Strange Star by Emma Carroll
| Strange Star by Emma Carroll | |
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| Category: Confident Readers | |
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Reviewer: Anne Thompson
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| Summary: Wonderfully evocative of both time and place this is an eerie and enthralling read. Simply perfect for those who love stories with a Gothic feel, this is historical fiction at its best for young readers. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 320 | Date: July 2016 |
| Publisher: Faber and Faber | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 978-0571317653 | |
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It is June 1816 at a villa on the shores of Lake Geneva and a group of friends are gathered together to tell ghost stories. There is one rule for the evening and that is that their stories must be a tale to freeze the blood. As the summer storm builds up outside there is a frantic knocking at the door and events take a more chilling turn than any of their stories.
Inspired by the story of Frankenstein and the events of the period when that famous book was written this is a haunting and extremely atmospheric read. Emma Carroll has rapidly become my go to author for historical fiction for young readers. Her wonderful writing evokes a sense of time and place in a way that makes the reader feel part of the world she has created. The opening section of the book in which Lord Byron and his friends including Percy and Mary Shelley meet up for an evening together has an unsettling, slightly claustrophobic feel and the tension builds slowly culminating in the arrival of the girl with the strange scars at their door. The girl, Lizzie, is searching for her younger sister whom she says has been taken from England by a woman named Mary Shelley. As her story unfolds the second section of the book moves back to England the year before and we learn more about Lizzie and the events that brought her to Switzerland.
Lizzie is a sympathetic character, caring but courageous too and as her life and that of her family changes in a dramatic and heart-breaking manner the reader accompanies Lizzie as she deals with sorrow and narrow-mindedness too. The small village community in which Lizzie and her family live is understandably fascinated and concerned by anything out of the ordinary and even Lizzie is drawn into the mystery of the goings on at the big house and the arrival of a prominent scientist who people say is conducting important work. As Lizzie's, her sister Peg's and Lizzie's best friend Mercy's curiosity grows they can have no idea of the impact that these activities will have on them all.
The skilful mix of imagination and real events such as the comet seen in the skies at that time and the inclusion of real characters gives this story an authentic and even more sinister feel. In addition to being a wonderfully spooky read there are several themes touched on in the story giving it an added depth. Many of the characters including Lizzie and Felix, Lord Byron's servant, have to deal with prejudice and the story demonstrates the importance of not judging on appearances and showing acceptance to those who may be different to ourselves. Without giving away too much of the plot it is a wonderful example of the dangers of blind ambition when not balanced by care of others too.
However, first and foremost this is an enthralling and at times scary read and especially appealing to readers of about 10 plus who may move on to Gothic fiction and perhaps would tempt them to investigate the background to the story and read Frankenstein too if they are feeling brave enough!
I love all of Emma Carroll's books but for another with a deliciously spooky feel I would recommend Frost Hollow Hall|Frost Hollow Hall
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You can read more book reviews or buy Strange Star by Emma Carroll at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy Strange Star by Emma Carroll at Amazon.com.
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