The Riveter, Jack Wang (Review by Kristin Kurek)

Rating: 4.7/5 Stars

If you think that another World War II novel is white noise, you would be wrong about The Riveter by Jack Wang. I can guarantee that this book offers a fresh perspective. The Riveter follows Josiah Chang, a man of Chinese descent living in Canada. Though his family has been living in Canada for multiple generations, people of Chinese descent are not granted citizenship. When Josiah falls in love with Poppy, a fascinating and beautiful Canadian woman, he wants nothing more than build a life with her. However, if they marry, she will lose her Canadian citizenship. Though people of Chinese descent cannot join the military in fear that they will expect citizenship, Josiah finds a way to join the fight.

This book tackles the themes of loyalty and identity with the most gorgeous prose. I found myself going back time and again to read passages about Josiah’s evolving understanding of himself in dynamic contexts as a son, a Canadian, a soldier, and a partner. What lengths would he go to become worthy of Poppy and the respect the country that he calls home? I found the book to be a refreshing exploration of self in the midst of a world in global chaos. Having finished the book, I ache to get to know Josiah more deeply as he comes to better understand himself. What a brilliantly written book! I would encourage anyone with an interest in historical fiction or with a love for beautifully written prose to check out his book. I will be thinking of The Riveter for months to come.