A review by racheladventure
Beyond the Mapped Stars by Rosalyn Eves

5.0

Finally! A compelling historical narrative centering Elizabeth, a Mormon protagonist with complexity, dimension, and universality. Eves is doing the necessary work of showing how any reader can benefit from reading a story that raises questions about family expectations, choice, ambition, staying true to oneself, integrity, and how to confront assumptions and overcome prejudice in our communities—regardless of the narrator’s religious background. I especially appreciated the BIPOC characters and the incredible cameos from real historical figures, such as Jane Manning James, Thomas Edison, and Maria Mitchell. The historical details sparkle on the page, evidence of an enormous amount of thought and research. Eves portrays the everyday life of these characters and brings to life the under-appreciated aspects of this time and place, such as women’s blessings, the varied opinions on polygamy, and an acknowledgment of a Mother God. This is not devotional, nor whitewashed. It does not romanticize or defend, either. As a result, Elizabeth feels like a timeless constellation many young (and not so young) people will recognize. We need more books like this.

I'll be writing a full review in the Fall 2021 issue of Exponent II.