Review of Deceptive Calm

[Mulysa]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Deceptive Calm" by Patricia Skipper.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Following the story of an orphan girl named Vanessa, her best friend Trisha, and a boy named Barry. As you embark on the journey known as Deceptive Calm, there is a descriptive visual from the very beginning! You are given a clear picture from the very first pages, making it easy to imagine what it would have been like to have actually been there on the bus with them during the times of segregation. Things get intense very quickly, and as you can imagine from the very first chapter, you are met with racism, the use of the N-word said by clan members, and explosive violence!

We follow Vanessa through her experiences growing up in such historic times. From her early years, when she is still so full of innocence, experiencing seeing the inside of an actual home for the first time and trying on clothes that have never been worn by another person before, to experiencing her first bath in her teen years—having only showers at the orphanage—and how her life unfolds from falling in love for the first time, having sex for the first time, working for the first time, and navigating the world from the perspective of a woman living in the 1960s and 1970s. There are many things throughout the book that can be understandable triggers for some, so you must proceed with caution! Beyond the foul language, you must remember that this is a time of racism, abortion prohibition, sexual assault, and again, violence.

I was enticed by this story and struggled to put it down due to how action-packed it maintained steadily throughout! Though Vanessa makes some decisions in her life that I feel do not make sense for her character (i.e., the family she decides to marry into and the husband she chooses), these decisions, despite feeling more-so out of character, definitely made for quite a thrilling climax to the story. I would have to say that my least favorite part of the book, while avoiding any spoilers, is how the story abruptly ended. It would have been nice, after such a wild ride, to have gotten a bonus chapter into what would have finally been Vanessa’s happily ever after! Overall, I give this book a 4 out of 5. There were minimal errors throughout the entirety of the book, and there was not a dull moment. Deceptive Calm kept my attention from the absolute start to finish!

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Deceptive Calm
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