The World in Half by Cristina Henriquez

The World in Half by Cristina Henriquez is a bittersweet story about a young college student, Miraflores, who is growing up fast. She is an intelligent and quiet young woman with a mysterious past and mother who is quickly succumbing to Alzheimer's. Suddenly, she finds herself on a quest in Panama to find her father, who has been absent her whole life; there she meets some wonderful characters who help her discover her self.

I read this book in just a few days, because I found it to be such a lovely yet heart wrenching story. Miraflores is easy to fall in love with as her journey to discover her father, learn about herself and understand her mother's illness all merge together at once. I felt a common bond with Miraflores during her trip to a foreign country, alone and not sure where to begin. I did this myself in my 20's and it helped me to grow in unimaginable ways. She is brave, despite her fears, smart and thoughtful along the way with regard to herself and her family. I understood Miraflores' plight as she watches her mother grow older and copes with a terrible disease that slowly strips her memory. We all go through watching our parents age and I have seen Alzheimers claim several family friends over the years - never easy, never.

I love the reality in this story and honesty in which it views difficult issues many people face each day. I recommend this book to any person who enjoys a good love story or with an open view on life and the world around us.

To get your own copy of People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks, please buy from your local independent bookseller:
http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781594488559