Fragile Courage
Casazza’s debut novel Fragile Courage tells the story of Melina who struggles to align her bold dreams with her immigrant family’s expectations and Margot whose family expects nothing short of noteworthy accomplishments from their only child. At first resisting each other, their paths converge and together they discover the real meaning of courage. Its focus on cultural conflict and family tension is rich with ideas for contemporary book club discussions.
EXCERPT
“Pressing her fingers hard against her cheeks to stop the tears, Melina barely made out the blurred shapes of Mamá and Papá as the bus pulled away from the station. She folded herself into the sticky, plastic seat and squinted out the rear window until they were just fuzzy specks on the horizon. At the bus stop, they seemed so small. Mamá held on to Papá as if her whole being depended on it, while Papá summoned all the strength his tired body had to offer, just to hold her up. He wore his mask of courage, the one he used when the family heard a strange knock on the door, frightened it might be the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.”