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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
This was an entertaining read with an end I didn't see coming. I never felt particularly attached to any of the main characters -- Verity and Nate stand out as two I should've felt more for. Salerni creates a vivid setting and I liked how the "historical" nature never overwhelmed the story (which is my biggest pet peeve with the genre). Overall, an enjoyable quick read.
This book was an interesting combination of historical fiction, horror, and romance. Verity goes to live with a father she barely knows to marry a man she does not know at all. While this book could have been very fluffy because of the romance, the mystery of the caged graves kept things interesting. There were many twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end.
A great tale of mystery, suspense, romance, and historical urban legend. I never heard about caged graves before this book, and I love the way the author wove a completely believable story around two very real graves.
I read this young adult story expecting more.
More depth.
More engaging characters.
More excitement.
And if I was in the targeted age-bracket for this novel, I might have given it a higher rating. That said, I rarely feel my generation when I choose a book from this category. Hello. I even like to read good children's stories every now and then!
The caged or 'hooded graves' really existed in mid-nineteenth century Pennsylvania. Along with some of the characters from Ms. Salerni's mystery. The author embellished that piece of history with a 17-year-old young lady and gold.
The iron cage were called a mortsafe. It was invented in 1816 and designed to protect a gravesite from body snatchers. It was originally used in England and Scotland to keep riffraff from stealing deceased loved ones to be sold to medical schools. They were always in need of cadavers.
I was eager to see how the author was going to develop her version of this mystery.
Verity Boone was sent away to live with relatives as a young child when her mother died. She returned to her hometown for two reasons: to see her father and to marry. The betrothal was made by letter and Verity was in agreement.
I liked Verity's soon-to-be husband, Nate McClure. I respected Verity's father, Ransloe. I suspected they both had a story to tell. My issues were with Verity. One moment she was a typical 17 year old, the next time she sounded like a 13 year old and then she spoke with the maturity of a twenty-something woman. Needless-to-say, it was confusing.
I was almost halfway invested in the story when I realized I was reading the novel for its suspense; I no longer cared about Verity. Eventually, even the motive felt far-fetched. Sadly, I cannot recommend this book.
More depth.
More engaging characters.
More excitement.
And if I was in the targeted age-bracket for this novel, I might have given it a higher rating. That said, I rarely feel my generation when I choose a book from this category. Hello. I even like to read good children's stories every now and then!
The caged or 'hooded graves' really existed in mid-nineteenth century Pennsylvania. Along with some of the characters from Ms. Salerni's mystery. The author embellished that piece of history with a 17-year-old young lady and gold.
The iron cage were called a mortsafe. It was invented in 1816 and designed to protect a gravesite from body snatchers. It was originally used in England and Scotland to keep riffraff from stealing deceased loved ones to be sold to medical schools. They were always in need of cadavers.
I was eager to see how the author was going to develop her version of this mystery.
Verity Boone was sent away to live with relatives as a young child when her mother died. She returned to her hometown for two reasons: to see her father and to marry. The betrothal was made by letter and Verity was in agreement.
I liked Verity's soon-to-be husband, Nate McClure. I respected Verity's father, Ransloe. I suspected they both had a story to tell. My issues were with Verity. One moment she was a typical 17 year old, the next time she sounded like a 13 year old and then she spoke with the maturity of a twenty-something woman. Needless-to-say, it was confusing.
I was almost halfway invested in the story when I realized I was reading the novel for its suspense; I no longer cared about Verity. Eventually, even the motive felt far-fetched. Sadly, I cannot recommend this book.
The Caged Graves is a great historical fiction, mystery novel. I could hardly bring myself to put it down! The story is set in 1867, but is connected to events that occurred in 1778. In 1778, Silas Clayton, a deserter from the Continental army, escaped the British with the payroll for the Continentals. Silas was later captured and executed in the town of Catawissa, but the gold was never found. People in and around Catawissa have been searching for the gold ever since.
In 1867, Verity Boone returns to Catawissa to live with her father and meet Nathaniel McClure, a boy she has been corresponding with and intends to marry. Verity was sent away to live with her aunt when she was two and her mother died. On her arrival, she sees that she may have been hasty accepting a proposal from a Nathaniel, who she has never met in person. Her doubts are further realized when she meets a handsome, young doctor's apprentice by the name of Hadley Jones. Beyond Verity's confusion over which man to choose, she also is shocked to find that her mother's and her aunt's graves are located outside of the church cemetery and are enclosed in cages. She is told varying stories as to why the graves are caged. Some claim it is protection for grave robbers, others accuse her mother and aunt of being witches, she hears of curses, and also the belief by many that they were buried with the missing gold. She is also told that "in Catawissa, sometimes the dead don't stay where you put them." As Verity tries to unravel these mysteries and find the truth, she also must find her place in her father's life again, and make the decision of who she should marry.
In 1867, Verity Boone returns to Catawissa to live with her father and meet Nathaniel McClure, a boy she has been corresponding with and intends to marry. Verity was sent away to live with her aunt when she was two and her mother died. On her arrival, she sees that she may have been hasty accepting a proposal from a Nathaniel, who she has never met in person. Her doubts are further realized when she meets a handsome, young doctor's apprentice by the name of Hadley Jones. Beyond Verity's confusion over which man to choose, she also is shocked to find that her mother's and her aunt's graves are located outside of the church cemetery and are enclosed in cages. She is told varying stories as to why the graves are caged. Some claim it is protection for grave robbers, others accuse her mother and aunt of being witches, she hears of curses, and also the belief by many that they were buried with the missing gold. She is also told that "in Catawissa, sometimes the dead don't stay where you put them." As Verity tries to unravel these mysteries and find the truth, she also must find her place in her father's life again, and make the decision of who she should marry.
This just wasn't very exciting. I found the writing juvenile and stilted. None of the characters were believable.
The prologue by itself would make one think the whole book will be filled with action, adventure, and mystery. However, the rest of the book is much more about familial and romantic relationships. The mystery alluded to in the prologue does carry through the rest of the story. When Verity was a toddler, her mother died and Verity was sent to live with relatives. As a teen she comes back home to live with her father and become engaged to a young man from that town. She discovers that her mother and her aunt have been buried on unconsecrated ground outside the church cemetery, and in addition, they are surrounded by ornate metal cages. Lots of whispers and rumors push Verity into searching for the truth.
Great story, based on 2 real caged graves in Pennsylvania.
Great story, based on 2 real caged graves in Pennsylvania.
This was an interesting story, inspired by two real actual caged graves the author saw in Pennsylvania. The real reason those graves are caged is unknown, but the author does a good job of putting forth an interesting and believable story about why that would be done. There was a little bit much going on plot-wise, and it was a little hard to follow at times, but I still enjoyed it. I also found the ending to be surprising and unexpected.
One thing I didn’t really like, or think was necessary, was the love triangle. I know that’s an extremely popular thing in young adult literature, but honestly, I feel the story could have been just as well served if Hadley Jones hadn’t been introduced as a love interest and was simply a friend of Verity. Without giving too much away, I think there are better ways to have introduced conflict between Verity and Nate, and the final betrayal could have easily been as impactful if Hadley had been just a good friend of Verity’s.
Even with that, I felt it was a good story and an easy read. A well-done young adult novel.
One thing I didn’t really like, or think was necessary, was the love triangle. I know that’s an extremely popular thing in young adult literature, but honestly, I feel the story could have been just as well served if Hadley Jones hadn’t been introduced as a love interest and was simply a friend of Verity. Without giving too much away, I think there are better ways to have introduced conflict between Verity and Nate, and the final betrayal could have easily been as impactful if Hadley had been just a good friend of Verity’s.
Even with that, I felt it was a good story and an easy read. A well-done young adult novel.
4.5, rounded up because apparently two caged graves actually exist in PA belonging to two sister-in-laws of the same name, and I think that's cool.
This is historical fiction that's wonderfully not abrasively historical. Or, at least, it feels very comfortably set in its time period (late 1800s) and I never felt like the author was trying too hard.
In a lot of ways it reminded me of "Witch of Blackbird Pond" (a childhood favorite). Verity is reminiscent of Kit: headstrong, smart, practical - she just doesn't have Kit's perpetual dissatisfaction. If anything, I liked her better for that - she's always trying to improve the here and now, rather than seek something better.
Even the love triangle wasn't as annoying as it could have been; it felt very real to me. To be genuinely attracted to two people and - maybe a little selfishly - not want to settle on one or the other, because you don't want to lose either. And while there's romance, "The Caged Graves" never forgets its plot, or its other characters. (Though I would have loved to see more of the father.)
Some pretty dark motivations and character types make this a little more appropriate for the 12+ crowd, though I wouldn't say no to a mature 11 or so. Again, "Witch of Blackbird Pond." Maybe an eensy bit darker, but really only a bit.
I hope this one gets some recognition, because it really was terrific, without being flashy about it.
Thanks to Netgalley for an electronic copy of the ARC.
This is historical fiction that's wonderfully not abrasively historical. Or, at least, it feels very comfortably set in its time period (late 1800s) and I never felt like the author was trying too hard.
In a lot of ways it reminded me of "Witch of Blackbird Pond" (a childhood favorite). Verity is reminiscent of Kit: headstrong, smart, practical - she just doesn't have Kit's perpetual dissatisfaction. If anything, I liked her better for that - she's always trying to improve the here and now, rather than seek something better.
Even the love triangle wasn't as annoying as it could have been; it felt very real to me. To be genuinely attracted to two people and - maybe a little selfishly - not want to settle on one or the other, because you don't want to lose either. And while there's romance, "The Caged Graves" never forgets its plot, or its other characters. (Though I would have loved to see more of the father.)
Some pretty dark motivations and character types make this a little more appropriate for the 12+ crowd, though I wouldn't say no to a mature 11 or so. Again, "Witch of Blackbird Pond." Maybe an eensy bit darker, but really only a bit.
I hope this one gets some recognition, because it really was terrific, without being flashy about it.
Thanks to Netgalley for an electronic copy of the ARC.
Fast paced and extremely enjoyable! The ending was satisfying although I wish it was a little more substantial; it almost didn't feel like it compared to the rest of the story. Insane climax / resolution to the mystery! Great love triangle!