Seeking Mansfield

Gr 8 Up—In this modern retelling of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park, Finley Price joins the Bertrams' household following the death of her father and the alcoholic and abusive downward spiral of her mother. She has just begun to adjust when famous siblings Harlan and Emma Crawford move in next door. The daughter of a well-known actor, Finley is no stranger to the world of theater and film, but her history and timid nature prevent her from applying to a prestigious theater program, even with her best friend's encouragement and her further immersion into the world of theater with the Crawfords. The narrative begins with stiff language, perhaps too reminiscent of that of the original Austen work, but eventually settles into a more comfortable style. Similarly, characters' personalities start off caricaturelike before the author grasps deeper layers of each one, fleshing out subtleties and contradictions with finesse. With a classic plot to build on, this title successfully illustrates gray areas of human nature and communicates them in a way readers will see reflected in their own lives. This novel will satisfy fans of the source material and Austen neophytes alike. The book's complex themes will be enjoyed by fans of Estelle Laure's This Raging Light and Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl.