"Masterfully woven together..." Transplants reveals the lives of two modern-day Americans, Charlotte and Theo, who are suffocating in their Georgia town, so they escape—one to Italy, the other to Paraguay. Their ensuing disasters...marriage and divorce, being shot, attacked by jaguars, a miscarriage, parasitic disease...were long ago shaped by a series of transplants in these countries. Germans inserted themselves in Paraguay before and after WWII, California rootstock was massively transplanted to saved the rotting European vineyards in 1890, a German man's son becomes the dictator of Paraguay, and Theo eventually learns he needs real heart transplant. Adaptation and tolerance may seem rare, but it does exist. Charlotte and Theo are immigrants, hope to build lives in their new countries, and the people there welcome them, take care of them through their traumas, providing friendship, healthcare, and sharing the little food they have. A vivid story of how the traditions, as well as the underbelly, of seemingly fabulous romantic places are woven into the lives of those who come to call them home. Book club discussions of Transplants are usually paired with wine from north Italy (Gewürztraminer or Lagrein), where Charlotte becomes a winemaker. If you're a fan of Barbara Kingsolver, you'll find a new favorite with Transplants. Learn more about J.G. Shull by following on @jessadige