Rising Sun, Falling Shadow
In this sequel to The Far Side of the Sky (2012), Kalla delivers a gripping blend of suspense thriller and survival story, set in occupied Shanghai during WWII. As Jewish refugees in Singapore are herded into the ghetto, Dr. Franz Adler and his wife, Sunny, struggle to keep their hospital afloat. The medical drama in the ill-supplied hospital is as fast paced and detailed as that of the best hospital television shows, and, although the characters run to types, Kalla manages to capture variations in their levels of ability and endurance. As the characters struggle to evade detection by both German Nazis and Japanese, heroism springs from humble sources, as the city changes from colorful metropolis to grimy ghost town, a transformation vividly realized through the eyes of Shanghai’s longtime residents. Despite its grim subject matter, this gripping historical novel communicates a hopeful message about the power of love and friendship to overcome hatred. --Bridget Thoreson