In the 1920s/30s, the Chicken Hill neighborhood of Pottstown, Pennsylvania is one where poor immigrant Jews and African Americans made their homes alongside each other. They have different means of supporting one another, but that is just what they do for years. As many in Pottstown try to climb the rungs of society, Moshe and his wife Chona are content to work their way toward the American dream – and their view of success – from their corner of Chicken Hill. They also share an unspoken bond with their Black neighbors, Nate and Addie, with whom they work. Guided by love and principle, there is no question in Chona’s mind that she will do whatever it takes to keep a local deaf boy (and Nate’s kin), safe when the state looks to institutionalize him. The power of this community is unstoppable and watching them rise to the task as a united front is beautiful.
I was excited for this one largely because the Jewish and Black communities in Savannah have a unique relationship and I was looking forward to seeing that play out on the page. While it didn’t feel exactly the same, I love books about towns that are rife with quirks and characters. Perhaps it’s because it was soooo hyped, but I wasn’t quite as obsessed with this one as everyone else. Don’t get me wrong – I really really enjoyed it, but it didn’t change my life the way I expected it to. I think it’s because I found the first half to be a bit slow with a new characters constantly being introduced. That said, once it picked up, I was invested and thought the whole book was worth it for the epilogue alone, which was absolutely heartwrenching and perfect. I also enjoyed it more and more as I sat on it, exploring the individual relationships between some of the characters.
3.75 out of 5 stars.
Pair with: Vodka martini with a twist, not super chilled
Peaches to Apples 