Tag: genre: historical fiction

• Book Review: “Walk on Earth a Stranger” by Rae Carson

  Posted at 5:45 am by Laura, on January 28, 2016

  Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson

  Publisher: Greenwillow Books
  Published: September 2015
  Genre: young adult, historical fiction
  ISBN: 9780062242914
  Goodreads: 3.91
  Rating: ★★★

  Lee Westfall has a strong, loving family. She has a home she loves and a loyal steed. She has a best friend—who might want to be something more.

  She also has a secret.

  Lee can sense gold in the world around her. Veins deep in the earth. Small nuggets in a stream. Even gold dust caught underneath a fingernail. She has kept her family safe and able to buy provisions, even through the harshest winters. But what would someone do to control a girl with that kind of power? A person might murder for it.

  When everything Lee holds dear is ripped away, she flees west to California—where gold has just been discovered. Perhaps this will be the one place a magical girl can be herself. If she survives the journey.

  Georgia was the place to be for gold miners before word got around that California was filled with the precious metal. Leah Westfall’s family were just fine in their town — until someone got a whiff of her secret and murdered her parents. To protect her secret and run from the one person her parents trusted, Leah disguises as a boy and sets off on the Oregon Trail to California. Passing for a boy comes fairly easily on the trail, what with Leah comfortable with hard labor and harsh conditions, but some secrets can be too burdensome to bear alone.

  This is most definitely more historical fiction than fantasy. Leah — Lee, as she’s called by friends and as a boy — may be able to sense gold, and that sense comes in handy a few times throughout her travels on the harsh trail, but even without her uncanny ability the story still stands. She’s a hardworking, strong, determined, no-nonsense kind of character, and that’s enough to help her get by on her frightening journey from Georgia to Missouri, to joining her friend and a company to travel with from Missouri to California.

  The evocative writing and developed characters kept me reading, despite the lack of magic in the story. Lee finds being a boy liberating and difficult all at once. People listen to what she says, they let her do what she wants — they trust her mind and body without question. But she doesn’t like to lie, she feels lonely by keeping such a big secret from the women in her company, and she’s not sure who she really is: Leah or Lee. Thankfully her good friend, Jefferson, is there to remind her she can be both, is both.

  Canadians, Germans, a preacher and his wife, the Joyners (a family that hired Lee from the beginning on a flatboat to Missouri — keep your eye on Mrs. Joyner), college students, herders, and veterans all make up the company Lee and Jefferson join in Missouri. They all have their reasons to go to California or Oregon, but they tend to work together for the sake of keeping each other (or even, selfishly, themselves) safe. Everything I remember seeing so early on in The Oregon Trail computer game cropped up, too: cholera, measles, wandering children, stampede of buffalo. You name it, it happened. It made me wonder if I could ever give up everything like those pioneers did for the sake of a new life. I’m not sure I’m made of such tough stuff.

  In the end, this felt like a solid standalone adventure novel. It’s a story about a journey, from start to finish. Every single day of it, from sunrise to sunset, all the joys and troubles, laughter and heartache. A part of me was bummed there was so little magic — I was promised historical fantasy, and this delivered historical. Nothing wrong with that; this is an excellent historical. But it is not historical fantasy. Upon realizing this is part of a trilogy, I’m looking forward to seeing how the remaining cast of characters, and Lee’s gold-sensing abilities, play out in the future books. (I’ve got my eye on you, Mrs. Joyner.) Maybe the fantasy elements amp up later on.

  

  This book qualifies as book 1 of 12 of the “Rock My TBR” Challenge, hosted by Sarah @ The YA Book Traveler, in an effort to read more books off my overflowing TBR bookcase. 

  Posted in books, Reviews 2016, Rock My TBR | 5 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: historical fiction, genre: young adult, review, rock my TBR

• Book Review: “The Case of the Girl in Grey” by Jordan Stratford (ARC)

  Posted at 4:50 am by Laura, on January 12, 2016

  The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency: The Case of the Girl in Grey by Jordan Stratford

  Publisher: Knopf BFYR
  Publishing Date: January 26
  Genre: middle grade, historical fiction, mystery
  ISBN: 9780385754446
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★.5

  The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency was supposed to be a secret constabulary, but after the success of their first case, all of London knows that Lady Ada and Mary are the girls to go to if you have a problem.

  Their new case is a puzzle indeed. It involves a horrible hospital, a missing will, a hasty engagement, and a suspiciously slippery servant.

  But Mary’s stumbled onto a mystery of her own. She spotted a ghostly girl in a grey gown dashing through the park. A girl who is the spitting image of their new client.

  The two cases must be linked . . . or else there’s a perfectly supernatural explanation.

  Ada and Mary have two new detectives in their agency — their sisters — whether they like it or not. But the sisters prove to be of assistance when another case crops up, one that requires understanding the class system and social etiquette. But Mary is certain this case may be linked to an almost supernatural one she and Charles stumbled upon: a girl in grey, quite distressed, and one who seems to know a thing or two about the case the Wollstonecraft Detective Agency is working on.

  I love how Stratford manages to share bits and pieces of the true Ada and Mary (and Charles and Claire and Percy) in his mystery novels for MG readers. We know what these children and young adults become later on in life, and though there’s some fudging with the timelines, it’s all excellently written and fun.

  This case echoes another Wilkie Collins book, The Woman in White. It also has more character development for our adorable protagonists. Ada is obsessed with codes, which becomes incredibly helpful in solving this case. Mary is growing up and it appears she’s becoming chummy with Percy (*squeal*). But you can always rely on Ada to be awkward with people and for Mary to point it out and smooth over. Some things never change.

  Cute, clever, and darker than the first, this next installment of the Wollstonecraft mystery series is a bit more gothic and a tad less humorous. As I’m familiar with Woman in White, I knew within the first 30 pages which direction the book was going, but it’s still an excellent introduction to gothic for MG readers. Can’t wait for more!

  Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this book from Knopf BFYR for review!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2016 | 2 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: gothic, genre: historical fiction, genre: middle grade, genre: mystery, review

• Top Five Books of 2015

  Posted at 5:05 am by Laura, on December 20, 2015

  

  The most difficult post: selecting five fantastic books from the 66, as of December 20th, I read this year! Thankfully, the season rewind helped me narrow down my favorites from the year even further.

  

  

  

  A Madness So Discreet || Daughter of the Forest || Into the Dim

  A MADNESS SO DISCREET by Mindy McGinnis is, by far, the best YA book I read this year. Historically set, a close analyzation of mental illness and suffrage, and a thrilling mystery throughout. Also? No romance. YA can be successful without romance, folks.

  DAUGHTER OF THE FOREST by Juliet Marillier because I can’t get enough of Marillier and she needs to be on every top list ever ever ever.

  INTO THE DIM by Janet B Taylor is not available to the public yet (not till March!), nor have I posted a review for it yet (not till February!), but wow. This was the answer to a YA Outlander, with a more scientific/less-fantasy spin.

  

  

  Under a Painted Sky || The Royal We

  UNDER A PAINTED SKY by Stacey Lee grabbed me from the very first line. Simply written, an unusual (“unusual” in that it’s rarely written about) point in American history, with a variety of characters and backgrounds. An absolute joy to read — and I can’t wait to read Lee’s future work!

  THE ROYAL WE by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan is purely my candy choice. It’s fun, it’s funny, and it was an immediate winner for this royal-phile. You could call it my guilty pleasure, if you want. I loved it.

  Honorable mentions: The Lake House by Kate Morton, The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord, All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven.

  Which books made it to your Top Books of 2015 list?

  Posted in books, Update Post | 9 Comments | Tagged books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, genre: fantasy, genre: historical fiction, genre: romance, genre: young adult, top five books

• Book Review: “The Boundless” by Kenneth Oppel

  Posted at 4:33 am by Laura, on November 30, 2015

  The Boundless by Kenneth Oppel

  Publisher: Simon & Schuster BFYR
  Published: May 2015
  Genre: middle grade, adventure, historical fiction
  ISBN: 9781442472891
  Goodreads: 3.87
  Rating: ★★★

  The Boundless, the greatest train ever built, is on its maiden voyage across the country, and first-class passenger Will Everett is about to embark on the adventure of his life! When he ends up in possession of the key to a train car containing priceless treasures, he becomes the target of sinister figures from his past.

  In order to survive, Will must join a traveling circus, enlisting the aid of Mr. Dorian, the ringmaster and leader of the troupe, and Maren, a girl his age who is an expert escape artist. With villains fast on their heels, can Will and Maren reach Will’s father and save The Boundless before someone winds up dead?

  The Boundless is the longest train in the world, and it’s taking its maiden voyage across Canada with Will’s father as the driver. Will and his father weren’t always first-class passengers though. Mr Everett was once a breakman, assisting on the railroad  and hopping between cars. He and Will lived through a devastating avalanche, one with events that’s coming back to haunt Will on The Boundless. To save himself before he or his father gets murdered, Will must join the traveling circus on the train before it’s too late.

  There’s something about train stories I find fascinating and incredible. It’s both a stable and moving setting, a character on its own. When you have a train that’s 7 miles long like The Boundless, you know suspense is going to be a part of the story. Any time the train is moving, so is the plot. Any time the train stops, an insurmountable build-up of tension occurs, and you can’t help but hold your breath in anticipation of what’s to come. This book is steeped in Canadian cultural history, so that and the mountains and forests the train zooms past is as much of a character as the train, too.

  Will and Maren, a girl in the traveling circus, are caught up in two different plots that have one ultimate goal: to save or kill Will’s father. They’re busy running from the villains — disguised breakmen angered by events that happened three years prior in the avalanche — as well as nabbing a unique, magical canvas for the ringmaster Mr. Dorian (I couldn’t help but wonder if there was a bizarre Dorian Gray connection…there isn’t). If they can find the canvas, they can save Will’s father. If they cannot, the breakmen just might harm all the passengers on The Boundless.

  One issue I had with the book is how black-and-white the villains were. They’re your standard big bulky bullies with guns and knives and clubs, chasing after children and grunting and refusing to shave or clean up. Gruff, scruffy men. Your typical DANGER, I AM BAD kind of character. I was hoping for something with a bit more depth, so I’m not sure if it’s the thriller part of this novel that prevented the full potential, or if it’s because this is middle grade. However, there was something about this novel I absolutely adored: Will’s love for art. He sketches and paints, he’s an artist with ambitions to study art in school and receive an art education. He’s a sensitive soul with a curious mind in awe with the world around him. While Mr Everett tries to dampen his son’s artistic spirit, saying it’s “feminine” and not “masculine” enough of a profession, Will refuses to listen and chases after his dreams. That was absolutely lovely to read.

  A good middle grade thriller with a dash of magic and a whole lot of great Canadian history. Definitely pick this up if you need a speedy read in the cooler months. Time will zoom by!

  This qualifies as book #3 in my autumn reading challenge.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 0 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: action/adventure, genre: historical fiction, genre: middle grade, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “Velvet Undercover” by Teri Brown

  Posted at 4:45 am by Laura, on November 16, 2015

  Velvet Undercover by Teri Brown

  Publisher: Balzer + Bray
  Published: October 20
  Genre: young adult, historical fiction, mystery
  ISBN: 9780062321275
  Goodreads: 3.71
  Rating: ★★★★★

  Samantha Donaldson’s family has always done its duty for the British Crown. In the midst of World War I, seventeen-year-old Sam follows in their footsteps, serving her country from the homefront as a messenger for the intelligence organization MI5. After her father disappears on a diplomatic mission, she continues their studies of languages, mathematics, and complex puzzles, hoping to make him proud.

  When Sam is asked to join the famed women’s spy group La Dame Blanche, she’s torn—while this could be an unbelievable adventure, how can she abandon her mother, who has already lost a husband? But when her handlers reveal shocking news, Sam realizes she can’t refuse the exciting and dangerous opportunity.

  Her acceptance leads her straight into the heart of enemy territory on a mission to extract the most valuable British spy embedded in Germany, known only as Velvet. Deep undercover in the court of Kaiser Wilhelm II, Sam must navigate the labyrinthine palace and its many glamorous—and secretive—residents to complete her assignment. In a place where personal politics are treacherously entangled in wartime policy, can Sam find Velvet before it’s too late?

  Samantha is a knack for languages and mathematics, skills her father taught her ever since she was a little girl. She is approached after a competition by a member of MI5, and offered a position within a secret women’s spy group La Dame Blanche. With her intelligence and skill set, she could be an asset to her country in this endless war. But once Samantha reaches Berlin and is immersed in the kaiser’s court to find and rescue another agent under the codename Velvet, she realizes there are more conspiracies, lies, and hidden agendas than she could ever comprehend.

  Safety of any kind is just an illusion.

  My mind is blown. Samantha Donaldson is a wonderful character to narrate this intense journey. She’s intelligent and quick, similar to Hermione Granger, but she has a sense of warmth and empathy that reminded me so much of Gretchen in Anne Blankman’s Prisoner of Night and Fog. There are several layers and threads and plots in this book, and Samantha’s wicked-fast brain is able to see the evidence before her and tries to bring the clues together like solving a code. Her moments of weakness as a spy are quickly realized — and I was very grateful to see that she did slip as often as she did (we’re only human! And she’s only seventeen!) — and her strengths create heart-pounding scenes and urgently move the plot along. She’s the star of the novel through and through and kept me on the edge of my seat!

  “…people are human beings no matter where they’re from.”

  WWI — its purpose, its beginnings, the endless years, the advancements in warfare technology, and everything that comes with spying at the turn of the century — was an absolutely perfect and frightening setting for this. The future of the world felt palpable as well, with the distrust of the Germans and the rocky foundation of figuring out whom to confide when news begins to travel so quickly. If I were a teacher, I could easily create a whole lesson around Velvet Undercover (WWI); Prisoner of Night and Fog and Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke (Germany 1930s); Book Thief, Code Name Verity, and Between Shades of Gray (WWII); and The Boy on the Bridge (Cold War).

  I feel as if I’m losing who I really am. 

  Imagine being a spy! You could be caught at any moment, tortured and/or put to death instantly. You could find your information rather quickly (in which case, is that good or bad? Is it valid?) or it could take ages and require an immense acting stamina. How do you know the people you’re informing are telling you the truth, that they’re on your side? Or, on the other hand, how do you know the people you’re obtaining information from is on your side? Who is an innocent civilian versus another spy? The blending of information and personalities takes a toll on Samantha, and watching her come apart at the seams (much like Cassie did in Tana French’s The Likeness as an undercover cop) can only give us a glimpse into the true horrors of that position.

  You must read this book.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 4 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: historical fiction, genre: mystery, genre: young adult, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “Flights and Chimes and Mysterious Times” by Emma Trevayne

  Posted at 6:45 am by Laura, on October 28, 2015

  Flights and Chimes and Mysterious Times by Emma Trevayne

  Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
  Published: May 2014
  Genre: middle grade, historical fiction, steampunk
  ISBN: 9781442498792
  Goodreads: 3.65
  Rating: ★★★

  Ten-year-old Jack Foster has stepped through a doorway and into quite a different London.

  Londinium is a smoky, dark, and dangerous place, home to mischievous metal fairies and fearsome clockwork dragons that breathe scalding steam. The people wear goggles to protect their eyes, brass grill insets in their nostrils to filter air, or mechanical limbs to replace missing ones.

  Over it all rules the Lady, and the Lady has demanded a new son—a perfect flesh-and-blood child. She has chosen Jack.

  Jack’s wonder at the magic and steam-powered marvels in Londinium lasts until he learns he is the pawn in a very dangerous game. The consequences are deadly, and his only hope of escape, of returning home, lies with a legendary clockwork bird.

  The Gearwing grants wishes—or it did, before it was broken—before it was killed. But some things don’t stay dead forever.

  Jack adores mechanical things. He takes apart clocks just to see the insides, and puts them back together in pristine order. His mother does not find that interesting, but an older man with strange glasses does, and implores Jack’s mother to allow him to take Jack as an apprentice. Little does Jack know that this man is an accomplice for the Lady of Londinium, and when Jack stumbles through a doorway into the smoky, clockwork city, he finds he’s the center of a dangerous plot.

  What a creative, whimsical tale. It reminded me a bit of Alastair Grim’s Odditorium with its steampunk elements and curious protagonists. I am not sure what I was expecting — despite the publisher’s summary stating it exactly on the jacket — but I enjoyed Jack’s adventure and character growth. This is a tale about a child who wanted nothing more than to be accepted and loved for his curious mind, but then then received it by way of dark intentions. It makes the last line of this book all the more powerful.

  All in all, this fits the bill for the kind of MG books I enjoy. One or two things irked me a bit and knocked down the rating, but they’re so nit-picky it’s almost not worth mentioning. Trevayne is an excellent storyteller, but the writing style took a while for me to fall into. That, in turn, influenced the pacing and plot of the story. While I really enjoyed Jack’s scenes with the mechanic and his wind-up girl (my favorites are with them, actually!), I itched for adventure and the Gearwing. By the time the Gearwing entered the picture, the plot sped along and raced to the end.

  If you’re looking for a standalone historical fantasy that makes for a quick read, Flights and Chimes and Mysterious Times is an enchanting book that you must try. Maybe you’ll fall more in love with the writing style, and sink so deeply into the book that Jack’s predicament and the tragedy of the Gearwing hits you right in the feels.

  This qualifies as book #2 in my autumn reading challenge.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 1 Comment | Tagged book review, books, genre: fantasy, genre: historical fiction, genre: middle grade, review

• Mini Reviews IV

  Posted at 7:12 am by Laura, on October 15, 2015

  Mini Reviews

  Quick, bite-sized reviews of fast, enjoyable reads!
  A penny for thoughts, a snappy two-cent reflection! 

  

  A Little in Love by Susan Fletcher

  Publisher: Chicken House
  Published: August 2015
  Genre: young adult, historical fiction
  ISBN: 9780545829601
  Rating: ★★★
  Summary: Paris, 1832. A girl lies alone in the darkness, clutching a letter to her heart. Eponine remembers being a child: her swing and the peach tree, and the baby brother she loved. But mostly she remembers being miserable. Taught to lie and cheat, and to hate the one girl, Cosette, who might have been her friend. Now, at sixteen, the two girls meet again, and Eponine has one more chance. But what is the price of friendship—the love of a boy?

  Mini Review: Eponine’s story in Les Mis is probably my favorite, only because life is both wonderful and tragic for her. She manages to find love and passion in the midst of hatred, hunger, and revolution. A hopeless romantic to the core. Fletcher’s book shares Eponine’s childhood up to her death, her life with a cold, harsh family and how she is both jealous and admiring of Cosette. She’s a complex character, and through Fletcher’s simple writing Eponine manages to convey so much emotion. You want nothing but love for this poor creature.

  This qualifies as book #7 in my resolution to read 10 library books in 2015. 

  The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood

  Publisher: Balzer + Bray 
  Published: March 2010
  Genre: middle grade, historical fiction
  ISBN: 9780061791109
  Rating: ★★★
  Summary: Found running wild in the forest of Ashton Place, the Incorrigibles are no ordinary children. Luckily, Miss Penelope Lumley is no ordinary governess. Though she is eager to instruct the children in Latin verbs and the proper use of globes, first she must eliminate their canine tendencies. But who are these three wild creatures? Will Penelope be able to teach the Incorrigibles table manners and socially useful phrases in time for Lady Constance’s holiday ball? 

  Mini Review: This felt like a child’s version of Jane Eyre meeting Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. Wood occasionally talks to the reader, explaining grammar and offering nuggets of wisdom as little asides, before diving back into Penelope’s journey with the three wild children on this vast estate. What I loved most — and found a great deal of humor in — was Penelope’s teaching method for the children (Pavlovian method, anyone?), and how the children worked so hard to be tame while Lady Constance falls to pieces and turns wild. This is an excellent autumnal read, too, and it ends right at Christmas. A quick read, entertaining, and I’m curious to see what’s in store in the next book!

  This qualifies as book #1 in my autumn reading challenge.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 0 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: historical fiction, genre: middle grade, genre: young adult, goodreads, mini review

• Book Review: “The Lake House” by Kate Morton (ARC)

  Posted at 5:35 am by Laura, on October 7, 2015

  The Lake House by Kate Morton 

  Publisher: Atria Books
  Publishing Date: October 20
  Genre: adult fiction, historical fiction, mystery
  ISBN: 9781451649321
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★★

  Living on her family’s gorgeous lakeside estate in Cornwall, England, Alice Edevane is a bright, clever, inquisitive, innocent, and precociously talented fourteen-year-old who loves to write stories. But the mysteries she pens are no match for the one her family is about to endure…

  One midsummer’s eve, after a beautiful party drawing hundreds of guests to the estate has ended, the Edevanes discover that their youngest son, Theo, has completely disappeared. Vanished without a trace. What follows is a tragedy that tears the family apart in ways they never imagined, leaving their estate as empty as their sunken hearts.

  Nearly sixty years later, having enjoyed a long, successful career as an author, Alice is now eighty years old and living in London. Theo’s case has never been solved, though Alice still harbors a suspicion as to the culprit. Miles away, Sadie Sparrow, a young detective in the London police force, is staying at her grandfather’s house in Cornwall. While out walking one day, she stumbles upon the old estate—now crumbling and covered with vines, clearly abandoned long ago. Her curiosity is sparked and sets off a series of events that will bring her and Alice together and reveal shocking truths about a past long gone…yet more present than ever.

  Alice Edevane is a mystery writer in the making, plotting out stories and taking notes in a tiny journal she carries with her everywhere. But she could never conjure — let alone solve — the mystery that would plague her family for the rest of her life. The youngest Edevane, Theo, disappears in the middle of a massive Midsummer’s Eve party, never to be seen again. Generations later, Sadie Sparrow, a London detective on leave for overstepping boundaries in a child abandonment case, stumbles across the estate in Cornwall while visiting her grandfather. The mystery of the missing Edevane fills her mind, bringing her right to award-winning mystery writer A.C. Edevane’s doorstep.

  First off, all hail Kate Morton. Lindsey, Morgan, Jessie, Katie, and I had a wonderful readalong with this book. Feel free to browse #KMflails! Morton delivers a fantastic novel yet again, only more intricately plotted, more points of view, more timelines than ever before. While House at Riverton and The Secret Keeper are still my favorites, Morton would never disappoint me.

  The surprise narrator of the story was Eleanor, Alice’s mother. She was a surprise because, well, she’s not mentioned once in the publisher summary. Yet her part in the mystery is key, and she’s an incredibly intriguing character. Her own growth across the book was palpable, and my heart ached for her, the poor mother with the missing boy. What a fantastic storyline for her. Pay attention to Eleanor!

  Alice’s narrative, at least in her teen years, was rather irksome. She reminded me of Briony in Atonement — self-entitled author-in-the-making, devising up plots and stories behind every individual and muddling it within a crime scene. I nearly wanted to wring her neck when her young narrative popped up. But older Alice? Quietly hilarious and witty. She’s that sassy grandmother I’m sure everyone wants in life. I nearly envisioned her as a modern day Agatha Christie.

  Sadie’s narrative was frustrating at first — why is she on leave? why does she feel guilty? who are these people she keeps mentioning? what do they have to do with the case that got her into trouble? why does the Edevane story bother her so much? — but, as Morton always does, you’re brought around to understand all the hidden layers when Sadie feels its appropriate to expose them.

  I can’t say too much without exposing the mystery. But this is a classic Morton piece, where a family mystery tied to a beautiful home all come together in the end. It’s never picture-perfect, but it’s bound to break your heart. It’s such a joy to experience reading all these parallel narratives and how that interconnect up to the final conclusion. I’m looking forward to this hitting the shelves!

  Thank you, NetGalley, for providing this book from Atria Books for review!

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 3 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, genre: fiction, genre: gothic, genre: historical fiction, genre: mystery, goodreads, review

• Book Review: “A Madness So Discreet” by Mindy McGinnis (ARC)

  Posted at 5:45 am by Laura, on October 2, 2015

  A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis

  Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
  Publishing Date: October 6
  Genre: young adult, historical fiction, mystery, thriller
  ISBN: 9780062320865
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★★★

  Grace Mae knows madness.

  She keeps it locked away, along with her voice, trapped deep inside a brilliant mind that cannot forget horrific family secrets. Those secrets, along with the bulge in her belly, land her in a Boston insane asylum.

  When her voice returns in a burst of violence, Grace is banished to the dark cellars, where her mind is discovered by a visiting doctor who dabbles in the new study of criminal psychology. With her keen eyes and sharp memory, Grace will make the perfect assistant at crime scenes. Escaping from Boston to the safety of an ethical Ohio asylum, Grace finds friendship and hope, hints of a life she should have had. But gruesome nights bring Grace and the doctor into the circle of a killer who stalks young women. Grace, continuing to operate under the cloak of madness, must hunt a murderer while she confronts the demons in her own past.

  If being silent over a terrible secret makes Grace Mae a madwoman, then she’ll resign to the title and live peacefully away from the man who made her life a living hell. She’s discovered by criminal psychologist, one who looks at crime scenes differently from the police and helps nab the culprit. With Grace’s help, they work together within an ethical Ohio asylum to hunt down a murderer who stalks and rapes young women. In doing so, Grace’s past comes back to haunt her, and the madness she didn’t think she was capable of takes hold.

  “Sometimes the loveliest places harbor the worst monsters.”*

  Holy wow, the triggers. This is one incredibly dark, twisted YA that grapples with the definition of sanity. Rape is a prevalent topic, and assault is detailed, so if either of these bother you, then approach this book with caution.

  “[…] I’ve smelled you, smelled the wrongness of all that’s been done to you by hands familiar and those of strangers. You chose to stop acknowledging a world that has treated you foully. What’s saner than that?”

  Grace’s journey as a rape victim and a woman wrongly placed in an insane asylum, is absolutely remarkable. My favorite moments in this book are when she and Dr. Thornhollow discuss insanity. I find it one of the most fascinating things in history, the way psychologists treated humans in the beginning years, how it’s changed, how it’s more ethical now than then, how we still put such stigma on individuals with mental illness or who are different from the “norm.” Toss in the fact Grace, a woman, is considered insane, dull, and “not all there,” the men in her life (apart from Thornhollow) treat her as less than property.

  “Most men are always so proper in the presence of a lady. To hear men speak to other men as they would if I weren’t there was enlightening.”
  “And not to my gender’s credit, I’m sure,” Thornhollow said. “However, what you say is true and part of the reason why I agreed to take you with me from Boston in the first place. Your mind is quick, your attention to detail established, your memory infallible. But the bandages on your forehead — and the scars that will form — provide the perfect cover for all your assets. It’s established; you’re insane.”
  “And therefore I am not human,” Grace finished for him.

  There’s a whole array of colorful characters in this book! My favorites include Nell — her lovely Irish accent and sexual “forwardness,” the way she’d tease other characters but also protect them from her disease — and Thornhollow’s sister Adelaide — a liberated woman in high society who is incredibly blunt about feminism and the rights of women. Both women are brusque in manner, with very similar personalities and mindsets, but one remains outside the walls of an asylum (three guesses who!) and one is trapped within. Even by today’s standards, which woman would you declare sane?

  “Cover yer ears, lassies, then hit the boards.” Nell said, a split second before putting her fingers in her mouth and letting out a wolf whistle. Grace dropped to the roof, dragging Elizabeth down next to her. Nell fell in a pile of skirts, red-faced with laughter.
  “Nell!” Elizabeth gasped. “What were you thinking?”
  “I was thinkin’ it’s a lovely night, and ‘e’s a good-lookin’ man who don’t ‘ave no one to tell ‘im so. So I did, and damned if ‘e didna look straight up ‘ere as if ‘e knew there’s be someone in the turret.”

  Elizabeth is another wonderful character that Grace befriends in the Ohio asylum. She’s locked away because she listens to String, a presence invisible to all but her, who knows and sees everything. Elizabeth relies on String to understand people, although the nurses in the asylum are sure Elizabeth is just a very observant individual who uses String as a crutch or excuse. But then there are moments when Elizabeth exposes the truth about a person’s history, without that person having divulged it, ever. It makes you wonder — is String real? Or is she really that in tune with humanity?

  “Just because I’m insane doesn’t mean it didn’t happen,” Elizabeth said.

  Finally, Dr. Thornhollow. What an individual. And what an opportunity for Grace to fall in love and forget her entire past and the scars it left behind, an opportunity for a scientific man to crack open his shell and break free and fall in love. Thank goodness McGinnis did not go that route! Thornhollow and Grace acknowledge the other is attractive, and they put up with plenty of teasing from colleagues and friends, but they are not in love. Not once. This completely platonic working relationship is a breath of fresh air in YA, and incredibly fitting for the time and place of this book.

  “There is more to you than beauty. There is more to you than strength. There is more to you than intelligence. You are a whole person, and I would have you treat yourself as such.”

  Have I convinced you yet of the greatness of this book?

  Thank you, Edelweiss, for providing this book from Katherine Tegen Books for review!

  *quotes taken from uncorrected proof.

  This book fulfills 4 of 7 #ARCAugust reads.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 2 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: historical fiction, genre: mystery, genre: thriller, genre: young adult, review

• Book Review: “The Doldrums” by Nicholas Gannon (ARC)

  Posted at 7:00 am by Laura, on September 16, 2015

  The Doldrums by Nicholas Gannon

  Publisher: Greenwillow Books
  Publishing Date: September 29
  Genre: middle grade, historical fiction
  ISBN: 9780062408273
  Goodreads: —
  Rating: ★★★★

  Archer B. Helmsley has grown up in a house full of oddities and treasures collected by his grandparents, the famous explorers. He knows every nook and cranny. He knows them all too well. After all, ever since his grandparents went missing on an iceberg, his mother barely lets him leave the house.

  Archer B. Helmsley longs for adventure. Grand adventures, with parachutes and exotic sunsets and interesting characters. But how can he have an adventure when he can’t leave his house?

  It helps that he has friends like Adélaïde L. Belmont, who must have had many adventures since she ended up with a wooden leg. (Perhaps a crocodile ate it. Perhaps not.) And Oliver Glub. Oliver will worry about all the details (so that Archer doesn’t have to).

  And so Archer, Adélaïde, and Oliver make a plan. A plan to get out of the house, out of their town entirely. It’s a good plan.

  Well, it’s not bad, anyway.

  But nothing goes quite as they expect.

  Archer B. Helmsley is the grandson of the great explorers Ralph and Rachel Helmsley. His home is filled with treasures from their adventures across the world — to the dismay of Mrs. Helmsley — and people across the country frequent the house to examine the collection. Archer longs for an adventure, too, but after his grandparents go missing, his mother cracks down and refuses to let Archer leave the house other than to attend school. Enter Oliver Glub and Adélaïde L. Belmont, neighbors who are willing to join Archer in his grand schemes. But great adventures come at great costs, and the three friends will stop at nothing to believe in the impossible.

  What an absolutely stunning debut! Gannon wrote a fantastical, whimsical middle grade novel that’s both refreshing and cozily familiar all at once. I’d lump it in historical fiction, partly for the technology mentioned and partly for the stunning artwork. Oh, right — Gannon is the illustrator as well, and I loved all the pieces! This ARC was in black-and-white and several pages contained ART TK messages, so I can’t wait to see what the finished copy looks like (and in color)!

  The language was so lush but the writing continued in that middle grade mindset: the lovely mix of stream-of-consciousness and jumping narrative. Each chapter is subdivided into scenes and moments, from Archer’s point of view to Oliver’s to Adélaïde’s to a secondary character’s. Not once did it feel jarring. Everything…worked.

  My favorite bits of the story were the library request cards, the newspaper clippings, and letters. Incorporating these outside elements to a story make it feel more fun and — of course — adventurous! It adds to that timeless feel. I’ve no doubt The Doldrums will become a classic children’s book. Truly. I can’t tell you much more because it will ruin the magic!

  Thank you, Greenwillow Books and HarperCollins, for providing this book at BEA for review!

  This book fulfills 3 of 7 #ARCAugust reads.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2015 | 7 Comments | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: action/adventure, genre: historical fiction, genre: middle grade, review

• 

• Hello, I’m Laura!

  I'm a bookish bookworm and book hoarder. By day I'm a literary agent, and by night I'm forever rearranging my bookshelves. I could talk your ear off about Gothic literature, and in my past life people thought I'd become a professional musician. I have a fluffy black cat named Rossetti, I love to travel, tea is my drink of choice, British TV is the best, and I'm always down for chips-and-queso nights. Welcome to Scribbles & Wanderlust! Grab your favorite hot beverage and let's chat books!

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