The World Within

December 15, 2014
A girl runs wild and writes furiously in this portrait of author Emily Bronte's early years.Although she chafes at society's expectations, as embodied by her stern aunt, Emily would gladly remain on the English moors with her dog and her scribbling siblings-braggart Branwell, cautious Charlotte and pious Anne-forever. Having lost her mother and older sisters, Emily loathes change and accordingly struggles with Charlotte's absences, her own brief time at boarding school and her father's illness. Inexplicably and violently shy, Emily hates being seen, discussed or even talked to by people outside the household. Self-isolated, she prefers walks in the wild and writing, initially creating melodramatic romances and adventures in the fantasy series shared with her siblings and, by novel's end, attempting a contemporary, character-based story by herself (presumably Wuthering Heights). Emily comes off as a complex, somewhat heartless and uncivilized girl, yet she's a better artist than Charlotte, a better musician than Branwell and a more committed writer than Anne-claims unsupported by her minimal surviving real-world work. In her author's note, Eagland admits to taking some liberties in her attempt to decipher the "enigmatic" Emily but relies heavily on well-chronicled facts and Emily's one and only novel. Despite liberties, this is more educational than entertaining and is best suited to fans of the Brontes or biographic celebrations of tortured 19th-century authors. (Historical fiction. 12-18)

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December 1, 2014

Gr 6-9-Eagland uses a line from an Emily Bronte poem as inspiration for the title of this novel to capture Emily's introverted nature and to reference the fantastical worlds that she and her siblings created. Emily's close-knit family-her father; siblings Branwell, Charlotte, and Anne; an aunt; and their housemaid-become real to readers. A scene where Emily's pious aunt dips into her snuff jar while Charlotte's friend is visiting is one example of Eagland's skill in adding depth to the characters. The protagonist's interactions with elders, siblings and their friends, and classmates at Roe Head reflect Emily's complexity, and the emotions she experiences as she navigates these relationships are genuine. Emily and Anne struggle with their personal faith in God, and the author conveys this timeless issue with acuity. The themes of family, being true to oneself, rural vs. urban living, and coming of age are interwoven throughout without weighing down the story. However, stilted transitions between certain scenes may be jarring for some readers. For those who want a more action-filled story about the Brontes, recommend Michaela MacColl's Always Emily (Chronicle, 2014).-Hilary Writt, Sullivan University, Lexington, KY

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2015
Grades 7-10 The enigmatic Brontes have long been a fascination of avid readers, and this imagining of several years of Emily's young life strives to introduce her to young readers. Beginning when Emily is 14, we see the four surviving Bronte children as they explore the moors near their home, plot adventures for the extensive stories they composed together, and begin to feel and react to the pressures of the outside world. The third-person present-tense narrative evokes a feeling of immediacy while remaining detached enough to effectively tell the imagined story of a real person. Emily is deeply devoted to her home and family, easily hurt, and a fierce grudge holder. The other Brontes also emerge as fully realized characters: Charlotte as tentatively yearning to broaden her horizons, Anne as devout and loyal, and Branwell as brash and full of bluster. Perhaps more interesting to teens who already have a passing familiarity with the Bronte story, this is nonetheless an interest-piquing look into an intriguing life.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)