Fallen Grace

Gr 7—10—Grace, 15, and her mentally slow sister, Lily, 17, have next to nothing. Their mother is dead, and their father left to try to make his fortune in America before Grace was born. They live in a small, shabby boardinghouse and barely sustain themselves by selling watercress on the streets of London. The girls had lived in a home where Grace was being trained as a teacher until she was raped and became pregnant. When the child is stillborn, she must find a way to make sure he is given a proper burial. At the cemetery, she makes the acquaintance of a woman whose family is in the funeral business and, because of Grace's countenance, she offers her a job as a "professional mourner." Thus begins Grace's new life. But not all is what it seems, and the unraveling of lies opens up a new world for the girls. There are only two flaws in this otherwise well-crafted and readable novel: Hooper fails to adequately capture the heartbreak of the loss of a child and, as such, the characterization of Grace falls short. Also, the optimistic ending is contrary to the actuality of the sisters' social situation, and is the only part of the book that feels unrealistic. Otherwise, the clear, descriptive prose beautifully captures the crushing realities of the poor in the 19th century. A compelling read with a Dickensian feel.—Heather M. Campbell, formerly at Philip S. Miller Library, Castle Rock, CO