Ford, M. (2011). The Poisoned House. Park Ridge, IL: Whitman. This short novel (the trim size makes it look a bit longer than it is) begins with fourteen-year-old Abi’s attempted escape from the British mansion where she works “in service.” Caught and returned to Greave Hall, Abi must face the harsh discipline meted out by…
Blundell, Judy (2011). Strings Attached. NY: Scholastic. 310 pages. The National Book Award winner (for What I Saw and How I Lied, 2008) and “secret” writer of series fiction is back with a moody post-WWII piece that stands as a solid follow-up to the noted What I Saw. A chronological narrative interrupted by flashbacks, Blundell’s…
Anderson, Laurie Halse (2008). Chains. NY: Simon and Schuster. 320 pages. Does the fact that I didn’t fall in love with Laurie Halse Anderson’s National Book Award honor title mean that I’m a bad person? To tell you the truth, I thought that the historical fiction was a bit manipulative (particularly the end of the…