Willow’s Secrets – Sally Avery Bermanzohn | Reviewed by: Michaela Gordoni, Hollywood Book Reviews 

Willow’s Secrets by Sally Avery Bermanzohn follows the lifelong journey of a half-white and half Native American girl in the late 1800s named Willow. The secrets regarding Willow, unknown to her, come gradually throughout her life, in surprising and unexpected ways.  A white woman, Mama Rose, and her father take little Willow in after her mother was murdered by none other than the Ku Klux Klan. Even worse, Willow’s own biological grandfather was involved in the murder. But Willow is nearly an adult by the time she is told this truth. Willow learns what it means to be a Native American living in Alabama and the struggles people like her best friend Molly, and other black people face. She struggles with the weight of her secret upbringing while trying not to let it harmfully effect the decisions she makes about her life. From childhood to mature adulthood, Willow, who was “raised to be a white woman” wrestles with revealing the truth about her heritage to those close to her.

Willow’s Secrets is comprised entirely from Willow’s point of view. Readers will see how her thoughts develop and transform in maturity and intelligence as Willow ages. Sally Avery Bermanzohn has done an excellent job of displaying thoughts the way a child would, and having Willow relate events and interactions to herself. Like any good historical fiction, it still contains so many elements of truth and historically relevant mentions, such as “goober peas.”

Observant readers will enjoy the titbits which are said between the lines. For example: “I was glad I had gone to Molly’s Birmingham.” A simple sentence and subtle nuance implying Willow’s separation of the  Birmingham she visited before (which gave her painful memories) from the experience she had celebrating Molly’s marriage in Birmingham with her family and friends. Thus, “Molly’s Birmingham.”

Sally Avery Bermanzohn is a good author, but do not expect one of those descriptive writers that will draw you in with intricate details and vivid descriptions of a character, their thoughts, or their surroundings. This author’s skills lie in her creativity and artful storytelling, taking the reader through Willow’s life as she has imagined it. In fact, a storyteller is the perfect description for Sally Avery Bermanzohn. Willow’s Secrets is an excellent work of fiction written from a unique and enlightening perspective in a time period that was filled with challenges for women and minorities.

Source: https://www.hollywoodbookreviews.com/willows-secrets/