loyalty and identity with the most gorgeous prose. I found myself going back time and again to read passages about Josiah’s evolving understanding of himself in dynamic contexts as a son, a Canadian, a soldier, and a partner. What lengths would he go to become worthy of Poppy and the respect the country that he calls home? I found the book to be a refreshing exploration of self in the midst of a world in global chaos. Having finished the book, I ache to get to know Josiah more deeply as he comes to better understand himself. What a brilliantly written book!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this debut novel from Canadian author, Jack Wang that is set just before, during and after WWII and follows Josiah Chang, a Chinese Canadian without citizenship who falls hard for Poppy, a young white woman he meets in a bar while she's singing on stages. The two have a whirlwind interracial romance but the harsh reality of Josiah's status causes him to enlist in the hope he might be able to earn the right to be called an official Canadian.

Moving, heartbreaking, action-packed and educational, this book brings out all the emotions and was great on audio too. Highly recommended for fans of books like The laundryman's boy. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review. I knew more about Japanese Canadians' experience during WWII but little about the Chinese Canadian experience and even less about parachuters during the war so this was a great read for me!

CW: abortion

[Lisa Butt · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read something that isn't trashy (aka brain candy) I tend to gravitate towards books like this. Ordinary people during WW2. I found this book fascinating for a few reasons. That it was partly set in Vancouver in the 30s and 40s with places and events my grandmother used to reminisce about were described in detail. Fascinating in that its written from the viewpoint of a Canadian of Chinese descent and the racism and injustice that he faced in a country that didn't recognize him as Canadian. Also the descriptions of military training and the battles of war themselves I found fascinating but thankfully they were not overly grotesque. The book almost didn't need the love story but I suppose it bound the whole thing together, it gave the "why". A great read with food for thought.

[Jillian Wertzberger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Precious little riveting

[Enid Wray · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to read a solid, and very Canadian, historical fiction - that even comes with an acceptable modicum of romance - try this one.

Certainly Jack can write - as we say clearly in his debut collection of short stories, We Two Alone.

This shines a light on a chapter in our history that is less well known. I expect that most are familiar with the treatment of the Chinese in Canada in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. I hazard not a lot know that the systemic racism and discrimination - particularly of not being franchised - continued beyond the end of WW2 (and I’m certainly not saying that all is perfect even today…).

This was an enjoyable read and one that would work well for a book club.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for granting me access to an early digital review copy - even though I have been tardy in getting this read and posted.

[Pat Glennon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I seldom finish a book as quickly as I did The Riveter. A true page-turner. Part All the Light We Cannot See, part Band of Brothers. Likable characters and a compelling story. Well done to first time novelist Jack Wang!

[Dennis McCrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review forthcoming

[Vic · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never read novels about war, so I tried to expand my reading horizons. I was drawn in by the storyline of a Chinese Canadian man fighting in WWII, curious about how Josiah would have been treated in 1940s Vancouver, BC. As a Vancouverite, knowing all the areas of the city that were referenced helped me enjoy the story much more. Otherwise, I found myself confused or unsure of what was going on during the war portions of the book because I am not at all proficient in war terms, gear, or weapons. It was hard for me to feel the suspense as much as other history buffs may have.
What kept the story moving forward was Josiah and Poppy's complicated relationship. Their love for one another was well written, but the conflict was what kept me interested. There were two parts to the conflict, the first part being that their mixed race relationship was taboo during the time period, and the second being that Poppy did not want to wait for Josiah as he went off to fight in the war. It was such a real problem for many couples, I am sure, so I appreciated that Jack Wang explored that in the writing. I will say that the ending was beautifully done in such an emotional but unsappy way.

[T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never been interested in WWII fiction, but reading it from a person of color’s perspective, a Chinese-Canadian nonetheless, felt necessary and compelling.

[Harrison Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another instant classic

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Three and a half stars rounded down to three.

This book reminded me yet again why I so badly want Goodreads to introduce half stars in their rating system. This book does not deserve three stars. But it wasn’t quite good enough for me to want to give it four stars either. So here we are. Forced to give it three stars and just write here in my review that it is actually three and a half. In this book we are introduced to Josiah, a Chinese/Canadian. The book is set just as the Second World War is really getting a good head of steam, in Vancouver, 1942. Josiah Chang arrives in the bustling city ready to make a new life for himself. The Second World War is in full swing, and Josiah, like so many Canadians, wants to prove his loyalty by serving his country. But Chinese Canadians are barred from joining the army out of fear they might expect citizenship in return. So, Josiah heads to the shipyard where he finds work as a riveter, fastening together the ribs and steel plates of Victory ships.

One night, Josiah spots Poppy singing at a navy club. Despite their different backgrounds, they fall for each other instantly, and soon Josiah is spending his nights at Poppy’s small wartime house. Their starry-eyed romance lasts until Poppy’s father comes to visit and the harsh reality of their situation is made clear. Determined to prove himself to Poppy, her parents, and the world, Josiah travels to Toronto where he’s finally given the chance to enlist. Josiah rises to the occasion, but is the world changing as fast as his dreams? Josiah eventually trains to be a paratrooper, the best of the best. He goes to fight in the war, keeping as much contact with Poppy as possible. Poppy is also looking after Queenie, Josiah’s dog that he adopted as a stray and is his best friend.

I wrote a whole other three paragraphs about this book and somehow they have disappeared. You have got to love how unstable Goodreads can be. I’m now just going to summarise what I wrote. In a nutshell, I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second because I felt like the second half felt rushed. In the first we got to know Josiah and his background, see him and Poppy meet and their relationship blossom. We saw Josiah want to enter the armed forces to fight for Canada, but he can’t because of his Chinese background. So he gets a job as a riveter instead, and that is when he meets Poppy who is also working at the shipyard. When Josiah eventually gets accepted into the armed forces and trains as an elite paratrooper. From this point is where it felt rushed. It’s almost like flickers of scenes from his memory, nothing fully fleshed out and things jumping all over the place.

I would have happily got behind this book being longer so that this half of the book could have been more fleshed out. I wanted to know more about Josiah’s experiences as a paratrooper. Even once he came back from war it was written more like a sequence of events. Go home, see Poppy. Find out Queenie died. Find out Poppy is pregnant to another man. Leave. Go back to base. Stay in the army for longer. Leave. Build a cottage. Get a new dog. Poppy comes to visit out of the blue. Really that’s how it felt reading it. I just wanted more detail from it. I did enjoy learning more about Canada during the war and the challenges that Chinese/Canadian people had to face. I really knew almost nothing about that topic being from New Zealand and now living in Australia. I do enjoy learning something from the books I am reading, even fiction. I seek out books from authors with different cultural backgrounds from myself so that I can learn more. Anyway, if the second half of the book was as enjoyable as the first half, it would have earned four stars. Unfortunately it just felt too brief.

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once I really picked up the book, I raced through it. This is a fairly easy read, but do not mistake "easy read" for being synonymous with lazy in any way. This is a beautifully written. I think Wang does a great job of balancing a simplistic, action-focused narrator against beautiful metaphors and descriptions that transform something as simple as a spotlight into a symbol of all-encompassing love.

I attended one of his readings before starting the book properly, so I am aware he did a lot of historical research for this. But while I was reading, I was struck by how much I could feel his respect for the history through his writing--never overstepping the line into embellishment or over exaggeration just to get across some horror of war. He's pretty brief and straightforward in, but that briefness is vital in allowing the barbarity to shine through. This style, too, feels really important to the commentary about being Asian during WWII in Canada. I could feel my experiences reflected in the main character's experiences, even though they're so different. There's something about the briefness of Josiah's thoughts that holds a world beneath them, and I think that alone is worth reading this book for.

I think the war goes by fairly quickly, and a lot of those characters really start blending together since it's hard to remember who is who. I kind of feel like maybe you should just pick two to really remember and then the rest is just a shrug. I wish there was a little more to fill out their profiles upon an initial meeting, and then more reminders when we re-encounter them, so they'd all be a bit more memorable. Upon reflection, I think a few of them felt more like they existed to be tools in the story to talk about war, rather than full characters. Some of that is me, some of that is the writing in general, and some of that is writing a character specifically like Josiah who feels like he doesn't catch onto a lot.

A "war novel" isn't really my thing, but I ended up really enjoying this, and I think that is because it intertwines the concepts of love, race, and war so much so that you can't care about one without caring about the outcome of the other. The characters are endearing and noble, yet deeply human and fallible. The sense of profound love they have feels so natural and well-understood from the start that it becomes easy to see how it is a driving force of their lives and this novel. This is a solid debut novel that builds on "We Two Alone" and delivers on what I was missing from that short story collection.

[Lyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a debut novel from Canadian author, Jack Wang. I know I have a winner in my hands when I can’t wait to finish the book, yet, I also want to take time to savour it and prolong the story. It appeals to me to read historical novels about under appreciated or overlooked people, who belong in our Canadian history. This is an incredible historical novel. I loved it. Author Jack Wang was inspired by Richard Mar, the first and only Chinese-Canadian to join and serve in the revered 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, an Army airborne infantry battalion that was formed in 1942. It had a remarkable reputation for having completed the objectives of every mission they were assigned.

In this novel, we follow a Chinese Canadian man named Josiah Chang who was born and raised in Canada. While employed as a lumberjack, Josiah, like so many Canadians, wanted to prove his loyalty by serving his country. He moves to join a shipyard in Vancouver, as many other Chinese Canadians did. Once in Vancouver, Josiah meets Poppy, a singer who works with him in the shipyard. Buoyed by his love for Poppy, Josiah finds himself fighting injustice. It’s fascinating how Chinese Canadians had the courage to sacrifice their lives for Canada when they didn't even have full citizenship rights, and couldn’t vote. The government would not allow them to join the military in fear that returning soldiers would expect citizenship.

Their starry-eyed romance lasted until Poppy’s father came to visit and the harsh reality of their situation was made very clear to Josiah. If they married, Poppy would lose her Canadian citizenship. Determined to prove himself to Poppy, her parents, and the world, Josiah travels to Toronto where finds a way to join the fight and is finally given the chance to enlist.

I hope Mr. Wang will continue on this path of historical novels. FABULOUS! I will certainly be reading his next book.

[Susan Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars. Chinese Canadian Josiah Chang is a strong character who meets Poppy Miller while working in a shipyard in British Columbia in 1942. They fall hard for one another but her father won't give his consent for them to marry since Poppy will lose her citizenship if she marries a resident Chinese alien like himself. So after a fight with a guy in the shipyard, Josiah runs off to join the army thinking fighting for Canada might help him obtain his citizenship and marry Poppy. He opts to prove himself further by training with an elite unit as a paratrooper and landing in Normandy during D-Day. He has some harrowing experiences with his regiment while fighting through France, Holland and Germany ... as well as trying to stop a couple atrocities and crimes he sees from happening. And along the way, he becomes a veteran soldier all the while corresponding with Poppy in B.C. who worries for his safety as she continues work at the shipyard.
In some sense The Riveter is much like a traditional WWII story but from a Chinese Canadian perspective where Josiah's the only one of his race in his regiment (which apparently was historically the case). He endures flak for it but proves his worth and sacrifice time & again. By the time the war wounds down, you need to stick with it to see if he survives and if Poppy and Josiah will stay together post-war after so much time apart. Will they be able to be together? That is the question. There is a little twist near the end that I didn't foresee and it threw a new hurdle into the mix.
All in all, I learned a bit more about WWII and its paratroops from the Canadian side. The novel is fairly easy to read but there is a density to the pages that took me a while to get through the book. By the end, it felt like I had journeyed far & wide with Josiah.

[Shree G · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an adrenaline rush! The first chapter was spectacular and edge-of-the-seat madness. Jack Wang is a gifted writer. His prose is easy on the eyes, and so very descriptive, it brings the scene alive during the reading.

The battle scenes were really well written and engaging. I've read tons of books and watched movies about Normandy and the French Allied battles, but they were all attacks from the sea. This one was about an airdrop and also from the eyes of a Canadian parachute regiment, so added to the joy of reading. Many war situations brought back scenes from the movies 1917 and Dunkirk - a vast green pastoral land, the French countryside, and the barbed wire fences that were designed to prevent aircraft from landing on the green patches.

Josiah and his Chinese ancestry highlighted the plight of non-native, non-'Caucasian' Canadians (back in the early 1940s and I'm guessing - even now), despite his family living in Canada for generations. Throughout Josiah's journey, the constant shadow of racism and discrimination made me more and more unsettled, and almost angry towards the end. The author effectively uses it to remind the reader that we might be in the 21st century, but still haven't let go of our ego and superiority complex.

This Stoic story about love, longing, valor, patriotism, and friendship is a sweeping tale that was written really well, and I enjoyed reading it.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a lot of World War II books, and I was quick to grab this one because it was about Canadians during the War. Books with Canadian characters are few and far between on my shelf. I enjoyed learning about Canada's WWII participation and hope that more Canadian-focused books will be published and come my way.

Josiah Chang lives in Canada, but cannot become a citizen because he is Chinese. He meets and falls in love with Poppy, a Caucasian Canadian citizen. I also appreciate that this book broached the topic of interracial relationships during the 1940s. It provided a window as to how society struggled with accepting Josiah and Poppy as a couple. After facing an act of racism by beating up a coworker, Josiah hastily leaves Vancouver.

Josiah eventually joins the service, and he and Poppy endure the war miles apart. Communication between the two leaves both wondering about the terms on which Josiah left and trying to maintain connection through hardships.

The one part of the book that I didn't enjoy was that there seemed to be too many detailed battle scenes. I understand that it IS a book about war, though editing a scene or two out would not take away from the story. I admit I started to skim a page here and there to get to the next part.

I was given a free copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I seem to be reading a lot of novels lately about or encompassing the World Wars – not by choice but by coincidence. But I am very glad I found Wang’s “The Riveter”. If you will pardon the pun, it is a truly riveting novel.

The novel opens in 1942 as Josiah Chang, a young Chinese man, arrives in Vancouver after working for years in logging camps in Northern BC with his father. At that time in Canadian history, Chinese residents were not allowed to be citizens or serve in the Canadian armed forces.

Josiah gets a job as a riveter in a shipyard building battleships for the Canadian Navy. He enters into a relationship with the striking and defiant Poppy who also works at the shipyard. But a violent incident in the shipyard forces him to flee to Toronto where he is able to enter the Canadian Army.

The balance of the novel follows Josiah’s time as a paratrooper experiencing all the horrors of war, as well as the camaraderie that develops between soldiers, as he tries to survive and find his way back to Poppy. He eventually comes full circle back to Vancouver where he is confronted with the price that time and distance takes on a relationship.

“The Riveter” is a cross-cultural love story set against the backdrop of the horrors of the Allied invasion of Europe. It is both impeccably researched and beautifully written.

[RMazin · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Vancouver Josiah Chang realizes that both he and Canada are at a crossroads. It’s 1942 and Jack has been working clearing forest lands alongside his father. With the death of his dad, young Jack finds work as a riveter in a shipyard. He can contribute there to the war effort since the Chinese population is not able to join the service. Here he meets the alluring Poppy, a spirited white woman, and they quickly fall in love. But as the war intensifies, Jack wants to prove himself, as a Canadian and as a man worthy of Poppy. He journeys to Toronto where he can finally enlist and after stateside training, he is deployed in Europe as a paratrooper. About two thirds of the book is comprised of his overseas wartime experiences which encompass the mundane of daily living to the adrenalin pumping battlefields.

The author’s descriptions of the Canadian home front romance and the European exploits are very well done. This book gives voice to a WWII experience not often chronicled. Recommended. Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for providing this title.

[Dulcie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I began Canadian author Jack Wang's The Riveter a few weeks before the Liberation Day celebrations in the Netherlands, where my father, like Jack's protagonist, served during WWII. I believe having read the book in advance, I was even more moved by the Dutch crowds grateful celebration of Canadians in May 2025. The timing was coincidental but I was thankful to Wang for crafting a narrative that felt so personal and touching. I write creative nonfiction, and while The Riveter is a novel, it had the feel of a true story, making it that much more compelling to me as a reader. Having grown up in Vancouver, I stepped alongside as his narrative wound its way from the Vancouver industrial waterfront to Stanley Park to North Vancouver. Wang is a storyteller that draws his readers in to join him on a journey of life, love and loss, and I was grateful to be with him every step of the way.
Dulcie McCallum
Author of The Audacity of Inclusion

[Jo-Ann Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a bit disappointed: I wanted to understand the experience of a Chinese Canadian living during WWII and get a feel for how he was treated. In some ways, I got a bit of that, the most shocking discovery was learning that his Canadian wife would have been penalized for marrying him by her citizenship being revoked. But no explanation about the background of the law that instigated to explain this.

Josiah's character rolls into Marvel comic book status when describing his desire to be better than everyone else around him. Had he just been an ordinary guy trying to make his way in the world that rejected him I might have got what I was looking for but Jack Wang rolled out a character that was almost cartoonish in his physical capabilities. Nevertheless, the chronology of Josiah's service in the war and the nature of combat was meticulous in its rendering. And for that I laud him.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Josiah Chang is a man of Chinese descent who was born in Canada. Legally he was not a Canadian citizen, and if he married a Canadian citizen, she would lose her citizenship. He is strong, smart, ethical and skilled. He falls in love with a beautiful woman who he meets at work—a place where ships are being built for WWII. Josiah decides to join the army, becoming a paratrooper, in hopes that his service would be a path to citizenship, so he and Poppy can get married. Three quarters of this book tells the story of his experiences in France, Belgium and England as he fights against the Germans. I probably wouldn’t have chosen to read this book if I thought it was basically description of battles and hardship. The story of Joe’s drive and persistence to survive and return home to Poppy (and if he was granted citizenship, etc.) was what interested me, but there wasn’t enough of that storyline in the narrative.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for review.

It feels like it's been awhile since I read a really good historical fiction novel. This is it! The Riveter is the story of Josiah, a Chinese-Canadian man during World War II, who cannot hold Canadian citizenship. After his father dies, he becomes a ship riveter, meets and falls in love with a woman, and decides to join the armed forces in hopes of being granted citizenship. If he marries, his wife would lose her citizenship. Thus begins his long stint in the Canadian Armed Forces during WWII. Much of this book is set in battle but it never felt boring or unnecessary. The descriptions of Josiah's life, from his peace in Canada to the horror of battle, is so well-written and interesting. I couldn't put this down. Plus, there's a greyhound - the best dog there is!

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

If there were an option to give a 2.5 star review that’s probably would I would have given. It’s definitely a solidly middle of the road read. Not a book I’d read again but I finished it - though i wasn’t sure I would in the last like 10% of the book. I loved that the story gave readers a unique view into the war efforts and experiences of Chinese Canadians. And most of the story did a good job of keeping my attention. The end, though, didn’t stick for me. And the prose throughout was at times too… something for me. Some may say pretentious but that’s not how I felt. Too wordy maybe? I’m not sure if it was the narration (since I listened to an audiobook) or the words themselves but there were times that I simply lost interest. But I powered through so the book does something right!

[Michael Kerr · Rating 4 out of 5]

When his father dies in a logging accident, Josiah Chang heads to the big city to reinvent himself. He soon finds work in the North Vancouver Shipyards building Liberty ships, and falls hard for a lovely and strong-minded lady named Poppy. But racist policies of the day mean Poppy will lose her citizenship if they marry--so Joe heads east where his Chinese ancestry is less likely to be a barrier to him signing up. He hopes to prove himself and earn the double V of victory over Naziism and victory for non-whites at home. He soon finds himself jumping out of airplanes and then dropping into Normandy. This is a pretty gripping and well-researched novel giving a vivid image of wartime life, and explores the idiocy of exclusion.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 starsThis historical fiction is set in the WWII era. It was told from a Canadian point of view which I was not previously familiar with. The main characters are both young people who do not fit easily into the norm of society.

WWII both at home and in Europe is seen through their perspective. One of the themes of this book was racism and the other was separation.

The WWII story has been told many times before but these two characters gave it a unique spin. The writing style was precise and direct. The manner in which the characters handled some of their situations was somewhat unexpected which added to the originality of the work.

[Ken Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

As another reviewer state this is a “cross-cultural” love story leading up to WW II and including the WW II years for the citizens of Canada. The main character a Canadian of Chinese descent and because of being Chinese not allowed to serve in the military and not allowed to marry a Canadian. All changed moving thru the war years…main character Josiah first working as a riveter for the ship building industry to aid in building ships for the war and then eventually was able to enlist. All the while being love with a Canadian whose parents tried desperately to stop the relationship. It truly is a “riveting” story that is hard to lay down.

[P · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was drawn in from the first pages of the first chapter. I have read a lot of books about World War II, but this is the first about a Canadian soldier. Add to that the main character, Josiah, is of Chinese descent and started contributing to the war effort by learning how to riveter for essential supply ships. After being denied enrollment in the military, he was finally accepted to train as a paratrooper. A new perspective on a war that still has untold stories to be told- and this is a great one!