Cadwell Turnbull

An alien ship rests over Water Island. For five years the people of the US Virgin Islands have lived with the Ynaa, a race of superadvanced aliens on a research mission they will not fully disclose. They are benevolent in many ways but meet any act of aggression with disproportional wrath. This has led to a strained relationship between the Ynaa and the local Virgin Islanders and a peace that cannot last. A year after the death of a young boy at the hands of an Ynaa, three families find themselves at the center of the inevitable conflict, witness and victim to events that will touch everyone and teach a terrible lesson.

The Lesson

Cheryl Hedlund

Aliens arrive in the Virgin Islands and stay there to complete their research, which they will reveal nothing about. The aliens react with harsh violence at the smallest provocation and justify it as teaching a lesson to the humans. Colonization and the trauma of its aftermath is the theme. While there is not a high level of action, there is plenty of tension. Internal tension as characters grapple with their beliefs, hopes, desires and traumas. Tension between family members and friends because of their different beliefs and decisions. Political tension in the community that intensifies until the climax. 

This is a very reflective novel that connects to some of the history of colonization in the Caribbean as well as the different reactions people have to the revelation and presence of aliens. There is a core group of characters, mainly two families, that we follow. The alien ambassador is an important character, exploring what she learns from her time on earth and close interactions with the humans. I think each character takes away a different lesson as things unfold. The writing style is not flowery, but quite nice to read. It evokes the setting and the emotions well.

Neta Harris

Sunny

Amit kumar

Zoey Mikalatos

Manuel J. Rivera

Kali Olson

An alien ship rests over Water Island. For five years the people of the US Virgin Islands have lived with the Ynaa, a race of superadvanced aliens on a research mission they will not fully disclose. They are benevolent in many ways but meet any act of aggression with disproportional wrath. This has led to a strained relationship between the Ynaa and the local Virgin Islanders and a peace that cannot last. A year after the death of a young boy at the hands of an Ynaa, three families find themselves at the center of the inevitable conflict, witnesses and victims to events that will touch everyone and teach a terrible lesson.

The Lesson

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