This historical fiction novel deals with a subject matter that I hadn't ever looked into, and it actually made me read up on it a bit to follow the story better: the Congo Crisis.

We learn about this in the form of an American family of six who move to Belgian-controlled Congo in 1960 when Nathan Price brings his family there to work as a missionary in a small village called Kilanga. But this is not a book about Nathan. He's only mentioned in passing, a villain who is harsh and unforgiving to his wife and four daughters, and considers the Congolese to be nothing more than savages.

Our different points of view come from the mother, but mostly the four daughters: the baby of the family Ruth May, who adapts the easiest, the twins Leah, a tomboy, and Adah, who was born handicapped, and last Rachel, the least-adaptable one, who would rather return to the US. Through their eyes we experience Independence, life in the Congo and later other African countries, and especially in Leah's case a growing alienation from the US. All women of the family are not left untouched by their life in the Congo, Africa always staying with them.

It is clear the author has a very strong agenda. Christianity in the form of baptism doesn't look that great, and the involvement of the USA in boosting up Mobutu, one of the worst African dictators of all times, for their own interests in Congo's riches, leaves a bitter taste in the mouth, not only in Leah's. Rachel is a vehicle to depict casual racism. It's not a feel-good novel if you're a white reader. Or anyone, I suppose.

Ultimately, the pace was a bit too slow for me. Especially the last part dragged on forever, even though I enjoyed the time jumps. Adah was my favorite character, for sure.

I can understand why people who feel strongly about religion or stout American patriots might hate this one, for sure. The author doesn't bring her points across gently, but then, why should she? The exploitation of the African continent has undoubtedly happened, ever since the first European seafarers landed on the continent's shores.

4 stars.