These Shallow Graves
By: Jennifer Donnelly
Release Date: October 27, 2015

***** 5 out of 5 stars (TOP PICK 2015)
Review by: Stacy Palm

It’s a Man’s World….

It is not always easy being a woman. Today we hear a lot of discussion about some of the issues we continue to battle as women in society, which is encouraging, but much of the discussion is still surrounding topics brought to light 50 years ago; equal pay, executive positions, and “breaking glass ceilings.” As a woman, and as a mother, these topics are of great importance to me. I make every attempt to support efforts such as those by the HeForShe Organization (www.heforshe.org) and frequently read publications such as The Mary Sue (www.themarysue.com). I believe it is important to also document how much success we have had moving forward as women who are valued and appreciated for both our strengths and our weaknesses. By this point, I’m certain you are thinking, what does all of this have to do with a fictional young adult book review, well, it actually has a lot to do with why I believe this is one of the best books I’ve personally read this year, and why I’m fully promoting it as a TOP PICK for 2015.

These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly on the surface is an extremely good book. It is a well crafted mystery set in New York during the 1800’s. It is the story of Josephine Montfort, a young debutante, coming of age in high society. Jo quickly found a place in my heart of literary characters because she is smart, determined, driven, and yet naive and sheltered. She has a strong vision about her future, but is hindered by family expectations. Very early in the story a tragedy occurs in the Montfort family, and Jo, with her curious spirit, soon finds herself embroiled on a search for a killer and on a mission to uncover the truth of a crime that occurred many years ago. This also leads Jo to discover some of the most refreshing and captivating supporting cast I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.

Some of my favorite characters in this book include Fay, the streetwise young grifter that will soon be sold into prostitution, Oscar, the ever so funny coroner intern, and Eddie Gallagher, the young ambitious news reporter who steals Jo’s heart. They are all written so lively that they literally jump off the page and quickly become characters the reader is wholeheartedly connected to.

Underlying the entire story however, is a thread that is deeply convicting and concerns human rights. There is Fay’s story, who soon will be sold into sexual slavery, there is Eddie’s childhood story, growing up on the streets poor and uneducated except for being taken under wing and shown a life of crime, and then there is Jo, who is soon to married off to the wealth Bram in a much contrived business exchange executed by her Uncle and Mother. Thing is the reason this story is so prevalent and one that needs to be read by not only young adults, but anyone who enjoys good fiction with meaning. I do want to stress that at no time was I feeling like the author was “hitting me over the head” with her point. Jennifer Donnelly provided an amazing story and very talentedly weaved concerns that existed in the past and was able to guide the reader in their thinking about how these factors still affect us today. I’m simply cannot put into words how enraptured I was with this story other than to say, “It was simply brilliant!”

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