We Are Called to Rise by Laura McBride

We Are Called to Rise by Laura McBride
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well written, causing me to think and feel. Loosely based on an event in Las Vegas, the story tackles the difficult subjects of PTSD of returned soldiers, Vegas culture, homeless youth, accountability, and discrimination. On the other hand, the story ends with hope.

I also found a lot of excellent phraseology that I can't recall at the moment because I finished this book last week. Well written description of Vegas is included. A short historical lesson on Las Vegas is given that includes the weird marriage of Mormon bishops, mobsters, and casinos. I enjoyed the different perspective of choosing Vegas to raise a family. The author describes how the parents build neighborhoods, develop relationships, and have a little village within the city limits. They are soccer moms who sometimes change into a cocktail waitress outfit at night or on weekends. They are dads who wear a suit and tie to work but work at a casino. But when they come home, their homes and neighborhoods are insular in nature. The children grow up knowing about casinos and shows, nudity and and nude shows, but it is merely background noise to their soccer games, their school plays, their bike rides.