jayneyh314 's review for:

Things a Bright Girl Can Do by Sally Nicholls

4.5

adventurous hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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In 1914 the fight for equality for women has been building momentum for quite some time. Evelyn wants to go to University but despite being wealthy and clever she finds her options are limited and do not include further education. She joins the suffragette movement to make a stand and almost ends up paying the ultimate price. May is working for equality in a more peaceful fashion, campaigning alongside the anti-violence suffragists. Nell is a poorer girl from the East End of London who gets more than she bargained for when she meets May at a talk being given by Sylvia Pankhurst and they fall in love. When the Great War begins all three women will see their lives changed around them. Just how much will they have to sacrifice? 

I absolutely loved “Things A Bright Girl Can Do”. Nicholls’ writing has such a lovely, simple flow, coupled with short chapters that just kept me wanting to read more all the time. 

I loved the relationship between May and Nell. The books I’ve read about the suffragette movement previously have been non-fiction and didn’t really delve into any kind of gay representation, despite the fact there will undoubtedly have been women within the suffragette movement who were gay. I also liked that Nicholls showed different reactions of the characters with May being a little more self-assured and comfortable with her sexuality whilst Nell wasn’t even really sure what her sexuality was at first. 

I think this book is more aimed at teenagers than adults so at times it didn’t feel a little too simplistic for me but I enjoyed it all the same. The characterisation was excellent and even the supporting characters felt quite well rounded. 

I also found the depiction of the First World War to be really interesting. I remembered a lot of the key facts mentioned from my history lessons and, again, I enjoyed the mix of historical fact along with the fictional story. 

I didn’t know an awful lot about the non-violent suffragists before reading this, obviously the suffragette movement is more widely known but it was interesting to see the other side to this too. 

The fictional elements mean this is less dry than a lot of non-fiction books about the suffragette movement so would make it a good place for any younger readers wanting to start to learn about the suffragette and suffragists.