February 16, 2015
As in Always Emily and Nobody’s Secret, MacColl again delivers a historical novel based on a 19th-century writer and her problematic family: this time Louisa May Alcott and the community of transcendentalists in Concord, Mass. Set over a few days in the summer of 1846 when the 15-year-old budding writer is in charge of the household, the story compellingly presents the conflicts between principles and practicality, as Louisa’s challenging relationship with her idealistic father, Bronson, grows especially fraught. She also faces a slew of unexpected problems, notably the arrival of a noxious slave catcher in pursuit of the fugitive slave the Alcotts are harboring, who seems to have potentially harmful information about their good friends Henry Thoreau and the Emersons. On his heels comes distant cousin Fred, suddenly grown tall and handsome, with a new interest in Louisa. Intrigue quickly builds on several fronts, and a climactic crisis forces Louisa, with sister Beth’s help, into some detective work, delivering a resolution that is likely to surprise. An author’s note recounts the factual bases for the novel and includes Alcott’s biographical information. A satisfying, thought-provoking read. Ages 12–up. Agency: Sterling Lord Literistic.
February 1, 2015
Fifteen-year-old Louisa Alcott cares for her family while protecting a fugitive slave, coping with a budding romance and solving a puzzling murder.Louisa's philosopher father refuses to earn a living, forcing the Alcotts to live in perpetual penury despite mother Marmee's endless economizing. In 1846, Marmee temporarily leaves her family in Concord to work in New Hampshire. A hot-tempered, strong-willed "force to be reckoned with," Louisa would rather be scribbling stories, but Marmee relies on her to keep house for her father and sisters as well as a runaway slave the Alcotts are hiding. When a slave catcher named Finch discovers the Alcotts are ardent abolitionists, he stalks and threatens Louisa. Her distant cousin Fred arrives for a visit with romantic intentions, further complicating Louisa's life. After Finch is murdered and her father implicated, Louisa's determined to find the real murderer. Artfully integrated quotes from Little Women and biographical facts transform this fictitious plot into a tantalizing glimpse of the real Louisa May Alcott's life, including her complex family relationships, unconventional convictions, and famous neighbors, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. A summary of this period in Alcott's life separates fact from fiction. An intriguing introduction to young Louisa May Alcott as a spunky heroine. (author's note, further reading) (Historical fiction. 12-18)
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February 1, 2015
Gr 7 Up-Readers are immediately drawn into Louisa's 19th-century world as her mother departs for work in the city and Louisa discovers a runaway slave, named George, hiding outside the Alcott home. The teen capably manages the various conflicts in the novel: money struggles, her relationship with her father, George's safety, and romantic tensions between her and her distant cousin, Fred. Unsavory characters like Fitch, who is a slave catcher, and a disreputable woman named Miss Whittington, bring additional tension to this plot-driven novel. As she did with Always Emily (Chronicle, 2014), MacColl creates a strong sense of place, both in time and with her presentation of the physical environment. Her fluid incorporation of the transcendentalists and their movement aligns well with her attention to the novel's setting. Although conflict and intrigue ensue, with protecting George and solving a murder, Louisa's character unfortunately remains static. VERDICT Though light on character development, MacColl has created a page-turner that satisfies.-Hilary Writt, Sullivan University, Lexington, KY
Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
April 15, 2015
Grades 7-10 When the dire financial situation of the Alcott family forces Louisa's mother to take a job away from home, Louisa bemoans her new responsibilities of running the household in her mother's absence, complaining that she will have no time for writing. Yet, the drudgery-filled summer that Louisa anticipated is quickly turned on its head when George, an escaped slave, seeks refuge in the Alcott's house, with a slave catcher hot on his trail. As Louisa balances her duty to her family with keeping George safe, an unexpected romance blooms between Louisa and an old friend. Meanwhile, a murder shakes the community, and Louisa investigates the crime in order to protect her loved ones. Based on the life of Louisa May Alcott, MacColl's latest seamlessly weaves fact and fiction together, and she handles many challenging issues, such as the conflict between philosophical principles and the obligations of supporting a family, with deft and grace. Fans of historical fiction will relish this glimpse into the storied life of the pioneering author.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)
July 1, 2015
Abolitionists, a fugitive slave, irresponsible transcendentalists, and a murder combine in this fictionalized vision of what Louisa May Alcott's life might have looked like before she turned to writing as a profession. MacColl's tale captures the complex financial and philosophical realities of the Alcott family, but this blend of biographical and historical research and storytelling occasionally tends toward melodrama. Author's note. Reading list.
(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)