Under This Unbroken Sky by Shandi Mitchell

I give this book 4.5 out of 5 Stars!

Description: Spring 1938. After nearly two years in prison for the crime of stealing his own grain, Ukrainian immigrant Teodor Mykolayenko is a free man. While he was gone, his wife, Maria; their five children; and his sister, Anna, struggled to survive on the harsh northern Canadian prairie, but now Teodor—a man who has overcome drought, starvation, and Stalin's purges—is determined to make a better life for them. As he tirelessly clears the untamed land, Teodor begins to heal himself and his children. But the family's hopes and newfound happiness are short-lived. Anna's rogue husband, the arrogant and scheming Stefan, unexpectedly returns, stirring up rancor and discord that will end in violence and tragedy.
Under This Unbroken Sky is a mesmerizing tale of love and greed, pride and desperation, that will resonate long after the last page is turned. Shandi Mitchell has woven an unbearably suspenseful story, written in a language of luminous beauty and clarity. Rich with fiery conflict and culminating in a gut-wrenching climax, this is an unforgettably powerful novel from a passionate new voice in contemporary literature.

This is the closest I've come to giving a book 5 stars since I started this blog.  This book was wonderful.  You couldn't help but be involved in every characters struggles.  I don't usually speed through books like this, but I couldn't put it down.  I wanted to know if what the conclusion would be.   I don't know how a book that has such an unhappy ending can leave me feeling like I just read one of the best book I've picked up in a long time.   I will look forward to reading this author's next book.