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Jun 23, 2015Chapel_Hill_KenMc rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Brooks has a talent for making history come alive, with deft use of period vocabulary and nuanced portrayals of historical cultures and communities. She's also not afraid to tackle huge issues: in this case the racism of early English colonial settlements in New England, and the patriarchal stifling of women's abilities and educational opportunities. The story follows a teenage girl in 17th-century Martha's Vineyard as she navigates her feelings for a local Wampanoag youth and her resentment at being denied access to education. The characters are complex and richly crafted, with thoughtful exploration of their relationships and emotions. Readers may be put off by the sometimes over-eager voice of the teenage narrator, but her story consistently demands attention.