All My Noble Dreams and Then What Happens

Starred review from February 11, 2013
Set in India in the year 1921, two years after the events of Small Acts of Amazing Courage (2011), Whelan’s sequel finds British-born Rosy having returned to her beloved India, the land she considers home, after an extended stay in England. The household—now expanded to include Rosy’s maiden aunts, Ethyl and Louise—is bustling with preparations for a visit by the Prince of Wales. Rosy has promised to deliver a letter written by Mahatma Gandhi, an appeal to Great Britain to give India its freedom, and, once again, Rosy’s sympathies with native Indians lead to trouble with her stuffy father, a British officer. Using charm, wit, and intelligence, Rosy manages to draw compassion from her father and other authority figures, and she even gets the prince to recognize the poverty and unfair practices blighting India. As in the previous book, Whelan brings to life the customs, fashions, and conflicts of the era and creates a cast of vivid characters who represent multiple political views. Her writing provides great insight into a nation vibrating with changing attitudes. Ages 9–12. Agent: Liza Pulitzer-Voges, Eden Street Literary.

May 1, 2013

Gr 6-10-In this sequel to Small Acts of Amazing Courage (S & S, 2011), Whelan further develops Rosalind James's character and conscience. In 1921 British India, Rosy continues to find her voice as she grows in independence. She has spent her entire life in India, untraditionally making friends with Indians from different castes. She grows more sympathetic and outspoken regarding the complete dominance the British exert over the people. As a Gandhi supporter, she speaks out against her father, who insists that the country is not ready for independence. Through his military connections, Rosy meets the Prince of Wales on his tour of the country. With a little daring, she enables him to experience everyday India. After the adventure, he remembers Rosalind and sends an invitation to be presented to the king and queen of the British Empire. Could Rosalind be so bold as to bring the message of India's independence to the British sovereign? The character development and setting description are superb. Whelan succeeds in bringing a fascinating time period to life, allowing readers to experience the lavish luxury of the ruling British and the squalid poverty of average Indians. It is slightly contrived that Rosy would meet both prince and king in the casual way she does, but it serves the story well. The parallel between the young woman exerting her independence and India beginning to demand hers is a unifying element. This worthy sequel should enjoy wide readership where historical fiction is popular.-Lisa Crandall, formerly at the Capital Area District Library, Holt, MI

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