The audio version of this review was first shared in Episode 48: A Bookchat about The Blackout Bookclub with Amy Lynn Green & a Review of Come Down Somewhere by Jennifer L. Wright
THE BOOK
Sixteen-year-old Olive Alexander has lived on a ranch in the Jornada del Muerto region of southern New Mexico her entire life. But when World War II begins, the government seizes her family’s land for the construction of a new, top secret Army post.
While her mother remains behind, Olive is forced to live in nearby Alamogordo with her grandmother and find a place in a new school. When Jo Hawthorne crosses her path, Olive sees a chance for friendship—until she learns that Jo’s father is the Army sergeant who now occupies her beloved ranch. Already angry about her new reality, Olive pushes Jo away. But as she struggles to make sense of her grandmother’s lapses into the past and increasingly unsettling hints about what’s happening at the ranch, she slowly warms to Jo’s winsome faith and steady attempts at friendship . . . until one devastating day when the sky explodes around them and their lives are torn apart.
Seven years later, Jo returns to Alamogordo, still angry and wounded by the betrayals of that fateful day. Determined to put the past behind her once and for all, Jo hunts for answers and begins to realize the truth may be far more complicated than she believed, leading her on a desperate search to find her friend before it’s too late.
THE REVIEW
One thing that never fails to get my attention is a story set during a time or situation in history that is almost entirely new to me. Come Down Somewhere is a coming of age tale, a story of friendship, and on a broader scale, an homage to what was done unwittingly when the Trinity nuclear bomb was tested in southern New Mexico. Wright doesn’t attempt to place blame, merely tells a story that must be told, thereby paying respect to them and what was done to their home. Through modern eyes, it’s a no-brainer that this testing is problematic, but to the scientists of the time, this is such new technology that no one really understands the implications outside of the impact zone.
Into this aftermath, Wright bravely sets her story of a friendship torn apart. Wright’s voice is unique as she shifts between the perspectives of Olive and Jo, and the years between them. Jo’s section in particular is rife with her emotions and reactions to a place she never wanted to see again. Her hope and her dread are tangible and kept me eagerly turning those pages. Wright’s description of the setting is impeccable. I could practically feel the sweat sliding down my back as Jo walked along the streets of Alamogordo.
The plot moves along steadily; secrecy abounds, and there is even a bit of suspense before the story reaches its poignant end. The faith element is woven organically throughout the story, pointing readers to Christ in a way that is never heavy-handed or preachy. I found myself in tears over the reminder that nothing and no one is ever so far gone that redemption cannot reach them.
If you’re in the mood for a bold, eye-opening, and impactful coming of age tale based on true events in history – one that honors and validates those impacted – Come Down Somewhere by Jennifer L. Wright should be your next read.
THE AUTHOR
Jennifer Wright has been writing since middle school, eventually earning a master’s degree in journalism from Indiana University. However, it took only a few short months of covering the local news to realize that writing fiction is much better for the soul–and definitely way more fun. A born and bred Hoosier, she was swept off her feet by an Air Force pilot and has spent the past decade traveling the world and, every few years, attempting to make old curtains fit in the windows of a new home.
She currently resides in New Mexico with her husband, two children, one grumpy dachshund, and an overly demanding guinea pig. She is a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers Association), and can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and sometimes (but very rarely) on Twitter. Her debut novel, “If It Rains,” was nominated for a Kipp Award in the Historical Fiction Category. “Come Down Somewhere,” her second novel, is now available from Tyndale House Publishers.
Follow her on Goodreads, BookBub, and Amazon for the latest updates on book releases, events, and more!
Reviewed by Beth Bulow
Disclaimer: The author offered a complimentary copy of this book. The review was given freely, without payment. All views expressed are only the honest opinion of a member of the Historical Bookworm Review Team.
