I do believe I have a new book to add to my “All Time Favorite Books” list! Based on the back of the book I was not really too excited about reading this, but with each page I found myself loving it more and more and basically was not able to put it down.
Historical fiction would be a difficult genre to write. Not only does the author have the task of writing an intriguing story with believable characters, but also they must place them in a setting and situation that is historically accurate. The amount of research going into the time, the customs, the food, the dress, the vernacular – everything – would be exhausting. Jennifer Donnelly did her homework well in writing A Northern Light. She not only created a believable setting historically speaking, she created marvelous main and supporting characters and placed them next to a mystery without losing them in it.
The characters were simply amazing. The main character Mattie was supported by an outstanding cast of secondary characters. Whether Mattie was arguing with her father or Royal, studying with Weaver or her teacher – she was so complex and interesting and her supporting characters were as well. Each brought something different to the story. Each of them had their own story as well. It was as if though the entire novel was and “against all odds” tale with Mattie in the lead.
Mattie dreamed of going to college – which because of the time, her gender, her economic situation, and her expectations at home as well as her promise to her dying mother – she never really believed that dream could become a reality.
Weaver also dreamed of going to college but because he was black during this time period, and short on money, his dreams were a stretch as well.
Mattie’s father missed his wife and his old life on the logs, but because of his land and children he felt stuck.
Mrs. Baxter wanted freedom to write and freedom from her husband – but time, her gender, and her lack of power (even though she had money she had no power) kept her from those things so her only chance for freedom was running away from her “expected life”
Royal too was trapped. He wanted to help his mother as well as get back at the woman who was hurting her. He wanted land on his own and in order to get those two things he developed a rational plan. Problem with the logical plan he created is that his heart was more in the land he would never get than the wife he never really wanted.
And then there is Grace Davis, the woman for whom the entire story is centered around and the portion of the story that determines the setting. Grace too is trapped. Because she is a woman, and a pregnant unmarried woman at that, she relies solely on a man to save her – and that very man she believed would save her ultimately kills her.
I could go on – but the point is that all the characters are so very rich – a stark contrast to the characters in folklore – that you want to keep reading to see what happens not just to Mattie but to all of the characters.
The other aspect I appreciated in reading this book was the surprises. The characters have some insight that Mattie does not initially have but discovers for herself along the way (like Royal’s real reason for his interest in her and the death of Grace Davis). At the same time, there were times I just didn’t see some things coming – like who her teacher really was…or the ending. I loved Mrs. Baxter and struggled with how she fit in the community she was in but then it all made sense when her true identity was revealed. How amazing for Mattie as well to have her as a teacher – without her relationship with Mrs. Baxter, Mattie would (most likely) not have ventured off to college in the end. And the end…there were several times in the novel I was convinced the author was preparing the readers to be OK with Mattie’s decision to stay. I found myself thinking like Mattie, thinking that life wouldn’t be THAT bad if she stayed. I found myself making excuses for Mattie to stay there, convincing myself that if she did stay there she would be happy. All the while I knew where she belonged but I never believed she would actually go. The ending was the best part of the novel. Everything I wanted to happen but didn’t think would happen (because real life sucks, it isn’t the happily ever after we read about in books – as Mattie reveals to readers) happened. The ending was better than I could have ever imagined but Donnelly wrote it in such a beautiful and believable way that I was giddy at the end – and this coming from the reader who LOVES depressing books. I was thrilled to read a realistic book with a realistic happy ending – beating the odds.
I haven’t even mentioned the great use of language and the wonderful references to other texts. It is clear Donnelly has a love for reading and language and she uses it to enhance the story she tells.
Overall - Great read! This is historical fiction at its best. I loved it and have already had two students read it and share that they loved it as well.
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