This is the YA novel young girls NEED to have in their personal collections.Witty, brave and unapologetic this book,though based in 1900, holds a lot true for today's woman and girl. After having so loved Shadow of Blackbirds, I was positively flushed at the idea of getting another taste of Ms. Winter's beautiful talent and I must say, I was in no way disappointed. In under 24 hours I started and completed this book with an intense desire to sing it's praises from the rooftops.
We enter the novel meeting young Olivia Mead on her 17th birthday at a hypnotism show, titillated to be terrified by the evenings performance, only to find it would leave her with a bit more. After being called on stage and used in an act, her father has the brilliant idea of keeping her a "good little lady" by having the spark and spunk hypnotized right out of her. Young performer Henri agrees to this challenge for a serious financial need, but as he grows to know Olivia, finds himself unable to keep her silenced or hurt her. The beautiful romance that takes place through the novel rides on an eloquent back burner, not trumping the women's voices as they fight for their rights to be equals. Meeting so many young suffragists amidst some of the worst times to be a woman instills power in your character and in your reader. As Olivia struggles through situations that aren't so far off from instances today,you find yourself rallying for her strength and victory.
When this book came to an end I was almost devastated to let it go, but so proud to see a book directed at young girls that really drives home the views and ideas they need more and more every day. So often our girls are taught you are not worthy without beauty, don't save yourself - a prince will arrive and fix all your problems, but not in the book. Cat has given girls the voice and power to stand on their own and realize they have the strength to fight their own battles. I firmly believe we need a hundred more books like this for our girls, immediately.
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