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rachelhelps's review against another edition
4.0
My friends have been raving about this book--a historical YA novel with a teenage protagonist who wants to become an astronomer, set in 1878 Utah. People are excited that this book with strong religious elements had a mainstream publisher.
I have done a bit of background research into this time period, both for work and for my own interests. Historically, I love how Eves used real people and events as part of her narrative. I especially liked the inclusion of the Women's Exponent. Elizabeth's family situation, taken from one of Eves's own ancestors, is also true to the time period.
Some things I weren't sure made sense for that era. Elizabeth feels a strong pressure to be a woman homesteader and mother, and feels that studying astronomy would be selfish. Was there really a cultural pressure for this? I don't know, I'm just questioning that. I think the panic about women working "outside the home" didn't start until the 1950s. In the pioneer era, of course women had to work. Everyone did. There is certainly a difference between domestic labor and more scholarly work though.
There were a lot of exciting things that happened, one after the other, and I can see this as a narrative device to keep things interesting. I would have been find with a more leisurely pace for "events" (but I'm also not a typical YA reader). Elizabeth meets a ton of people and I couldn't really keep track of all the scientists.
Eves has Elizabeth praying to Heavenly Mother. I'm very curious if this is something she slipped in to convey her own feelings about Heavenly Mother, or if she found historical evidence for the practice (I believe it is anachronous). Elizabeth also ponders social justice issues like her friend's intersection of wealth and race and the advantages and disadvantages this gives her. Again, I agree that this is an interesting topic, but I don't think it's historically accurate. Eves actually addresses this argument in her author's note (which was a really excellent historical summary of some of the issues in the book):
It's making me think about my assumptions about historical fiction. I think it's hard to pin down how someone would have thought then and convey it to a modern reader. Certainly it's easier, and probably more attractive to an editor, to have characters think in a modern way about race, gender, and religion. And I think because of that, I was able to really relate to Elizabeth in the final pages, when she somewhat predictably chooses. The line that really struck me was after she contemplates the "and" she can have in her life: "And now I do begin to cry, because I have been afraid, because I have been small, because I thought myself trapped by the expectations of others when it has really been my own fears that trapped me." There's a tarot card that I've been thinking a lot about ever since the pandemic began: the 8 of Swords. One of my decks describes it as "trapped, but not really." It shows a person, loosely bound and blindfolded, surrounded by swords. It looks like the person could remove their own blindfold and bonds and simply leave. I have been trapped, like Elizabeth, in my own expectations for what my life should be like, even if those expectations don't match up to my aspirations. To realize that my main obstacle is myself is difficult. To watch Elizabeth go through that helped me to see her in myself and to understand the constellation of beliefs and expectations that lead there.
I have done a bit of background research into this time period, both for work and for my own interests. Historically, I love how Eves used real people and events as part of her narrative. I especially liked the inclusion of the Women's Exponent. Elizabeth's family situation, taken from one of Eves's own ancestors, is also true to the time period.
Some things I weren't sure made sense for that era. Elizabeth feels a strong pressure to be a woman homesteader and mother, and feels that studying astronomy would be selfish. Was there really a cultural pressure for this? I don't know, I'm just questioning that. I think the panic about women working "outside the home" didn't start until the 1950s. In the pioneer era, of course women had to work. Everyone did. There is certainly a difference between domestic labor and more scholarly work though.
There were a lot of exciting things that happened, one after the other, and I can see this as a narrative device to keep things interesting. I would have been find with a more leisurely pace for "events" (but I'm also not a typical YA reader). Elizabeth meets a ton of people and I couldn't really keep track of all the scientists.
Eves has Elizabeth praying to Heavenly Mother. I'm very curious if this is something she slipped in to convey her own feelings about Heavenly Mother, or if she found historical evidence for the practice (I believe it is anachronous). Elizabeth also ponders social justice issues like her friend's intersection of wealth and race and the advantages and disadvantages this gives her. Again, I agree that this is an interesting topic, but I don't think it's historically accurate. Eves actually addresses this argument in her author's note (which was a really excellent historical summary of some of the issues in the book):
Some may argue that this book is not accurate because Elizabeth and her friends adopt more progressive attitudes in the West toward race than were likely for the era. To this I would say, first, attitudes in the West toward race were as varied as the individuals living there. Second, this is a work of fiction, not a historical study, and some liberties are allowed for the sake of the story. Historical fiction is always a balancing act between the mores of the past and present values.
It's making me think about my assumptions about historical fiction. I think it's hard to pin down how someone would have thought then and convey it to a modern reader. Certainly it's easier, and probably more attractive to an editor, to have characters think in a modern way about race, gender, and religion. And I think because of that, I was able to really relate to Elizabeth in the final pages, when she somewhat predictably chooses
Spoiler
to get married and to go to schooltueller42's review against another edition
4.0
The main character, Elizabeth confronts all the problems that we see today (racism, sexism, conflict between science and religion, class differences) all while dealing with the conflicts of a book (train robbery, sick family, love interests). And she just seems to find solutions to the problems way too easily. They way everything worked out felt untruthful. Because they haven't been worked out even 150 years later.
And yet, her relationship with God felt real and truthful. And the book tells the stories that we want to hear. And that's enough.
And yet, her relationship with God felt real and truthful. And the book tells the stories that we want to hear. And that's enough.
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!