The Riveter: A Novel

by Jack Wang Narrated by Feodor Chin

Overview

In the vein of All the Light We Cannot See, a cross-cultural love story set against the dramatic backdrop of the Allied invasion of Europe during WWII.

Vancouver, 1942. Josiah Chang arrives in the bustling city ready to make a new life for himself. The Second World War is in full swing, and Josiah, like so many Canadians, wants to prove his loyalty by serving his country. But Chinese Canadians are barred from joining the army out of fear they might expect citizenship in return. So, Josiah heads to the shipyard where he finds work as a riveter, fastening together the ribs and steel plates of Victory ships.

One night, Josiah spots Poppy singing at a navy club. Despite their different backgrounds, they fall for each other instantly, and soon Josiah is spending his nights at Poppy's small wartime house. Their starry-eyed romance lasts until Poppy's father comes to visit and the harsh reality of their situation is made clear. Determined to prove himself to Poppy, her parents, and the world, Josiah travels to Toronto where he's finally given the chance to enlist. Josiah rises to the occasion, but is the world changing as fast as his dreams...

From the critically acclaimed author of We Two Alone, Jack Wang's gorgeous debut novel explores what one man must sacrifice to belong in the only home he has ever truly known.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"THE RIVETER, Jack Wang’s assured and glorious debut novel, is a war story, a love story, and an exploration of the forces that hold us together or pull us apart. From the opening pages, we are dropped into the world of Josiah Chang, a Chinese Canadian serving in an elite paratrooper battalion during WWII. Themes of honor, duty, and brotherhood on the battlefield are interlaced throughout, adding philosophical depth to the action-packed scenes. Beyond the battlefield, THE RIVETER probes the limits of love through Josiah and Poppy’s cross-cultural romance, evolving through the years to the unforgettable and emotional final pages." — Melissa Fu, New York Times bestselling author of Peach Blossom Spring

“Impeccably researched and beautifully written, THE RIVETER tells the story of one man’s journey through the horrors of war, fighting for a country that will not recognize him or allow him the freedom to love simply because of his race. Josiah Chang is a character who will stay with readers long after the final page.”  — Meg Waite Clayton, New York Times bestselling author of The Postmistress of Paris

"Set in Canada, the U.S., and Europe during the Second World War, this historical novel explores the life of a Chinese Canadian man, Josiah Chang, whose romance with a white woman, Poppy, undergirds his drive to prove himself. Tracing Josiah’s trajectory from lumberjack to shipyard riveter to ambitious serviceman...Wang’s novel presents a tale of war and homecoming, rife with correspondence, death, and pangs of yearning for a beloved back home." — New Yorker

"In this exemplary historical, a Chinese Canadian man fights prejudice and falls in love during WWII....The author successfully combines the entertainment of an old-fashioned war story with a crystalline view of pthe period's racism, offering a genuinely touching romance between Josiah and Poppy and visceral scenes of training and battle. Fans of WWII fiction will devour this." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A debut novel of love, culture, and war....[T]his novel is about more than war; it is about love and loyalty, acceptance, and clash of cultures. Will Josiah survive the war? Will Poppy wait for him?....The tale has its roots in history: There was in fact only one Chinese Canadian in that battalion, although many more fought in other units. Josiah is fighting for more than simply defeating Hitler, as African American soldiers also did with distinction. All Josiah wants from Canada is full citizenship and the right to vote. A compelling and emotional read." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“A stunning debut novel. Even in the cauldron of war, Jack Wang creates scenes of such scalding beauty that I didn’t want them to end. The intense love between Josiah and Poppy, and the web of people and things trying to keep them apart, will break your heart.” — Gil Adamson, Giller Prize finalist author of Ridgerunner  

"Wang has created two captivating main characters challenged by racism and harsh circumstances. He has rendered honest, gut-wrenching scenes of training and war. Night parachute jumps into strange lands and close combat, as well as times of numbing tedium for soldiers itching to fight, all come alive. Wang superbly portrays the two lovers, always unsure about each other and then not knowing whether they will see each other again....[B]oth heart-tugging and true to life. Highly recommended. — Historical Novel Society

"What a brilliantly written book! I would encourage anyone with an interest in historical fiction or with a love for beautifully written prose to check out his book. I will be thinking of The Riveter for months to come."
— The Gloss

"Readers of historical romance and tales of forbidden love will be satisfied by Wang’s writing and its infusion of Canadian history, geography, and point of view."   — Booklist

Wang is a potent storyteller, unblinkingly combining horrific history with an aching love story. He intimately intertwines the worst and best of humanity as his narrative seamlessly moves back and forth between Canada and various European fronts. Astoundingly accomplished, Wang's virtuoso novel haunts with poignance and grace. — Shelf Awareness (starred review)

Kirkus Reviews

★ 2024-12-11
A debut novel of love, culture, and war.

In Kamloops, British Columbia, a young Chinese Canadian man wants to fight for a country that does not accept him. Josiah Chang is a lumberjack, or “faller,” with his father, until the father is killed in an accident. Josiah then finds a job as a riveter building cargo ships at the beginning of World War II, and he falls in love with Poppy Miller, a white woman. Poppy wants to marry him and settle down, though if she does, Canada will strip her of her citizenship. Over her objections, Josiah also wants to fight for his country, but Chinese Canadians can’t join the military. He persists, heading east to another province and eventually finding a recruiter who accepts him because of his obvious physical fitness. He trains as a paratrooper, the only Chinese Canadian in his unit. Across the miles, Poppy and Josiah exchange letters and remain faithful to each other despite temptations. He feels he has a lot to prove to himself and to a country that rejects him as an equal. Paratrooper training is demanding, and many trainees wash out, but Josiah is determined to be the best of the best. His unit, the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, is assigned to land at Normandy as part of the great invasion of Europe, and survival is a matter of chance: “If you lived, you were glad and carried on.” Paratroopers are shot to death on their way down or get snagged in trees before they can defend themselves. The bravest of men can be gone in a heartbeat, but Josiah and his unit fight on. “Stay alive for her,” he muses during a lull in combat. He kills as he must while trying to retain a sense of honor, which doesn’t stop him from shooting a rapist between the eyes. But this novel is about more than war; it is about love and loyalty, acceptance, and clash of cultures. Will Josiah survive the war? Will Poppy wait for him? They are both sympathetic characters readers will root for. The tale has its roots in history: There was in fact only one Chinese Canadian in that battalion, although many more fought in other units. Josiah is fighting for more than simply defeating Hitler, as African American soldiers also did with distinction. All Josiah wants from Canada is full citizenship and the right to vote.

A compelling and emotional read.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940192565247
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	02/11/2025
Edition description:	Unabridged

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