Pylväinen, Hanna

Even as the distinctive time period and locale set apart this complex saga of birth, death, love, and broken hearts, Pylväinen deftly shows how people can become mired in poverty and personal entanglements any time, any place.

Pylväinen, who grew up in the same fundamentalist faith as her characters, doesn't judge their choices in this remarkably sensitive family portrayal, a powerful and unforgettable debut that manages to balance successfully its multiple perspectives.