I have been reading a fiction series by Jack Cavanaugh called American Family Portrait. I just finished book #6 and they still hold my attention. I like this series because though the books follow the same family through history, it spans many centuries so the characters are still different in each one. The first book is in the early 1600s when the Puritans first fled persecution in Europe and travelled to the new colonies of America. On it goes through the first settlements in America, the American War for Independence, the Civil War and slavery, pioneering the west, and the first World War. Through each difficult set of circumstances, the characters come to know God or strengthen their faith in different ways. Though the plot and settings are so different in each book, they have all been so easy to devour. And because it's all the same family, you feel connected to each new set of characters, especially when their ancestors or parents from previous books are mentioned. I thoroughly enjoy historical fiction, so I'm hoping the last book in the series, set in the 1960's will still be captivating.
This book, The Allies, starts just as America joins the war in Europe against Germany in 1917. It follows a young American nurse who was turned down by the London Missionary Society. She then volunteers at a hospital in France and ends up behind enemy lines. Her brother, a stubborn, cocky young pilot who doesn't need anybody, earns his wings in the army, wanting to get as many kills as he can. He cares for no one and nothing except taking down German planes, until his decisions cause a tragedy. He too ends up behind enemy lines. Meanwhile, their father begins work as a personal aide to the President of the United States working as a spy. There is a lot of page-turning action, and the characters are very likeable. But, if you're up for tackling something big, I would recommend reading the series right from the beginning, rather than just this one book. Because each book contains different characters it does stand alone, but the series contains such richness as a whole. I will definitely be reading more books by Jack Cavanaugh when I finish these.
