Flashlight, by Susan Choi

Louisa is 10 when her father Serk disappears, presumed drowned, off the coast of Japan, where the family was visiting for a year on a University exchange from the US. The story jumps back to Louisa’s parents’ origins – Serk a Korean in Japan and Anne in small town America - and how they got together. Then it moves on to the aftermath of his loss before jumping ahead to the longer-term consequences for both Anne and Louisa. This is a complex and thoughtful tale that encompasses almost incomprehensible geopolitical events and their effects on the lives and relationships of ordinary people. The characters are often unlikeable and their behaviour sometimes difficult to understand or excuse, especially in the first half of the book. But they are always interesting and the story develops into an empathetic and moving exposition of injustice and resilience.