I haven’t read SHOW ME A SIGN, also by Clare LeZotte, which tells the story of Mary’s kidnapping and escape from a scientist who uses her as a “live specimen” in his experiments, but it’s now really high on my reading list! It reminded me of books like THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF CHARLOTTE DOYLE by Avi. Readers who enjoy historical fiction will love this book. I loved getting to know those extra bits of history and seeing how they fit into the way the story was constructed or influenced the book. I feel like this story really honors the reflective experience that happens when someone sets out to teach or give something and in return receives and learns so much more than they expected.Īnother favorite thing about this book for me is the section at the back that offers historical details and context for elements from the story as well as things which inspired the book. They are student and teacher, but so much more than that, too.
The relationship between those two girls felt real and powerful.
The story world captivated me, and so did Mary and the girl she at first calls Ladybird. As she begins to understand what the real situation is, Mary only becomes more desperate to help the young girl achieve her freedom and independence. She meets staff members with secrets and prejudices. She doesn’t know much about the girl’s condition or her past, and still less about the house and staff who live there. Mary, still fresh from her own trauma, journeys to a far away estate to care for a young girl. The story has a strong sense of mystery and adventure to it. I felt like I could perfectly picture the island community where Mary lives. The writing style, the descriptions, the word choice, all of that felt like it belonged in the time period in which the story is set, in the very early 1800s. First off, I have to note that the historical setting was totally immersive. I just finished reading this book, and I feel like so much of it is still running through my head.
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