Title: Searching for Hannah
Author: Joseph Saltarelli
Publisher: Gatekeeper Press
ISBN: 978-1662917677
Pages: 228
Genre: Drama / Romance/ Historical Fiction
Reviewed by: Reyan Boris Mishra
Pacific Book Review
Paging through an evocative, heart-rending story that makes you go back to your life events can be highly contemplative. The book we are discussing today is one of those. Orbiting around the theme of love and separation, Searching for Hannah is a stirring tale of two youngsters whose love is put to the test by a variety of complex life events and difficult pasts.
As teenagers living in New York City, Michael and Hannah get close to each other, but their union is unfortunately short-lived. Hannah and her family are often targeted due to their faith and background. Following a cruel antisemitic incident, Hannah moves away from New York with her family leaving Michael distraught.
One day after over 8 years, the two bump into each other, and it doesn’t take long before they fall in love. Just as things start looking better, it turns out their fate had something else in store for them. The difference in their backgrounds leads them away from each other one more time, and in the wake of their separation, they embark on individual journeys of self-discovery. As they advance on separate paths, several mysteries are unraveled and memories of the past begin making sense. The big question is whether the lovers will eventually reunite. And will the waves that have turned their world upside down ever recede?
The way author Joseph Saltarelli builds up the story can be compared to the construction of a hefty wall. Just like a mason lays one brick after another adding a bit of strength with each one, similarly each of Saltarelli’s sentences pulls the reader closer to the story. And by the time you reach the core of it, you have already begun relating with both main and side characters.
The emotional transition that the characters go through is incredible to read and feel. The writer creates strong visual imagery which transports you to Hannah’s world – enabling you to hear the soft whispers of the lovers, see the weather change, and feel the pain of the heavy heart that’s about to move on. The book hooks you in such a way that you can’t skip a page, and the curiosity for what lies ahead doesn’t diminish until the last page.
Searching for Hannah is more than a historical novel; it is a poignant reflection on the importance of family, memories, and the legacies that shape us. This story is a compelling examination of the human experience, artfully balancing the sorrow of loss with the hope of reconnection. Fans of historical fiction, family sagas, and stories of self-discovery will find this book deeply moving and thought-provoking. If you are close to wrapping your current book and looking for a new one, I recommend you give Searching for Hannah a shot.
