Review of Covid Orphans
Posted: 19 Oct 2022, 13:08
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Covid Orphans" by Teri Peluso.]
“It takes a village to raise a child.” This African proverb has never been more applicable than now, in the aftermath of our twenty-first-century pandemic. Author Teri Peluso shares this staggering statistic from a study published in The Lancet in July 2021: “over one million children worldwide had been orphaned because of Covid.”
Covid Orphans introduces the reader to the Powell family. Chandra, her two daughters (Isabella and Makayla), and their father moved to Florida in 2008 for better job opportunities. By 2019, Chandra had added a son (Tristen) to the family and was estranged from her children’s fathers. Chandra was a dedicated single mother. She worked two jobs and found safe, supervised childcare for her children when she could not be with them. One of her jobs was as a housekeeper at a long-term care facility. At the peak of COVID-19, Chandra and many of her coworkers were required to quarantine at work to keep from spreading the disease to their families.
Sadly, Chandra died while in quarantine, and suddenly, her three children were not only isolated at home—they were orphans. Chandra had been adamant that if something happened to her, she would want her children to remain together. Will Isabella, Makayla, and Tristen fulfill their mother’s wish? Who can they trust to help them? This historical-fiction novel will evoke tears, laughter, gasps, and cheers as these three children join the ever-growing number of pandemic orphans and navigate their new life.
I have hesitated to read books related to the pandemic because the experience remains raw and new variants continue to surface. However, the lonely young woman on the cover and the focus on COVID-19’s effect on children, especially orphans, attracted me to this book. The story was well rounded and contained many subplots, including cyber intelligence and criminal investigation, but my favorite component was its depiction of relationships.
The “village” comprised family members, friends, colleagues, and community leaders involved in healthy, caring (and unhealthy, manipulative) relationships. I was relieved that the pandemic, although the fundamental reason for the conflict, was not the constant focus of the plot. In fact, having COVID-19 as the backdrop made the story more relatable. The main characters were described thoroughly, and I formed a rooted connection with them. There were also many secondary characters in the story, but it was easy to keep track of them because each one had a niche to fill. I particularly enjoyed the strong female personalities, who were compassionate and competent in their work. They complemented their male counterparts, creating a balanced undertone for the plot. I commend the author on the story’s combination of drama, humor, and suspense—this book would make a gripping television movie.
I rate Covid Orphans 3 out of 4 stars. Although it did not diminish my reading experience, the number of grammatical errors warranted a 1-star reduction. Otherwise, there were no negative aspects. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy relationship-driven themes and are at least 18 years old. Profanity occurs occasionally, but it is relevant in the context. A more cautionary note is the inclusion of a sexual predator and references to pornography on the dark web. The descriptions are not extremely graphic, but they may trigger some readers. I generally avoid books with sexually manipulative components, but the author handled this all-too-common issue sensitively, and I did not find it offensive in this read.
******
Covid Orphans
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
“It takes a village to raise a child.” This African proverb has never been more applicable than now, in the aftermath of our twenty-first-century pandemic. Author Teri Peluso shares this staggering statistic from a study published in The Lancet in July 2021: “over one million children worldwide had been orphaned because of Covid.”
Covid Orphans introduces the reader to the Powell family. Chandra, her two daughters (Isabella and Makayla), and their father moved to Florida in 2008 for better job opportunities. By 2019, Chandra had added a son (Tristen) to the family and was estranged from her children’s fathers. Chandra was a dedicated single mother. She worked two jobs and found safe, supervised childcare for her children when she could not be with them. One of her jobs was as a housekeeper at a long-term care facility. At the peak of COVID-19, Chandra and many of her coworkers were required to quarantine at work to keep from spreading the disease to their families.
Sadly, Chandra died while in quarantine, and suddenly, her three children were not only isolated at home—they were orphans. Chandra had been adamant that if something happened to her, she would want her children to remain together. Will Isabella, Makayla, and Tristen fulfill their mother’s wish? Who can they trust to help them? This historical-fiction novel will evoke tears, laughter, gasps, and cheers as these three children join the ever-growing number of pandemic orphans and navigate their new life.
I have hesitated to read books related to the pandemic because the experience remains raw and new variants continue to surface. However, the lonely young woman on the cover and the focus on COVID-19’s effect on children, especially orphans, attracted me to this book. The story was well rounded and contained many subplots, including cyber intelligence and criminal investigation, but my favorite component was its depiction of relationships.
The “village” comprised family members, friends, colleagues, and community leaders involved in healthy, caring (and unhealthy, manipulative) relationships. I was relieved that the pandemic, although the fundamental reason for the conflict, was not the constant focus of the plot. In fact, having COVID-19 as the backdrop made the story more relatable. The main characters were described thoroughly, and I formed a rooted connection with them. There were also many secondary characters in the story, but it was easy to keep track of them because each one had a niche to fill. I particularly enjoyed the strong female personalities, who were compassionate and competent in their work. They complemented their male counterparts, creating a balanced undertone for the plot. I commend the author on the story’s combination of drama, humor, and suspense—this book would make a gripping television movie.
I rate Covid Orphans 3 out of 4 stars. Although it did not diminish my reading experience, the number of grammatical errors warranted a 1-star reduction. Otherwise, there were no negative aspects. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy relationship-driven themes and are at least 18 years old. Profanity occurs occasionally, but it is relevant in the context. A more cautionary note is the inclusion of a sexual predator and references to pornography on the dark web. The descriptions are not extremely graphic, but they may trigger some readers. I generally avoid books with sexually manipulative components, but the author handled this all-too-common issue sensitively, and I did not find it offensive in this read.
******
Covid Orphans
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
