Girl at the Grave

June 1, 2018

Gr 7-10-A compelling gothic romance filled with generational secrets and blackmail. After her mother is hanged for the death of a rich man, Valentine begins attending a prominent school through the support of an anonymous benefactor. Unfortunately, she must encounter daily gossip and take classes alongside Rowan, the son of the man her mother murdered. When the local reverend indicates that her mother was actually innocent, Valentine commits to learning the truth. With someone attempting to suppress her discovery, more and more people are vanishing-including her barely present father. Unfolding mysteries are juxtaposed with Valentine's conflicted heart. Valentine shares a close bond with a working class, childhood friend. Everyone seems to expect that they will eventually marry, but Valentine becomes aware of growing affections from Rowan. The tragedy between both families becomes an overwhelming burden to any possibility of a relationship. While the plot transpires with unforseen turns, the romantic tension Black crafts between Valentine and Rowan pushes the pace, holding readers' attention until the last page. VERDICT Purchase where there are avid fans of gothic romance, historical fiction, and mystery.-Monica Cabarcas, Albemarle High School, Charlottesville, VA

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2018
In 1849 New England a girl with a scandalous past finds herself at a crossroads.With a mane of wild curls, unconventional beauty Valentine DeLuca lives in a dilapidated estate with her aloof father. Her mother was hanged for the murder of Nigel Blackshaw, an eminent member of her small town of Feavers Crossing. Due to a benefactor shrouded in mystery, Valentine attends the prestigious Drake Academy, where Nigel's heir, Rowan Blackshaw, is also a student. Despite their troublesome connection, Valentine and Rowan predictably fall for each other. However, many dark secrets threaten to rip the ill-fated lovers apart. Valentine must eventually decide between a simple life with Sam, the boy next door; going on the lam with Rowan; and her own independence. Bleak, inclement Connecticut features prominently in this gothic melodrama which is refreshingly free of any paranormal content, despite its otherworldly title. An indecisive heroine, Valentine's inability to make a decision may be polarizing; either readers will swoon as she agonizes or leave frustrated. While complications and conspiracies run rampant, the plot still feels a bit wooden, with its boilerplate love triangle, contrived plot twists, and endless descriptions of smoldering eyes and pouty mouths. Valentine and the other denizens of Feavers Crossing are white; one adult character is developmentally disabled and is treated kindly by Valentine, in contrast to the behavior of other residents.A soapy romance mired in contrivance. (Gothic romance. 13-adult)

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September 17, 2018
Debut author Black adroitly fashions a believable historical thriller, carefully unfolding layers of generational deceit and heartbreak, and creating well-rounded characters and a believable 19th-century New England town. Valentine Deluca, 18, has always lived in the shadow of her infamous mother, who was hanged for the murder of Nigel Blackshaw when Valentine was six years old. Now finishing her final year at the exclusive Drake Academy, Valentine finds that her past has come back to haunt her. After the church rector, Mr. Oliver, informs her that her mother was innocent, Valentine’s long-buried memories of the night when Nigel died begin to resurface. Then Mr. Oliver is poisoned and killed, and Valentine’s father and friend Birdy go missing. With the help of Nigel’s son, Valentine begins to piece together the twisted history of her family and the Blackshaws. By allowing readers to understand the various motivations for some of the characters’ bad behaviors, Black offers a story interested in empathy and a search for the truth. Ages 13–up. Agent: Barbara Poelle, Irene Goodman Literary.

June 1, 2018
Grades 9-12 Even before her father disappears, Valentine is half an orphan: years ago, her mother was hanged for the murder of a prominent local man. Now Valentine is more or less an outcast in her mid-1800s Connecticut town, focusing on her schoolwork and ignoring the jeers from her classmates. When an acquaintance claims her mother was wrongly accused of murder, Valentine is confused; she may have been only six at the time, but she was there the night her mother shot Nigel Blackshaw, and she's sure she was guilty. Then the man who makes the claim dies under suspicious circumstances, and Valentine's father vanishes. As Valentine learns more about the night Nigel died, she also finds herself caught between Sam (her childhood love) and Rowan (the son of the man her mother allegedly murdered). In a market that can seem overly saturated with the paranormal, this gothic murder mystery will be a breath of fresh air for historical fiction buffs. Resourceful Valentine anchors this atmospheric debut, which marks Black as a writer to watch.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)