A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly

Assignment: #2 of ten narratives
Author: Jennifer Donnelly
Publisher: San Diego:Harcourt, Inc., 2003. 389p.
Date: 02/17/07
Format/Genre: Historical Novel
Recommended Grade Level: 9-12
Awards: Micheal L. Printz Award Honor Book 2004
Summary- Sixteen year-old Mattie Goakey dreams of leaving the farm and going off to New York City to College. Her dreams are lost after the death of her mother, She must stay at home and care for her father and sisters. Even though she knows that she may not be able to leave she continues with her passion, writing poetry and short stories. Mattie plays "word of the day" game and shares her knowledge of words with others. Mattie is forced to go to work at a local hotel after her fathers farm accident. At the hotel Mattie meets Grace Brown. During Graces stay at the hotel, she drowns and Mattie begins to realize her future. Mattie chooses to go to New York even though it may hurt her father and end her relationship with Royal Loomis. Matties story is based on true events that happened in 1906 that became the inspiration for Theodores Dreiser's An American Tragedy.
Comments: This book was a difficult read for me. I found it hard to follow. The author jumped from one story to the next and it also contained many flashbacks. I believe that it would be a good read for someone interested in history and how it connects to a true story back in 1906. I felt as if the story ended with no explanation of some of the happenings in the book (the engagement and storyline of her and Royal Loomis). The book was well written but it just seemed to drag on. For this being Jennifer Donnellys first novel, I would have to say that it is well written I just think that if it had a central storyline throughout that it would have better kept my attention.
Booktalking Ideas: There are many characters in this story that could be further researched. For example: Grace Brown, Minnie and Miss Wilcox. The author also makes reference to books that can help the reader further understand the time of the story, the place and Grace Browns love letters.
VOYA: 4Q 3P