andrewhall's review against another edition
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this YA novel about a 1870s rural Utah girls who yearns for higher education and a life of science beyond her community, while also valuing her family and her faith. Eves does a fantastic job weaving well-researched period details and historical figures into the story of her trip to Wyoming and Colorado to help her sister in childbirth and participate in the observations of a solar eclipse. The story dragged a bit at first, but by the middle it becomes engrossing. I appreciate that she included LDS women giving blessings at childbirth, and portrayed the complexities of the struggles to integrate science and faith, and family with a desire to get an education and have a career.
clittleford3's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
4.0
punandprose's review against another edition
3.0
I mean, it was okay. I picked this one up because I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I descend from early pioneers that went to Utah, so this book intrigued me. For the most part, I found it overly and unnecessarily progressive for the era in which it's written. A young girl living in rural Utah during the late 19th century would not have the modern views expressed in this book. Though some of these beliefs are similar to my own, some are not. Regardless, none of those beliefs would have been anything even thought of at the time. This made the story feel a bit disjointed and ingenuine to the time, and it really just felt like the author wanted to push her beliefs regardless of the setting. Plus, the main character is actually quite selfish, and I had a hard time relating to her since there are so many things that are more important than ourselves and our own pursuits.
That said, this is well-written, and I enjoyed the discussion of faith vs. science and how to reconcile the two. As a lover of science, it's a topic I've tossed around in my head frequently. I enjoyed the message that one doesn't negate the other, and we can have both. But I ultimately knew that already without this book, so maybe there wasn't really a point to me reading this.
Content
Some mild swearing, some very light romance.
That said, this is well-written, and I enjoyed the discussion of faith vs. science and how to reconcile the two. As a lover of science, it's a topic I've tossed around in my head frequently. I enjoyed the message that one doesn't negate the other, and we can have both. But I ultimately knew that already without this book, so maybe there wasn't really a point to me reading this.
Content
Some mild swearing, some very light romance.
katiecox616's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent YA/middle grade historical fiction about 16 year old Elizabeth Bertelsen. In 1878, she longs to study and become an astronomer, but feels bound to become a wife and mother just like her mother. When she ventures out alone for the first time to visit her sister and help while she labors and gives birth, she has the chance to visit Denver to view the total eclipse of the sun that happened on July 29, 1878. Adventures along the way change Elizabeth's idea of what is possible for herself. The author sheds light on some lesser-known facts about life in the American West while creating an endearing and empathetic heroine.
lizbusby's review against another edition
5.0
I had heard such good things about this book, and now having read it, they are all deserved. This is one of the first books with a Mormon protagonist published by a mainstream publisher that isn't a sensationalist polygamy book. I loved how Rosalyn Eves was careful to include just enough explanation for those not familiar with the LDS church and its history, but still relied somewhat on the reader to figure things out.
Eves also manages to pack in almost every controversial issue in the history of the church in a short YA volume: race restrictions, polygamy, LGTBQ issues, women's blessings, relations with the Native Americans, it's all in there. And she deals with them all in a very forthright yet ultimately faithful way. The science versus religion theme as well as the marriage versus career question felt so authentic and realistic to me as an LDS woman, without feeling anachronistic in its feminism.
The eclipse setting was fascinating, the characters were loveable and interesting, and I even enjoyed the romance in the book, which is a big ask for someone as picky as me. This is a book I'm already recommending to my book club and will pass along to my sons and daughter when they are ready for considering the issues it presents. Highly recommend this book!
Eves also manages to pack in almost every controversial issue in the history of the church in a short YA volume: race restrictions, polygamy, LGTBQ issues, women's blessings, relations with the Native Americans, it's all in there. And she deals with them all in a very forthright yet ultimately faithful way. The science versus religion theme as well as the marriage versus career question felt so authentic and realistic to me as an LDS woman, without feeling anachronistic in its feminism.
The eclipse setting was fascinating, the characters were loveable and interesting, and I even enjoyed the romance in the book, which is a big ask for someone as picky as me. This is a book I'm already recommending to my book club and will pass along to my sons and daughter when they are ready for considering the issues it presents. Highly recommend this book!
ronald_schoedel's review against another edition
5.0
Great read. I really enjoyed the story arc.
The protagonist is a sincere and well-meaning, yet (like most every teenager) flighty at times, occasionally very selfish and self-centered. I like that our heroine was not an impossibly perfect teenager; such a story would be unbelievable. Sometimes you will want to yell at her. And that's ok since she deserves it. But she learns from her experiences, as most of us as teenagers learn from our stupid and selfish experiences. As an example, with some half-truths and lies Elizabeth nearly ruins an important friendship. This is just so much like a teen drama might play out, which is one of many things that makes the book relatable for modern teens, Mormon or non-Mormon.
Some will say some of the more progressive attitudes of some characters is unrealistic for the time period, but I would dismiss such complaints. They may not have been common attitudes of the time period, but absolutely there were more progressive thinkers then. Eves skims some societal prejudices whilst taking others head on. I really appreciated the balance, as it makes the book come off more realistic and less preachy, allowing for the reader to not be told what to think. A worthy addition to the canon of Mormon YA literature.
The protagonist is a sincere and well-meaning, yet (like most every teenager) flighty at times, occasionally very selfish and self-centered. I like that our heroine was not an impossibly perfect teenager; such a story would be unbelievable. Sometimes you will want to yell at her. And that's ok since she deserves it. But she learns from her experiences, as most of us as teenagers learn from our stupid and selfish experiences. As an example, with some half-truths and lies Elizabeth nearly ruins an important friendship. This is just so much like a teen drama might play out, which is one of many things that makes the book relatable for modern teens, Mormon or non-Mormon.
Some will say some of the more progressive attitudes of some characters is unrealistic for the time period, but I would dismiss such complaints. They may not have been common attitudes of the time period, but absolutely there were more progressive thinkers then. Eves skims some societal prejudices whilst taking others head on. I really appreciated the balance, as it makes the book come off more realistic and less preachy, allowing for the reader to not be told what to think. A worthy addition to the canon of Mormon YA literature.
thehappiestreader's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5