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A review by katykelly
A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge
5.0
Absorbing and mature YA supernatural history.
I thought The Lie Tree would be impossible to better, but halfway through I realised that I was thoroughly caught up in Makepeace's world. It started with supernatural elements I don't usually like, but grew into a family story, a historical novel, a chilling thriller of sorts that I respected.
Makepeace is growing up in a religious community with her mother. She knows there is more to her history than she is allowed to know, and she also knows that she is unusual - ghosts try to possess her.
Forced by terrible circumstances to return to the family home she has never before seen, she drops her guard, against her mother's strict training, and allows a spirit to hide inside her, becoming entwined with the soul of the dead, keeping it a secret from those she discovers are relations. For if they found out, she might fin worse would be to come.
While this intriguing set-up begins to tantalise, the context of Makepeace's world, a world in which civil war threatens to tear the country in half, also breaks into the plot, and she finds herself a wanted young woman.
The book got better and better, with layers of story overlapping. I don't think it became too complicated for younger readers though the darkness of the plot might make it a little to frightening or mature for some.
Makepeace made an outstanding protagonist, one who grows up by a few years through the story, but is as resourceful and shrewd a girl as ever I've seen. Other characters around her are given depth and some time to make an impression.
The plot itself is fascinating, and very well done. Without giving anything away, there are some very unusual conversations that occur, and interactions, that make perfect sense in a strange situation. Makepeace's 'guest', shall we say, I didn't like to start with, but his presence built into the later story nicely and I felt he justified his own space as a character.
It's a long read, especially for the intended age group, but very much worth the effort, it pays off many times. Loved the time period, the vivid setting, the unique plot. I want this to be made into a film.
For ages 11-16.
I thought The Lie Tree would be impossible to better, but halfway through I realised that I was thoroughly caught up in Makepeace's world. It started with supernatural elements I don't usually like, but grew into a family story, a historical novel, a chilling thriller of sorts that I respected.
Makepeace is growing up in a religious community with her mother. She knows there is more to her history than she is allowed to know, and she also knows that she is unusual - ghosts try to possess her.
Forced by terrible circumstances to return to the family home she has never before seen, she drops her guard, against her mother's strict training, and allows a spirit to hide inside her, becoming entwined with the soul of the dead, keeping it a secret from those she discovers are relations. For if they found out, she might fin worse would be to come.
While this intriguing set-up begins to tantalise, the context of Makepeace's world, a world in which civil war threatens to tear the country in half, also breaks into the plot, and she finds herself a wanted young woman.
The book got better and better, with layers of story overlapping. I don't think it became too complicated for younger readers though the darkness of the plot might make it a little to frightening or mature for some.
Makepeace made an outstanding protagonist, one who grows up by a few years through the story, but is as resourceful and shrewd a girl as ever I've seen. Other characters around her are given depth and some time to make an impression.
The plot itself is fascinating, and very well done. Without giving anything away, there are some very unusual conversations that occur, and interactions, that make perfect sense in a strange situation. Makepeace's 'guest', shall we say, I didn't like to start with, but his presence built into the later story nicely and I felt he justified his own space as a character.
It's a long read, especially for the intended age group, but very much worth the effort, it pays off many times. Loved the time period, the vivid setting, the unique plot. I want this to be made into a film.
For ages 11-16.