Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience

Free copy of this book—>honest review in return. I was hooked by the first chapter, which was transportive, heart wrenching, and terrifying. I really felt like the characters were going to be windows into a world I am interested in, but don’t have personal experience with. But after that strong start, it just didn’t keep my attention. The story and setting really should have been enough to entice me-Latin America, Spanish words and phrases integrated in the story, etc. But this writing was too slow and the dialogue too stilted. You could tell this was a very personal story to the author and I love that for him. But it just wasn’t for me.

THE MONA PASSAGE

This book is deceptive in its simplicity. It reads like a nice story about Galán Betances, an immigrant from Cuba living in Puerto Rico, who needs to bring his adult sister with mental health issues to the United States to avoid having her placed permanently in a Cuban care hospital. He becomes friends with his new neighbor Pat McAllister, who is a lieutenant on the Coast Guard interceptor “Strickland”. McAllister works with Customs and Border Protection in the waterway between Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico: The Mona Passage. What could possibly go wrong?

As Galán and Pat’s friendship develops, we learn about their families and love interests, as well as their current daily activities of work and fun. It’s a continuous back and forth between present and past, and done exceptionally well. The characters’ situations and their reactions to them are presented in such a realistic and subtle yet detailed way that you truly feel that they are real people. You can see their good and their bad and you can feel it.

The Mona Passage addresses many complex issues, including illegal immigration, human trafficking, Immigration Law, mental health, family values, PTSD, military service, drug abuse, love, loyalty and friendships. It’s all woven so seamlessly into the story that it feels so real and gives meaning to the words. No real right or wrong, just reality.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Thomas Bardenwerper, and Syracuse University Press for the opportunity to read and review this very thoughtful book.

Block buster beginning and climax for debut novel, Mona Passage, by author Thomas Bardenwerper. The author served five years in the U.S. Coast Guard aboard cutters including time in Puerto Rico. The opening of the book took me back to my childhood and hearing about courageous Cubans finding their way to freedom by crossing the waters to Florida on old boats….In this book, the Betances family tries to take this journey. Galán and his father, Gustavo, succeed in the journey while his mother Josephina and little sister get scared and turn back to shore. At this point, I was nervous for this family. The novel skips ahead to 2015 and we meet Lt. Pat McAllister on a Coast Guard Interceptor that looks for Cubans trying to get from the Dominican Republic to sanctuary through the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico. Pat is Galán’s neighbor in Puerto Rico, and they became friends. Galán is desperate to get his younger mentally handicapped sister out of Cuba. The story is told by both Pat and Galán and moves between the past and 2015. You will want to read this fast paced story. I am sure you will see decisions are not just black and white. My thanks to Syracuse University Press, Bookishfirst, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

I think this book tackles some important issues in an effective way. While I did grow to care about the outcome for certain characters I felt in general that the characters fell a little flat. I loved the flashbacks and that did help, but the present day things happened so quickly they didn’t feel genuine. The two main characters come from different worlds Galan is a Cuban immigrant now living in Puerto Rico. Patrick is in the Coast Guard stationed out of Puerto Rico tasked with stopped illegal immigrants from reaching American soil. The two met and then instantly were each other’s best friend in the world which felt a little odd. I also didn’t really understand the point of Patrick’s birthday out and all the drama that caused. I do think the book did a good job showing the desperation of people who attempt the rafts to try for a better life and adding much needed humanity to their stories.

Leaving Cuba illegally for the US left Galan Betances separated from his mother and sister. After establishing himself in Florida, Galan finds that he must save his sister and arrange for her passage to the US. Using the Mona Passage to Ile de Mona to gain Puerto Rico’s protection is a hugely expensive and highly illegal transit, but he has no choice. With the help of a Coast Guard friend, it may turn out to be he and his sister’s only hope. Recommended reading and very well written.