Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age Recommended: 14 and up

I found this book very interesting because it was from a third-generation’s point of view. This meant that every character in the book was referred to as: my aunt, my grandmother, my mother, or my grandfather. This is also one of the only books I have ever read that has such well developed characters, which made the book more enjoyable.

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Frederick and Jette have moved to America from Germany in hopes of starting over. Jette is pregnant with Frederick’s child and her mother disapproves but Jette and Frederick are madly in love. They will do whatever it takes to stay together. The two of them take all of their family’s money and move to America.

Jette and Frederick end up building a new home and a new life in New Orleans where Frederick works at a bar and Jette takes care of their children, Joseph and Rosa. Later, Frederick is unsatisfied with the American efforts in the war so he enlists to fight in the army in hopes of becoming a true American.

Jette is distraught when Frederick enlists and she refuses to talk to him. When Frederick leave he writes her letters every day- letters that remain unopened… Meanwhile, Joseph and Rosa are growing up and their own stories are being written by fate. Joseph falls in love with a girl who doesn’t know he even exists and Rosa is destined to be duped by her love.

Moreover, the bar/restaurant is finally doing well and Jette is doing all that she can to ensure a happy life for her children. The family finds hope in their music as their family has a natural talent for singing. However, the Prohibition is leading to rising debt and money being tighter – their future is very uncertain…

Will the family survive?

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If you would like to read this book, you can purchase it here: A Good American