The Secret of Nightingale Wood by Lucy Strange
Reviewed by: Elizabeth Anderson, Communications Specialist
Genre: Historical Fiction
Suggested Age: Tweens, Teens
What is the book about?: Henrietta, nicknamed Henry, moves to Hope House with her parents and baby sister after her brother’s tragic death. Henry’s mother is stricken with mental illness from her grief and her father is forced to leave on business. It’s up to Henry, with the help of an unlikely ally in the woods, to stop the doctor from taking away her sister and sending her mother to a questionable institution that will only worsen her condition.
My Review: I think it is worth noting that some descriptions of this book make it seem like it will be a ghost story when it is actually a story about struggles with mental illness and coping with death. This is certainly not a drawback, and I only mention it to prevent confusion about the book’s genre. Anyhoo, I found this book to be well-written with excellent metaphors. However, there were times when things seemed a bit too easy and convenient, and it brought the conflict to its conclusion with a decent number of pages left. On the one hand, I appreciated the time that was taken to tie up loose ends and provide closure, and on the other I felt like it might seem to drag on a bit for a younger reader. Henry’s character is bold and brave in a natural way that doesn’t feel politically motivated, and she retains sensitivity and emotional investment in her circumstances that make her feel relatable. This story is a welcome change of pace from the plethora of fantasy and sci-fi books on the market and feels very much like a “classic” story (think The Secret Garden) written for modern audiences.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Illness, Mystery, Grief
Give This a Try if You Like… The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Rating: 3/5
About FDL Reads
FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.