Wildthorn by Jane Eagland

Jane Eagland weaves an engrossing tale about a teenaged girl who finds herself locked up in Wildthorn, a mental institution in Victorian England. Neither the protagonist, Louisa Cosgrove, nor the reader know why she was sent there, until clues are revealed in flashbacks interspersed with the narrative. Louisa must figure out the truth behind her situation, amidst the lies and abuse from the institution’s staff, aided by the kindness of Eliza, one of the assistant caregivers. Throughout the story, a lot is revealed about women in medicine, the wretched reality of patient care, and social customs of the time, which could provide good discussion points. While the plot gets wrapped up a little too nicely at the end, it’s still a captivating story that will especially appeal to historical fiction fans.

Wildthorn comes out on September 6!

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Reviewed from a review copy received from the publisher on NetGalley.

August 23rd, 2010  ♥  Books, Reviews  ♥  No Comments »