
Saslow’s beautifully edited collection of stories from Americans living through the COVID-19 pandemic is an essential resource for anyone studying and processing this moment in history. The book features narratives from health care workers, those who suffered job losses, people who lost loved ones, and people who themselves contracted COVID-19. The stories cover a wide range of experiences and perspectives from all across the country, whose rawness and urgency is palpable on every page. In one vignette, two young brothers describe what it was like to battle the disease alone in a hospital room, separated from their family. In another, a New Orleans grocer who survived Hurricane Katrina tries to help his community through the pandemic. Saslow’s book is gut-wrenching and perfectly captures the pain and fear of American life during a time of uncertainty. Each story is memorable in its own right and will introduce readers to just a few of the countless people whose lives were upended and will never be the same.
VERDICT This book is an essential part of any library collection and will be for many years to come.