Then Sings My Soul

February 1, 2015

When Nel returns home owing to her mother's unexpected death, she realizes that her father, Jakob, is in the beginning stages of dementia. Overwhelmed by guilt at her extended absence, she vows to stay as long as her father needs her. It is a difficult journey through grief for both of them. In the healing process, Jakob confides in Nel about his past: his flight from Eastern Europe and the loss of his family to genocide. When Nel finds letters her mother received while researching her husband's family, she continues probing the past, eventually discovering startling things about herself and her father's history that will change their futures. VERDICT Flashing back between the present and Jakob's past, Sorrells (How Sweet the Sound) stitches together a beautiful story of family and belief that illustrates the importance of closure and the peace derived from faith. Recommended for readers interested in realistic fiction in the style of Kate Breslin, Kristy Cambron, and Chris Bohjalian.

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