A great deal of fun, one stitch at a time.
“Women’s work” is a weapon in this female-centric spy novel set in the Regency era.
Annis Whitworth’s father has died, leaving the white English teen and her aunt—her only living relative—penniless. What is a destitute lady of quality and intelligence to do? Serving as governess to small children will not do, nor will being a lady’s companion. And marriage is out of the question. While altering a dreadful pre-made mourning gown, Annis discovers she’s a glamour artist. She can transform any article of clothing into a disguise, a talent fit for a spy. Annis’ father was a spy, so why shouldn’t she be one as well? She heads to the War Office to offer her services, but she’s dismissed as a silly girl. With mounting debts, Annis, Aunt Cassia, and their maid Millie move to Flittingsworth, where Annis sets up shop as Madame Martine, glamour modiste. When a real threat looms, Annis hopes she can convince the War Office to hire Madame Martine to wield her powers for England. Annis and Cassia and their unmarried female associates (all evidently white) defy 19th-century gender conventions with their independence, intellect, and daring. Tongue-in-cheek commentary on the state of womanhood dominates the narrative, and the story’s most meaningful relationships are those among the women of the story. Cameos from history, classic literature, and modern Regency novels for young readers add fizz for those in the know.
A great deal of fun, one stitch at a time. (author’s note) (Historical fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Sept. 19, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-553-53520-4
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2017
This grittily provocative debut explores the horrors of self-harm and the healing power of artistic expression.
After surviving a suicide attempt, a fragile teen isn't sure she can endure without cutting herself.
Seventeen-year-old Charlie Davis, a white girl living on the margins, thinks she has little reason to live: her father drowned himself; her bereft and abusive mother kicked her out; her best friend, Ellis, is nearly brain dead after cutting too deeply; and she's gone through unspeakable experiences living on the street. After spending time in treatment with other young women like her—who cut, burn, poke, and otherwise hurt themselves—Charlie is released and takes a bus from the Twin Cities to Tucson to be closer to Mikey, a boy she "like-likes" but who had pined for Ellis instead. But things don't go as planned in the Arizona desert, because sweet Mikey just wants to be friends. Feeling rejected, Charlie, an artist, is drawn into a destructive new relationship with her sexy older co-worker, a "semifamous" local musician who's obviously a junkie alcoholic. Through intense, diarylike chapters chronicling Charlie's journey, the author captures the brutal and heartbreaking way "girls who write their pain on their bodies" scar and mar themselves, either succumbing or surviving. Like most issue books, this is not an easy read, but it's poignant and transcendent as Charlie breaks more and more before piecing herself back together.
This grittily provocative debut explores the horrors of self-harm and the healing power of artistic expression. (author’s note) (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: Aug. 30, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-101-93471-5
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2016
Summery fun and games with feeling.
A summer trip helps break 18-year-old Meredith Fox out of a haze of mourning.
Her cousin’s wedding means a return to Martha’s Vineyard, a well-loved destination but one filled with bittersweet memories. It’s been a year and a half since the sudden loss of Meredith’s sister, Claire, and the grief remains strong. Meredith, though, resolves to take this time to celebrate family and bridge the rifts resulting from ghosting friends. She didn’t plan on a meet-cute/embarrassing encounter with the groom’s stepbrother, Wit. Nor did she expect a wedding-week game of Assassin, a water-gun–fueled family tradition. What starts off as a pact of sharing strategic information with Wit grows into something more as the flirting and feelings develop. Only one person can win, though, and any alliance has an expiration date. To win and honor Claire, who was a master of the game, Meredith must keep her eye on the prize. Taking place over the course of a week, the narrative is tight with well-paced reveals that disrupt predictability and keep the plot moving. Early details are picked back up, and many elements come satisfyingly full circle. The short time frame also heightens the tension of this summer romance: What will happen when they leave the bubble of the Vineyard? The mix of budding romance, competitive hijinks, a close-knit circle, as well as dealing with loss make for a satisfying read. The main cast is White.
Summery fun and games with feeling. (family tree) (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-72821-029-2
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: March 30, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2021
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