Canada in the 1990s. The approaching referendum on Quebec sovereignty is threatening to cleave the country in two, while a family struggles with the aftermath of a tragedy that changes their lives forever.
After losing his parents, Steve Horvath is taken in by his aunt Paula. But how can a woman guide her teenaged nephew through the most tumultuous years of his life, when she faces her own crises? And how can a country mend a rift hundreds of years in the making?
Montreal in the mid-1990s sets the stage for the this thoughtful character study on the dynamics of identity, culture, and cohesion, of a family and country in turmoil.
“Ades broaches with humor, occasional banter, and deep sensitivity the complexity of embracing one’s identity amid cultural divides, socioeconomic struggles, discrimination, and governmental decisions that affect complicated families…How People See magnifies often overlooked familial nuances, challenging readers’ perceptions of cultural differences, existence.”
“[A]n astute novel about growth, identity, family connections, and the revolution that can happen when these are broken and changed.”