We Are Called to Rise

By: Laura McBride

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell, Kirby Heyborne, Madeleine Maby, Pete Simonelli

Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

"We never know how high we are / Till we are called to rise; And then, if we are true to plan, / Our statures touch the skies." (Emily Dickinson)

Beyond Las Vegas' casinos lies a boomtown where four lives can be brought together by one split-second choice.

In the predawn hours, a woman's marriage crumbles with a single confession. Across town, an immigrant family struggles to fit in and get by in the land of opportunity. Three thousand miles away, a soldier wakes up in Walter Reed hospital with the vague feeling that he’s done something awful. In a single moment, these disparate lives intersect. Faced with seemingly insurmountable loss, each person must decide whether to give in to despair, or to find the courage and resilience to rise.

We Are Called to Rise is a story about a child's fate. It is a story about families - the ones we have and the ones we make. It challenges us to think about our responsibilities to one another and reminds us that compassion and charity can rescue us, even in our darkest moment. It is a book that will break your heart and then put it back together.

©2014 Laura McBride (P)2014 Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Intertwining Lives Reveal Despair and Hope

This is a beautiful novel. The narration is flawless with four readers presenting the four intertwining lives whose experiences encompass this story. The novel explores the psychological and physical aftermath of war. Through knowing these four characters, the reader experiences many aspects of the struggles facing families and individuals as they move through life working to overcome and continue living after having looked death in the eye and while trying to carry on living after having faced horrendous injustices in various countries in our world. This is a contemporary novel which takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada and which looks at the family life in this city of bright lights and money while also exploring human loss, despair, and resilience. The four voices of the novel include the mother of a soldier, a social worker, a child of an immigrant family, and a soldier. This author was able to express the possibility of rebirth, of starting over after tragic losses, and of living with the guilt of surviving. I enjoyed the message of finding some healing through expressing kindness to others who are also suffering. I recommend this novel. I was engrossed throughout.

Very moving

Particularly loved the reader of the boy's sections, great job! Beautiful story with interconnected characters

Its really good!

I read reviews before I chose this book and now I am surprised by the bad ones. I enjoyed every minute!

Loved it!!

Couldn't get enough of each chapter, fell in love with each character. I cried, laughed, I felt as if I was in the book.

Wow! Lots to think about.

There is much to think about & talk about as a result of listening to this novel - PTSD, immigrant lives in America, the poor, the foster care system, and more. Excellent reading by the narrator & excellent story. Don't miss this one.

Beautifully written & narrated. Standing ovation!

A story that captivated me as much for its writing as it did by the story-telling narrators. Amazing performances. Truly memorable. I will search for these narrators in the future. I did not want this book to end. Bravo to Laura McBride and the cast.

Was pretty good

A nice story pretty good overall, nothing to write an expose on but I enjoyed it.

Boy oh boy

I hated this book during the first painfully slow half. But it picks up and wraps you in. It's tearful ending is perfect

Compelling story based on true events

The perspective of the 3 main characters was well developed. I liked the chapter separation that were well woven together. Like real life it was messy & in the end it wasn't neatly wrapped up. Heart wrenching all around, but a well written story makes you feel empathy for the characters.

Now I need to read an uplifting story.

BTW - I live in Henderson where this tragedy occurred & remember it with outrage. It didn't have to happen. It seemed that lack of patience on the part of the police to diffuse the situation & the family's language that deteriorated with their excitement played a bigger role than in the book. And of course, there was never anything in the local news about possible PTSD problems with the shooting officer, if in fact that was the case.

A good read that explores several timely topics without getting tangled in the Jahid quagmire.

Wonderful listen

This story was engaging on every level. Satisfying, moving, well read, and ultimately hopeful. Definitely worth purchasing.