I had a mixed reaction to Mike Bond's latest novel, America. This is my first book from Bond, but I see he is quite prolific and popular. I liked his writing style.

This is the first installment in what will be a seven-novel series. In America, we're introduced to four characters, Troy, Mick and his sister Tara, and Daisy. At the beginning in the 1950's, Troy is an orphan who meets Mick when he runs away from his orphanage. The two are fast friends, and together they hop a train intending to head south to Florida. When they're caught and returned home, Mick convinces his parents to let Troy stay with them and they agree. Still tight, the two boys take different paths as they leave high school and enter the real world. Troy heads to the Air Force Academy, and Mick starts at a small private college. But Mick can't stand the routine of college life and ends up leaving for a year to travel to Europe and Asia.

Meanwhile, Tara heads to Berkley after high school, and ends up pursuing life as a jazz singer. Daisy, who was the love of Mick's life in college, has moved to Iowa, and becomes very socially involved. In the sixties, Daisy is part of a group that heads to the south to register Blacks to vote. It's the era of Medgar Evers. As the novel comes to an end, are all on very different paths in life.

Overall, I enjoyed America, and will definitely read the second installment in the series. However, for me, the pacing of this novel was off. For the first half of the book, it's like taking a drive along the scenic route. It's slow but pleasant, and the reader really gets to know Mick and Troy. In the second half of the book, it's like speeding down the highway. The book's timeline speeds up dramatically as we see the characters head off in different directions. It's only in the second half that truly delves into historical fiction as the characters react to current events -- the Vietnam War, politics, racial injustice, the age of Aquarius, etc. The characters of Mick and Troy are well developed, but not so for Tara and Daisy. In fact, Daisy is mostly an afterthought for the bulk of the novel.

Thanks to NetGalley, Mike Bond, and Big City Press for providing me this eARC in exchange for an honest review. I'm intrigued enough to at least read the second novel in the series to see if character development becomes more essential.

America,, by Mike Bond, takes you back to rural America in the 1950s & 1960s. Eisenhower is president, the economy is tough in upstate New York, and a family takes in an orphan boy, Troy. As he grows up with his two adopted siblings, they share love, adventures, and the difficult decisions that all kids have to make.

I received an ARC from the author and the Publisher Big City Press, through NetGalley. The book tells the story of 4 young people, how they grew up, the things they did, the choices they made, and the events that happened as they were growing up.
I was expecting just history, and I enjoyed reading about history through their lives. As I read about the things that happened in their lives, I thought about the things that happened in mine. Times have changed, but sometimes I could see some of today back then. What I like most about this book it was personal, it had emotions, it had fear, and I learned many things.

Thank you for the ARC. When I first started reading this story I was trying to remember what it was about. Went and looked it up. I did continue reading and really enjoyed the story. Good character development and liked each one.

Really had no idea what this book would be about or if it is typically my preferred genre. However, I really enjoyed the perspective shown and how the characters developed throughout. My first book by Mike Bond, but will definitely not be my last!
Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting approach to telling the American story through the eyes of fictional characters. Having lived through those years myself, it’s hard to have someone else define them for you.

I did not finish. The book was not bad but I was just not interested enough to finish. It is worth a try ti see if you like it,. It just was not the book for me.

Really didn't know what to expect when I started this book and was pleasantly surprised by how quickly the story drew me in. This was my first book to read by this author and I look forward to reading more!