A beautiful story of loyalty and tenacity.
They may share a similar upbringing, but cousins Cate and Albie couldn’t be more different. As kids, they go to the same Catholic school, play together, and have friends in common. But that doesn’t mean they have the same ideas on how the world should work. Cate isn’t a rebel by nature, but she doesn’t follow the crowd before deciding whether or not she wants to. From the sisters teaching catechism to her mother insisting on an illustrious career as a secretary, inquisitive Cate has no problem questioning authority. On the other hand, Albie seems born to follow orders and knows his place in the chain of command. The only thing he is more devoted to than faith or family is his country, and with the Vietnam War as a constant headline, Albie grows up certain he wants to serve. Cate disagrees with him, of course, and as they grow into young adults, their passions divide them. Though they may annoy each other and fight about their split opinions, they also love one another fiercely, a bond that won’t easily be severed. Life will throw some nasty curveballs at this tenacious family but their ultimate strength will be found in their compassion, self-sacrifice, and love.
Get ready for a guided tour back in time with an endearing family as your gracious hosts in All the Broken Angels. This decades-in-the-making historical journey begins in 1958 with one of the most intriguing opening lines yet, “My dad got shot in the Bible.” Cate and Albie are so convincingly sincere in their reverence of this family heirloom that you’ll be certain the backstory is based on a real incident! From there, the clever metaphors and scenes of compelling drama only increase as these two cousins develop their own opinions in a world almost too complex to navigate. Society shifts, presidents come and go, and childhood lands in the rearview mirror, but readers will be struck by how often history repeats itself, putting a shiny new spin on the same old problems. Finally, almost cathartically, this poignant novel comes full circle, concluding on an optimistic note. In addition to a well-rounded plot, clever wordplay, and genuine conversations, audiences will love the dynamic cast. The grandmother is a delightful character who never fought on any front line but has more fight than most. Racism, feminism, religionism, heroism, and patriotism synthesize into a beautiful story of loyalty and tenacity. Younger audiences will appreciate the richness of Americana and older audiences will be kissed by nostalgia in All The Broken Angels.
