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Showing posts with label Historical Novels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Historical Novels. Show all posts
Thursday, December 03, 2020
MG Lighthouse Keeping Novel Another Intriguing Historical Novel in a Favorite-of-Mine Series
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Although helping at the lighthouse might not be a very "ladylike" thing to do, 15-year-old Amelia "Wickie" Martin loves aiding her father in his assistant lighthouse keeper duties. Her dad, a former captain, was stripped of his ship after helping an abolitionist and banished to remote Fenwick Island, Delaware. Wickie's mother is still bitter over the family's tarnished reputation and reduced financial situation. Wickie couldn't be happier. Living in a border state means everyone around her—including her parents—are hotly divided over the issue of slavery. It's only in the lighthouse that Wickie feels true peace. There, she can be herself, which means quietly supporting abolition and even finding her own ways to help the cause. While the Civil War tears her nation and her parents apart, can Wickie find a way to keep herself intact?
Scholastic started publishing the Dear America books—a series of middle-grade novels penned by various well-known authors written in diary format and centered around important historical events—in 1996, while I was a sophomore in college. I wish they had been in circulation when I was in elementary school because I would have eaten them up! Even as an adult, I enjoy these quick, intimate historical novels. I've read a number of them. When I was looking for a book set in Delaware for the Literary Escapes Reading Challenge, I came across A Light in the Storm by Karen Hesse. Although the book is more episodic than plot-driven, it made for an interesting read. I enjoyed learning about lighthouse keeping, something I've not encountered before in fiction. Hesse mentions in her Author's Note that Wickie was inspired by a real-life female Lightkeeper, Ida Lewis, whose careful watch saved many from dying at sea. I'd never heard of Lewis' heroic efforts, so that made A Light in the Storm even more fascinating. Also intriguing was looking at the Civil War from the position of someone living in a border state. That situation put a new spin on the subject for me. I did find Wickie's life—and thus her story—to be a sad, depressing one. For that reason and more, I liked but didn't love this novel.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other books in the Dear America series)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Tuesday, December 24, 2019
Are YOU Ready for Christmas?
Case in point: I was supposed to review Wings Like a Dove by Camille Eide today. Not only do I not have a review for you, but I haven't even read the book yet. I'm definitely going on the book blogger naughty list! However, I would like to share a spotlight because (1) I need to fulfill my commitment (at least partly) to the lovely folks over at Celebrate Lit! and (2) the book sounds like one I would really like. I'm planning to read it at some point, but not today. I haven't even finished my reading for the Cybils Awards and Round 1 decision-making is happening in a couple days. Bad, blogger! So, here you go with a spotlight:
Can the invisible walls that separate people ever come down?
In 1933, Anna Leibowicz is convinced that the American dream that brought her Jewish family here from Poland is nothing but an illusion. Her father has vanished. Her dreams of college can’t make it past the sweat-shop door. And when she discovers to her shame and horror that she’s with child, her mother gives her little choice but to leave her family. Deciding her best course of action is to try to find her father, she strikes out…hoping against hope to somehow redeem them both.
When Anna stumbles upon a house full of orphan boys in rural Indiana who are in desperate need of a tutor, she agrees to postpone her journey. But she knows from the moment she meets their contemplative, deep-hearted caretaker, Thomas Chandler, that she doesn’t dare risk staying too long. She can’t afford to open her heart to them, to him. She can’t risk letting her secrets out.
All too soon, the townspeople realize she’s not like them and treat her with the same disdain they give the Sisters of Mercy—the nuns who help Thomas and the boys—and Samuel, the quiet colored boy Thomas has taken in. With the Klan presence in the town growing ever stronger and the danger to this family increasing the longer she stays, Anna is torn between fleeing to keep them safe…and staying to fight beside them.
Oh, that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest…
Sounds intriguing, right? I've never read anything by Camille Eide, but Wings Like a Dove looks like a good place to start.
If you're interested in reading some real reviews of this historical novel, you can follow along on the book's blog tour by clicking on the links below:
KarenSueHadley, December 17
My Devotional Thoughts, December 17
Reflections From My Bookshelves, December 18
Mia Reads, December 18
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, December 19
Genesis 5020, December 19
Emily Yager, December 20
mypreciousbitsandmusings, December 20
Betti Mace, December 21
To Everything A Season, December 21
Christian Bookaholic, December 22
April Hayman, Author, December 22
For the Love of Literature, December 23
For The Love of Books, December 23
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 24
Bloggin’ ’bout Books, December 24
Adventures of a Travelers Wife, December 25
For Him and My Family, December 25
Christian Chick’s Thoughts, December 26
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 26
Locks, Hooks and Books, December 27
Deanne’s Book Thoughts, December 27
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, December 28
janicesbookreviews, December 28
Pause for Tales, December 29
Texas Book-aholic, December 29
A Reader’s Brain, December 30
Inklings and notions, December 30
Merry Christmas Eve!
Monday, April 15, 2019
Atmospheric, Affecting YA Novel Teaches Powerful Lessons About Fitting In and Standing Out
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Atlanta, Georgia, feels as foreign as the moon for Upper East Side native Ruth Robb. At first, the 16-year-old can't help comparing everything about her new home to New York City, where her family was complete and happy. Living in her grandparents' guesthouse in the sweltering South sans her beloved father, whose sudden death has left her numb with grief, will never feel right. Still, Ruth finds that she desperately wants to fit in with the "pastel posse," a group of wealthy debutantes whose lives revolve around weekly etiquette lessons, shopping for the perfect tea dress, and vying for the honor of being crowned Magnolia Queen. Ruth's mother and older sister eschew such frivolous frippery; is it so wrong that Ruth longs for that life with every beat of her shallow little heart?
It's 1958 and one thing stands in the way of Ruth "passing" as a member of this exclusive club—she's Jewish. Keeping her secret under wraps becomes more and more difficult as Ruth's eyes are slowly opened to the ugliness that lurks beneath the pastel posse's genteel veneer, a snake in the magnolia bushes that mirrors the tension simmering all over the South. With increasing demonstrations of discrimination, hate, and violence against Negroes, Jews, and other minorities happening all around her, Ruth finds herself caught between two worlds. When push comes to shove, which one will she choose?
In the Neighborhood of True by Susan Kaplan Carlton is an atmospheric, affecting YA novel that teaches some effective lessons about the dangers of conformity, the necessity of compassion, and the power of crusading for what is right. With plenty of fascinating historical details, the setting comes to vivid life, helping the reader really feel the tension, hypocrisy, and confusion reigning in Ruth's world. The characters are complex, the plot engaging, and the prose skilled. I whipped through this engrossing novel in a matter of hours, eager to know what was going to happen next. Not only is the story absorbing, but it's also relevant and thought-provoking. I enjoyed it.
(Readalikes: No specific titles are coming to mind. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, depictions of underage drinking, and sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of In the Neighborhood of True from the generous folks at Algonquin Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Engrossing Titanic Novel Brings Something New to the Table
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
As Titanic sinks into the inky deep, chaos reigns. Her luckiest passengers hunch in the few available lifeboats, others cling to floating debris trying to keep their heads above water, while still others are trapped inside the drowning ocean liner with no chance of escape. From Lifeboat 21, three women watch the horrific scene, terrified for loved ones left behind and for themselves, adrift on the open sea in the middle of a ghastly nightmare. They begin the journey as strangers, but their shared terror brings them together, binding them for the rest of their lives.
Each of the women harbors her own secrets and fears. Charlotte Digby, a beautiful 21-year-old pickpocket, lied her way onto Titanic in the hopes of starting a new life in America with the man she loves. In the aftermath of the disaster, she has the chance to reinvent herself completely—as long as no one discovers her real identity. Cavorting with her lover on Titanic has made Esme Harper, a bored housewife, happier than she's ever been. As desperately as she wants to get to land, she dreads returning to her staid life. Before the night is through, Anna Halversson—a Swedish farm girl—is in a position to get everything she's ever wanted. But how can she enjoy the victory if she's plagued with guilt over what she did to gain it?
When a sudden death reunites Charlotte, Esme, and Anna two decades later, each will have to come to terms with the choices they've made, the consequences they've reaped, and the secrets they've kept for twenty long years ...
Although I love books about Titanic, it's difficult to find one that brings something new to the table. By focusing more on the characters' pre- and post- Titanic lives than their onboard experience, On a Cold Dark Sea by Elizabeth Blackwell does just that. Her story people can carry the tale because they're all complex, flawed, and intriguing. Which isn't to say the plot isn't interesting; it is. Blackwell's solid, engaging prose also makes this novel stand out. Because of all these elements, I very much enjoyed this engrossing story about regret and redemption, choice and accountability, agony and authenticity.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Girl Who Came Home by Hazel Gaynor and The Glass Ocean by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for mild language (no F-bombs), violence, and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of On a Cold Dark Sea from Amazon with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Thursday, February 08, 2018
Dual Timeline Mystery/Romance Clean and Uplifting
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Boston, 2015—Two years ago, Anaya "Annie" David's life changed in an instant when a bomb exploded at the 2015 Boston Marathon. Although her injuries were relatively minor, she's plagued with guilt over the fact that her niece, Grace—whom Annie convinced to enter the race—lost a leg because of the bombing. Haunted by the traumatizing event, Annie has distanced herself from Grace and her livid mother. When she decides to try to repair the damage to these relationships, she makes a startling discovery in her sister's house that sets her on the road to finding the man who rescued her on the day of the bombing. She's been meaning to return the heirloom ring he loaned her, an antique-looking piece that has given her strength every day since she received it. When she meets handsome Brad Kilroy, the two begin researching the ring, which has a rich, surprising history.
Boston, 1770—Alone in a dangerous town, 17-year-old Liberty Caldwell has to find a way to survive. When she's offered a position as housemaid in a home where Redcoat officers live, she doesn't have much choice but to accept. She may be branded a traitor, but she has to look after herself until her brother arrives. Although she knows she shouldn't, Liberty becomes close to Alexander Smythe, a kind officer who protects her from his housemate, an older man with more sinister designs on Liberty. When the inevitable happens, she has to flee. She takes Alexander's family ring to remember him by—and to sell, if needed. In a city erupting with violence, she knows she must be strong. The ring lends her strength as she does what she must to survive.
Separated by centuries and united by an heirloom piece of jewelry, two Boston women wounded in traumatic circumstances must find the strength and resilience to survive their separate challenges and trials. Compelled to find out what happened to Liberty, Annie will look to the past for answers that will teach her about the redeeming power of hope, resilience, and love.
Freedom's Ring, a debut novel by Heidi Chiavaroli, tells an uplifting, faith-promoting story narrated by two strong women. I dig dual-timeline plots, although I often find the past stories interest me more than the present ones. This is the case with Freedom's Ring. Although I enjoyed the genealogical mystery-solving in Annie's day, I found her to be a bit dull. With not enough personality or tension in her relationship with Brad, her tale got a little too humdrum for me. Liberty's sections are much more exciting. While I liked, but didn't love, Freedom's Ring, I found it to be a clean, engaging story that is inspiring without being preachy. Chiavaroli's sophomore novel comes out in May and I'll definitely be giving it a go.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of dual-timeline books by Susan Meissner)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Sweeping Historical Pandemic Novel Sad But Compelling
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Living in a funeral home can be just as morbid as it sounds, but for the Bright family it represents a new beginning, a chance at a better life. Thomas and Pauline make the move to Philadelphia, miles away from their previous home, to provide a stable future for their three girls: Maggie, Willa, and Evelyn. While Thomas learns the mortuary business from his Uncle Fred, Pauline becomes adept at doing the deceased's hair and makeup. Although the girls are told to stay away from the business end of the home, 12-year-old Maggie is especially intrigued by her father's new job. She doesn't care if it's not a suitable interest for a young girl, she's fascinated by what goes on in the funeral home.
The Brights haven't been in town long before the mortuary starts filling up with bodies ravaged by the effects of a vicious sickness that is sweeping through the city. As the Spanish Flu crisis quickly becomes a pandemic, all of the Brights must pitch in to care for its victims. Even as their own family members fall prey to the illness, they soldier on. With conditions worsening all around them, Maggie and her mother even venture out into the frigid streets to administer to the homebound. It's on one of these missions that Maggie makes the snap decision to rescue an orphaned infant. Little Alex soon becomes the Brights' motivation to go on, their reason to hope for better days.
As the veil between life and death grows continually thinner, the Brights will discover what's most important and the lengths they will go to to protect the ones they love.
I've become a big fan of Susan Meissner's dual timeline novels that connect historical events with contemporary stories. Naturally, then, I was thrilled to receive an early copy of her newest book, As Bright As Heaven. I find pandemics like the 1918 Spanish Flu one fascinating, so I couldn't wait to dive in. Although the story feels very episodic, with no real plot to drive it, it's still a sweeping and compelling novel. It tells an achingly sad story that, despite its hopeful turn, remains sad. I'm trying to figure out why I didn't love As Bright As Heaven as much as Meissner's other books. I liked it, just didn't adore it like I wanted to. Maybe I would have fanciedd a dual timeline version better? I'm not sure, but in the end, I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as I wanted to. Bummer.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of A Death-Struck Year by Makiia Lucier; Like the Willow Tree by Lois Lowry; and Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of As Bright As Heaven from the generous folks at Berkley (a division of Penguin Random House). Thank you!
Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Unique and Lovely, Dolssa Is Another Julie Berry Gem
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
When her reputation as a prophetess becomes a threat to the Catholic Church, Dolssa de Stigata—an 18-year-old noblewoman—is sentenced to death by hanging. Although she manages to escape her grisly fate, she's hardly free. An inquisitor stalks her through the countryside, hunting for his prey with a determination dark and dangerous. Devoted to her beloved Jhesus, Dolssa prays for deliverance.
Like Dolssa, Botille Flasucra harbors a special gift. With an almost supernatural talent for matchmaking, the 17-year-old's services are much requested in the small town of Bajas. Botille uses her skills to supplement the money she and her sisters make from running the Three Pigeons tavern.
The fates of the two women intertwine when Botille discovers Dolssa lying half-dead by an isolated lagoon. Although no one wants to borrow trouble, Botille and her sisters rescue the delirious mystic. Hiding her in the tavern, they nurse Dolssa back to health. When they learn who she truly is, the sisters vow to protect her. As danger creeps ever closer to Bajas, the Flasucras begin to realize just how much they are risking, not just their own lives but those of everyone in the village. Is it worth it to shelter Dolssa and her outrageous claims? When the vengeful friar comes calling, what will happen to Botille and her sisters? To peaceful Bajas? Only one thing remains certain—no one will escape unscathed.
With only three books to her credit, Julie Berry is not a prolific writer (Edit: Turns out this statement is totally false. You can see all the books she's written listed on her website. I apologize for the error.). Which is a real bummer because I'm a huge fan. I've loved all her novels, her newest being just as unique and lovely as all the rest. While I can't see teens flocking to check out The Passion of Dolssa, I adored it. The rich, sophisticated story is told in gorgeous prose. Short vignettes narrated by various everymen and -women break up the narrative, adding interest, local color, and originality to the tale. Dolssa and Botille are intriguing narrators in their own right, but it's all the different voices that really plump this book up, making it stand out from its fellows. The recipient of numerous awards (including a Printz Honor designation and a recent Whitney Award for best YA novel by an LDS author), it's a gem that I can't stop recommending.
(Readalikes: I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of The Passion of Dolssa from Changing Hands Bookstore with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Clean, Compelling Adventure an Exciting Start to a Golden YA Series
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
"When there's gold to be had, you can't trust anyone. Not a single soul" (15%).
Like a dowser is drawn to water, Leah Westfall can sense gold. It's a handy skill to have. And a dangerous one. Although her peculiar magic helped the Westfalls buy their large Georgia homestead, Leah has to keep her abilities secret. If no one knows what the 15-year-old can do, no one can exploit her.
Then, Leah's parents are brutally murdered, their home ransacked. It's obvious that someone knows about the Westfalls' secret stash of gold. But who? When Leah's oily Uncle Hiram conveniently appears on the scene, Leah can't contain her disgust. She can't prove he's responsible for her parents' death, but that doesn't make it any less true. With Hiram as her guardian, Leah knows she'll never be free. She refuses to become his gold-finding pet.
Disguising herself as a boy, "Lee" takes off for sunny California, where she hopes to blend in with other prospectors hunting their fortunes. In a place where gold lust prevails, she should be able to camouflage her secret skill sufficiently. Leah's best friend, Jefferson McCauley, is somewhere along the trail; she prays that, somehow, fate will allow them to meet up again. In the meantime, she must fend for herself on a long, hard journey filled with dangers of every kind. With Hiram hot on her tail, it's a desperate run for her life. Can she escape her uncle's greedy clutches? Will she make it to California unscathed? And what of Jefferson? Can she find the boy who's always loved her in the vast wilderness of an untamed land? Anything can happen on the long, perilous trek—especially to a girl with a priceless, golden gift.
I love books like Walk on Earth a Stranger, the first novel in Rae Carson's Gold Seer Trilogy. Starring a brave, hard-working heroine, it's a story brimming over with action, adventure, romance and, most important of all, heart. Who cares if it's not the most original tale in the world? I loved it from start to finish. The story is engaging, the characters endearing (with a few exceptions), the historical details intriguing. It's an excellent novel that will appeal to teens and adults, while being clean enough to hand to tweens. Did I mention that I adored it? Well, I did.
(Readalikes: Like a River Glorious and Into the Bright Unknown (coming October 2017) by Rae Carson; also reminded me of Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee and Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of Walk On Earth a Stranger from the generous folks at HarperCollins via those at Edelweiss. Thank you!
Friday, December 02, 2016
Dust Bowl Novel-in-Verse Tells a Gritty, Unforgettable Tale
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
More than anything, 14-year-old Billie Jo Kelby wants to leave. Leave drought-choked Oklahoma. Leave the crumbling family farm. Leave her broken father. Leave behind the grief and guilt she carries over her mother's death. It's 1934; plenty of folks are abandoning their failing farms for brighter prospects out West. Billie Jo longs to follow. If only her hands hadn't been burned to useless stumps in the fire that killed her mother, she could make a living playing the piano. If only ifs weren't all she had.
As Billie Jo tries to eke out a life in a difficult, desolate landscape, she'll have to rely on her own cunning, bravery, and determination to survive. Fortunately, she has all of these in spades.
Told in free verse, Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse is a raw, powerful read that is as spare as it is evocative. The setting comes to life so vividly that you can feel the grit between your teeth, taste it in your throat, and feel it stinging your eyes. This overpowering imagery makes Out of the Dust truly unforgettable. Billie Jo, herself, is almost as compelling as her surroundings. She's courageous, real, and wholly sympathetic. Although this novel is written for young readers, it's not a gentle story. In fact, it's harsh, haunting, and heartbreaking. It's also an inspiring tale that will make you think long, long after you finish it. If you enjoy historical novels, I highly recommend this noteworthy Newbery winner.
(Readalikes: I haven't read any other children's books about the Dust Bowl, but Out of the Dust reminded me of adult novels like The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck and I Will Send Rain by Rae Meadows)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for disturbing subject matter (death, child abandonment, suicide, etc.)
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Gentle Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire/September 11th Story Thoughtful and Compelling
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
It's been ten years since the Twin Towers collapsed, killing hundreds of people including Taryn Michaels' husband. Although working at a specialty fabric store and raising her 9-year-old daughter have kept her busy, Taryn still grieves the man she lost too early. When a 9/11 anniversary story in the newspaper gives her a clue to solving the mystery that's haunted her for a decade, she leaps at the chance to do achieve some closure in the hopes of finally being able to move on with her life. As she traces the history of a lovely, antique scarf given to her by a heroic stranger, Taryn finds herself drawn in to a century-old story with strange similarities to her own.
In 1911, Clara Wood works as a nurse on Ellis Island. Living in the hospital dormitory means she rarely has to enter New York City, a place too haunted by memories of the man she loved and the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire that stole his life. It's while caring for a feverish patient who's mourning the recent death of his wife that Clara becomes intrigued by a colorful scarf bearing the name "Lily." As Clara tries to unravel its mystery, she makes startling discoveries about the article, its owner, and herself.
Two remarkable women—separated by a century, but united by a shared mission—will discover truth and rebirth in a city full of both hope and heartache.
After reading Margaret Peterson Haddix's Uprising, I wanted to learn more about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner came up in a Google search and I'm so glad it did. It's a compelling novel full of interesting characters with engrossing dilemmas. The story's gentle, but impacting. It's an enjoyable read and one that has stuck with me. This is my first Meissner book and I'm looking forward to exploring more of the author's work.
(Readalikes: Reminded me a little of Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs)
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Tuesday, March 01, 2016
Tense, Atmospheric Gilded Age Mystery One of My Favorite Reads So Far This Year
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
"If you're going to bury the past, bury it deep, girl. Shallow graves always give up their dead" (187).
Jo Montfort is an atypical girl living an average life—at least for a wealthy society girl in the Gilded Age. The 17-year-old is beautiful, cultured, and expected to marry a man whose blood is as blue as her own. Although she's practically engaged to her best childhood friend, Bram Aldrich is a man who "inspired admiration rather than passion" (103). Jo knows she would have a comfortable, happy life with him. Still, she longs for excitement, for freedom, for something more than the banality of endless tea parties, balls, and child rearing. She yearns to be a reporter, to make a difference like her hero, Nellie Bly. Of course, such desires are entirely inappropriate for a well-bred woman. Jo will never voice them; instead, she'll wed Bram, bear his children, and settle into married life with grace, just like every other young woman with whom she associates.
Then, Jo's world shatters utterly and irrevocably. Her beloved father, the successful owner of several prominent New York businesses, accidentally shoots himself while cleaning his gun. When Jo overhears Eddie Gallagher, a dashing young reporter, call it suicide, she's outraged. Charles Montfort would never do such a thing! Jo begs the handsome newspaperman to help her find the truth about her father's death, never suspecting just how big of a mess she's getting herself into. To find out what really happened, she'll have to cavort with the city's seediest residents, combing its slimy underbelly for clues no one wants unearthed. Being spotted in public without a chaperone, let alone with a low-class reporter (or worse) could mean the permanent ruin of Jo's reputation. And yet, she can't help herself. She must clear her father's good name—because no matter what, no matter what she finds, she has to believe he still has one. Jo can't be wrong, she just can't.
The closer Jo and Eddie come to finding the truth, the riskier their partnership becomes. Not only are their movements being tracked by goons with murderous intentions, but the damning eyes of society are always on them. As Jo's own eyes are opened to the realities of life outside (and inside) her gleaming world, she begins to understand what she really wants and— most dangerous of all—what she doesn't.
Can Jo uncover the truth about her father's death? Was it really an accident? Suicide? Or murder? And after her Nellie Bly-ish pursuits, can she return to her gilded life? Will she ever be the same again?
There's so much to love about These Shallow Graves, Jennifer Donnelly's newest YA novel. Tense, atmospheric, and compelling, it's a page turner that will leave you breathless. I literally (yes, literally) could not put it down. Jo is a brave, sympathetic heroine, one whose ignorance and subsequent awakening feels realistic. The minor characters are likewise complex, making the whole cast intriguing. While I did guess some of the story's turns, several of the twists caught me by surprise. All of these elements combined to make a thoroughly enjoyable novel, one of my favorite reads of the year so far. Trust me, you don't want to miss this one.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't really think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, sexual innuendo, and disturbing subject matter (prostitution, domestic violence, drug/alcohol abuse, poverty, etc.)
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Why Cage a Grave? The Possibilities Are Endlessly Creepy ...
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Verity Boone hasn't been back to the small mountain town of Catawissa, Pennsylvania, since she left it behind as a toddler. Raised by an aunt in Boston after her mother's death, Verity barely remembers "home." Still, the 17-year-old is excited to return. In Catawissa, she'll finally be able to meet her fiancee who, judging by his romantic letters, is absolutely perfect.
Verity is confused by the cool reception she receives in Catawissa—not just from the father she barely knows, but also from his housekeeper, Verity's intended, and pretty much everyone else in town—until she discovers the source of their apprehension. Outside the village's cemetery gates are two graves, one belonging to Verity's mother, the other to her mother's sister. Unlike those inside the cemetery, these are caged. The sight sends shivers down Verity's spine. No one in town will explain the cages except to say that, sometimes, Catawissa's dead refuse to stay put. Verity can't believe the town gossip—that her mother and aunt were dangerous witches who needed to be imprisoned even in death—but she's still unnerved by the idea. What is the real reason for the caged graves? Who was Verity's mother, really? And is it true, what the townsfolk say about restless spirits? In between trying to understand her confounding fiancee, ignoring her growing feelings for another man, and getting to know her distant father, Verity intends to find out the answers to the town's deepest, darkest mysteries.
The Caged Graves, a haunting historical mystery by Dianne K. Salerni, was inspired by the intriguing existence of two caged graves in present-day Catawissa. No one knows the reason for the cages, but the possibilities are spooky indeed. Salerni's imagined story definitely provides a few chills, although it's more of a mystery than a horror show. While the tale is predictable in some ways, it's surprising in others, making it on-the-whole, a very compelling novel. The ending did disappoint a bit—still, I enjoyed this one.
(Readalikes: Reminded me a little of The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, scary images, and mild sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
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Readin'
Beach Thriller by Jamie Day
Listenin'
Hidden Rooms by Kate Michaelson
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Sweet Spot by Kemper Donovan4 hours ago
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2026 Goodreads Reading Challenge
2024 - Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction
2023 - Middle Grade Fiction
2022 - Middle Grade Fiction
2021 - Middle Grade Fiction
2020 - Middle Grade Fiction
