Silence is a book regarding faith and religion in a time and place where seeking a religion outside Japan’s interest would lead to immense suffering for its citizens. Sebastian Rodrigues, a character this book focuses on extensively, is a priest who has journeyed to Japan to tell the people about Christianity. The story quickly develops into his constant evasion of Japanese authorities looking to coerce him to renounce his faith.
The Diamond Eye is a historical fiction novel written by Kate Quinn. The book is centered around Mila Pavlichenko, a student turned sniper who fought during the Nazi invasion of World War II and was later recognized for her achievements. The story begins with her trying to again convince her then husband to divorce her. As her husband belittles her and shames her for not having a father in her son. Thus, she enrolls in a rifle shooting class in order to teach her son how to shoot.
A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi is a diverse teenage love story dealing with Muslim racism post 9/11. Shirin, a socially excluded hot-headed Muslim girl living in a world thrown against her culture, meets Ocean, a star basketball player and school golden boy. This unlikely romance leads to discrimination, and the two have to deal with a world stacked against accepting others and love. This is a very solid book on diverse representation, as Shirin is an interesting character with a Muslim background.
