Eastland
by Marian Cheatham
Release Date: 02/14/14
Book Summary:
WOULD YOU RISK YOUR LIFE FOR JUST ONE DAY OF FREEDOM?
For hardworking teen, Dee Pageau, the annual employee picnic will let her escape the drudgery of work and possibly find love with her best friend Mae’s older brother, Karel. But in 1915 Chicago, girls don’t go on picnics without their mother’s approval.
Unfortunately for Dee, Mama has had a premonition of disaster and forbids Dee from going. Forced to watch as Mae and Karelleave without her, Dee defies Mama and rushes off to join her friends.
But Dee’s joy soon turns to terror when the ship ferrying them to the picnic capsizes. Rescued not once but twice-by Karel and a mysterious sailor-Dee finds herself tested in unimaginable ways. What happens next turns out to be worse … and better … than anything Dee ever expected.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20750890-eastland-a-novel?ac=1
Buy Links:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/eastland-marian-cheatham/1118596332?ean=9781495203640
About the Author:
Marian Cheatham lives in a suburb of Chicago with her family and their menagerie of pets. A graduate of Northern Illinois University, Marian taught Special Education for many years before becoming a full-time writer.
Author Links:
http://www.mariancheatham.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5612234.Marian_Manseau_Cheatham
http://www.facebook.com/mariancheatham.author
“Eastland” by Marian Cheatham was a fantastic fictional story about the real life sinking of the SSEastland ship steamer.
The story is told from a young woman named Delia Pageau's p.o.v.
I loved Dee as a character and was instantly emotionally involved with her friendship with Mae and life for the working young woman and suffragettes in the 1915. Money was scarce and work was near impossible to find.
I will freely admit that this book had me in tears when Dee and Karel were searching for Mae. Mae brought a sense of personality to all 844 passengers that died when the SSEastland capsized.
The way that the entire community was affected from the mourning families to the company that lost over 500 employees to their own employee picnic, to the rush of people that needed to obtain those very jobs to survive the desperate conditions of the times.
The author brought Chicago in 1915 alive for me. This book was written with so much emotion that I couldn't help but feel like I was going through the entire experience watching through lovely Dee's eyes.
It was brilliant on the authors part to have Dee's mother with her premonitions! First the drama involved with her knowing something terrible was going to happen on that picnic all the way till when she saw something wonderful happening for Dee.
I loved the way she wrote the characters of Mae, Karel, Lars, Dee, Mae, Johnny Volo, Dolly. And Maria Tomaso!
I gave this book 5 stars. It was a beautiful way to put a face to the tragedy of the SSEastland's capsizing and to keep the memory of the 844 lives lost as well as those who were affected by the demise of their loved ones.
I highly reccomend “Eastland” by Marian Cheatham to everyone. This book is an emotional read but it is a beautifully written book and I loved it! I just wish I knew the answer to Mrs. Pageau's premonition during the mass wakes. I appreciate being given the opportunity to review this book and will absolutely keep an eye out for more books by this author!
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