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These Shallow Graves
Author:
Donnelly, Jennifer
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Class:
Fiction
Age: 12-19
Language: English
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LC: PZ7.D719
Grade: 7-12
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ISBN-13: 9780385737654
LCCN: 2014047825
Imprint: Delacorte Press
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Pub Date: 10/27/2015
Availability: Out of Print Confirmed
List: $19.99
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Hardcover
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Physical Description:
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487 pages ; 24 cm
H 9.3",
W 6.62",
D 1.5",
1.65 lbs.
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LC Series:
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Brodart Sources:
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Brodart's For Youth Interest: Popular
Brodart's Insight Catalog: Teen
Brodart's TOP Young Adult Titles
Brodart's YA Reads for Adults
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Bibliographies:
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Booklist High-Demand Hot List
Middle and Junior High Core Collection, 13th ed.
Middle and Junior High Core Collection, 14th ed.
Rise: A Feminist Book Project for Ages 0-18
Senior High Core Collection, 20th ed.
Senior High Core Collection, 21st ed.
Senior High Core Collection, 22nd ed.
Texas Tayshas Reading List
Young Adult Fiction Core Collection, 4th ed.
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Awards:
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Best Fiction for Young Adults
Booklist Starred Reviews
Horn Book Guide Titles, Rated 1 - 4
Publishers Weekly Starred Reviews
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Starred Reviews:
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Booklist
Publishers Weekly
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TIPS Subjects:
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Death and Dying
Family Life
Historical Fiction
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BISAC Subjects: |
YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Girls & Women
YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Mysteries & Detective Stories
YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Thrillers & Suspense / General
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LC Subjects:
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Death, Fiction
Death, Juvenile fiction
Fathers and daughters, Fiction
New York (N.Y.), History, 19th century, Fiction
Sex role, Fiction
Social classes, Fiction
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SEARS Subjects: |
Death, Fiction
Father-daughter relationship, Fiction
New York (N.Y.), History, 19th century, Fiction
Sex role, Fiction
Social classes, Fiction
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Reading Programs: |
Accelerated Reader Level:
4.7
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Points: 19.0
Lexile Level:
630
Reading Counts Level:
5.5
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Points: 29.0
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| Annotations |
| Brodart's TOP Young Adult Titles | 11/01/2015 |
| Jo Montfort gets her chance to follow in Nellie Bly's footsteps as a female newspaper reporter, but at a tragic cost. Jo's father allegedly has allegedly shot himself while cleaning his gun. Jo knows her father better than that. As Jo seeks the truth about her father's suspicious death, she bonds with a handsome reporter named Eddie. The closer Jo gets to the truth, the more perilous her search becomes. There's no turning back now. 496pp. |
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| Starred Reviews: |
| Booklist | 09/01/2015 |
| Grades 9-12. Jennifer Donnelly's historical novel looks at a teen who wants to follow the news without becoming the news. Reporter Eddie says to newspaper heiress Jo Montfort, "You're a very unusual girl," and in some ways it's true: rich and accomplished young women in 1890s Manhattan aren't supposed to have aspirations beyond a good marriage. But Jo, clever and curious, dreams of being a reporter like Nelly Bly. When her father is found dead in their Gramercy home--authorities say he shot himself accidentally while cleaning his gun, but Jo knows he was too intelligent about firearms to clean it loaded--her life takes a dramatic turn as she struggles to determine the true cause of his death, be it murder or suicide. As her dangerous, potentially reputation-ruining exploration continues, she repeatedly encounters Eddie Gallagher, a smart and ambitious reporter who alternates between aiding Jo and trying to send her home. But she perseveres and soon finds herself drawn into the seedy underbelly of New York as she seeks out information in whorehouses, dens of thieves, and insane asylums--all places where a proper young lady might not belong, but a true reporter can't avoid.Donnelly, whose A Northern Light (2003) was a Printz Honor Book, has crafted a remarkable portrait of a girl struggling with the constraints of an overbearing society and looking for answers in the midst of deep grief. The writing is lovely and nuanced and the plot fast-paced and thrilling, though savvy readers will probably guess at least some of the twists. What really sets this apart is the characterizations. Jo is no stock heroine: she is brave and smart and determined, yes, but also rash and impulsive and frequently so blinded by familial loyalty that she doesn't see things other characters--and the reader--might. Her slowly unfolding romance with Eddie doesn't detract from her ambition or her goal, and the judgmental rigidity of her society and the mystery surrounding her father's death are as much a roadblock to her longed-for journalism career as they are to this unsanctioned relationship.And then there is Fay. The smart-talking street thief with a hard-luck life and a bitter future could have been introduced as many things: a foil for the privileged Jo, her romantic rival for Eddie, or just a cautionary reminder of the cost of a fall from grace. Instead, Fay and Jo slowly form a close bond, quickly becoming close confidants despite their different upbringings and outlooks. Eddie says that Jo is not like other girls, but, true to form, Jo disagrees. "Most girls are a lot like me," she says. "Wanting answers to their questions." This is the ultimate truth to which Donnelly continues to circle back, that there is no solid line dividing different kinds of girls. Fictional or otherwise, people can't be split into good or bad, rich or poor, unusual or plain. It's that realization that elevates this from just a well-crafted historical thriller into a smart, insightful, timely depiction of a young woman poised on the brink of a new world after the shattering of another, armed with the qualities and the companions to see her through. Reagan, Maggie. 496p. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2015. |
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| Publishers Weekly | 08/17/2015 |
| Ages 12-up. Josephine Montfort, one of the wealthy elite in 1890 New York City, is supposed to finish school, marry a suitable gentleman, raise a family, "and that is all." But smart, self-assured Jo desires more from life--and wants to become a reporter like Nellie Bly. When Jo's father unexpectedly dies, and she discovers that his death wasn't an accident, she teams up with an intrepid reporter named Eddie to find out what really happened. They uncover secrets that upend everything she has known, and Jo risks her reputation as they visit checkered parts of the city and she starts to fall for Eddie. While this isn't a short book, Donnelly's (Revolution) action-packed chapters propel this compelling mystery. Through Jo's sheltered perspective, readers learn about class disparity right alongside her, and Donnelly is as adept at describing an opulent ball as she is a seedy neighborhood. Though some of the constraints placed on female behavior during that time period have faded, the injustices Donnelly highlights remain all too relevant. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Oct.). 496p. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, c2015. |
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| Journal Reviews |
| BookPage | 11/01/2015 |
| BookPage Teen Top Pick, November 2015 Set in 1890s New York City, when social lines starkly divided the city, These Shallow Graves follows the urban adventure of a smart, independent and beautiful young woman from high society who's willing to risk everything to solve the mystery of her father's untimely death. Despite all the pleading from her wealthy friends and family, Josephine Montfort finds it hard to be content with everything being handed to her on a silver platter. She's more captivated by the work of trailblazing reporter Nellie Bly, and she loves writing shocking exposes of the city's societal ills. After her father is found dead in his study one night, Jo discovers that her polished world is far too small and suffocating. His "accidental suicide" reeks of foul play, and Jo grows ever more bold in her quest for the truth, eventually enlisting the help of handsome reporter Eddie Gallagher to hunt for clues. But as Jo and Eddie inch closer to the hard facts, repeatedly poking NYC's seedy underbelly in the process, they find something bigger and more dangerous than either of them could have imagined. Best known for her 2003 novel A Northern Light--one of Time magazine's "100 Best Young-Adult Books of All Time"--author Jennifer Donnelly returns with a powerhouse of a whodunit. Her eighth novel strikes hard against poverty, sexism, classism and greed, driving as relentlessly as Jo in her pursuit of truth and freedom. Justin Barisich. 496p. BOOKPAGE, c2015. |
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| Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books | 11/01/2015 |
| R. Gr. 7-10. The daughter of a wealthy, elite family in 1890s New York, seventeen-year-old Josephine Montfort knows her aspirations to be the next Nellie Bly will likely go unrealized, pushed aside by expensive dresses, luxurious estates, and an arranged marriage to the city's most sought-after bachelor. When her father unexpectedly dies, Jo is certain his death is not an accident as everyone is claiming, and she enlists the help of Eddie Gallagher, intrepid reporter and devilishly handsome rogue, to uncover the truth. What follows is Jo's descent into her city's seedier side and her realization that her family's wealth comes at a terrible cost. Donnelly (author of Revolution, BCCB 11/10) perfectly captures the disparity between classes at the turn of the century, vividly detailing the sordid excesses of the upper classes and their strict social norms and the dog-eat-dog desperation of life on the streets, as thieves, prostitutes, and orphaned children struggle to survive. Jo realizes there are cruel similarities, however, when ruthless madam helps her understand that Jo herself is merely being sold off to the highest bidder, not unlike the girls she meets in the brothels. The romantic tension between Eddie and Jo will be pure catnip to romance readers, especially as the two verbally spar in between a few brief, stolen kisses. Scattered clues and small details come together is a satisfying, albeit heartbreaking, conclusion. KQG. 496p. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIV. OF ILLINOIS, c2015. |
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| Horn Book | 09/01/2015 |
| Middle School, High School. It is the last decade of the nineteenth century, and beautiful, wealthy, intelligent Jo Montfort knows what life has in store for her: a loveless marriage to someone within her upper-class set; children; an endless round of tedious social events. The young New Yorker yearns for a different path, to follow in the footsteps of her hero, audacious female journalist Nellie Bly. Unfortunately, this seems an impossible dream--until Jo's father is found dead, an apparent suicide, and she begins to investigate. Aided and abetted by Eddie Gallagher, a cocky young journalist, the determined Jo comes up with ways to escape her constricted world, and discovers some grim truths behind her gilded life. As with her two previous works of historical fiction, A Northern Light (rev. 5/03) and Revolution, Donnelly fills her scenes with rich period detail. Whether at a society ball, a rough waterfront, or a miserable boarding house, the sensory images are vividly described. "The smell of unwashed bodies and chamber pots was overwhelming. But there was an even worse stench underneath those--the stench of despair." An ever-deepening and more riveting mystery, a heroine you can't help cheering on, thoughtful considerations of class and gender, as well as a swoon-worthy romance--these all make the book a most entertaining read. monica edinger. 482pg. THE HORN BOOK, c2015. |
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| Horn Book Guide | 05/01/2016 |
| 2. Wealthy New Yorker Jo knows what's in store for her: a loveless marriage; children; tedious social events. Following in the footsteps of her hero, female journalist Nellie Bly, seems an impossible dream--until Jo begins to investigate her father's apparent suicide. Rich late-nineteenth-century detail, an ever-deepening mystery, a heroine to cheer on, thoughtful considerations of class and gender, swoon-worthy romance--this is a most entertaining read. me. 482pg. THE HORN BOOK, c2016. |
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| Kirkus Reviews | 08/01/2015 |
| In 19th-century Manhattan, socialite Jo Monfort's wealthy father meets an untimely death. Seventeen-year-old Jo, like her literary namesake in Little Women, aspires to be a writer, but her itch to learn about the world outside her social class threatens her family's expectation that she'll marry Bram, the most eligible bachelor in New York. When Jo's father is found dead of a gunshot wound in his study, it's assumed to be an accident, but Jo wonders how her safety-conscious father could possibly have been cleaning a loaded gun. She overhears a rakish young reporter declare that her father's partners in a shipbuilding firm paid hush money to keep the fact that it was murder out of the press. Jo won't rest until she gets to the bottom of the story, despite the risk to her reputation. Melodrama and intrigue drive this fast-paced thriller with a Wharton-esque setting and a naive young protagonist willing to be exposed to the shadier side of life--prostitutes, uncouth men, and abject poverty--on her way to solving a mystery and asserting her right to claim her future for herself. The author keeps the clues coming at a rate that allows readers to be one small step ahead of Jo as the story races to its surprising conclusion. Readers who love costume dramas will relish this one. (Historical mystery. 13-17). 496pg. KIRKUS MEDIA LLC, c2015. |
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| School Library Journal | 08/01/2015 |
| Gr 9 Up. It's September 1890, and Josephine "Jo" Montfort has been called home from Miss Sparkwell's School for Young Ladies upon her father's death. The police said it was an accident, but Jo knows her father would never have been so careless as to clean a loaded gun. When rumors of suicide reach her ears, she feels compelled to discover the truth of what happened that night in her father's study. Risking her reputation, the teen searches for answers wherever the clues take her, even to the dangerous slums and docks of New York City. With a handsome and nosy newsman as her reluctant guide, Jo begins to learn more about her family's murky history. Each secret she uncovers leads to another, stirring up her past and threatening her future. Donnelly's latest is a glimpse into the changing societal structure of turn-of-the-century New York City, personified by Jo Montfort. She is a girl trapped by her family's expectations and yearning for a different life, sentiments that will resound with today's teens. She and her co-amateur detective and forbidden romantic interest, Eddie Gallagher, are likable, well-drawn, and interesting. While there may not be many surprises for discerning readers, interest is maintained as they unravel the puzzle through Jo's naive eyes. The plot moves forward at steady pace and short chapters break the novel up into easily devourable pieces. VERDICT A beautifully written mystery that will appeal to a variety of readers. Heather Miller Cover, Homewood Public Library, AL. 496p. SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, c2015. |
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| ~VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates Magazine - Retired Journal) | 10/01/2015 |
| 3Q 3P M J. The setting is New York City, 1890. Jo Montfort, daughter of the privileged Aldrich family of New York, just discovers her father has "committed suicide." Jo is of "marriageable age" and her grandmother cannot wait to set her up with Bram Aldrich, someone who is of acceptable class and breed. Jo has dreams of becoming another Nellie Bly, the famous journalist of the early 19th century. She starts to investigate her father's death and discovers the squalid side of New York. Along the way, she meets an attractive reporter, Eddie Gallagher, and together they unearth secrets no one knew existed. Donnelly twists historical facts with a modern romance and mystery to create a fast paced page-turner. The novel is filled with historical references that someone studying the early 1900s will easily recognize. For New York City residents, street names and neighborhoods will sound familiar. There are some terms that seem out of place, such as "she fibbed," and "smiling like a jackass." The characters are well developed and the reader gets a good sense of the socioeconomic struggles of each person. There are many twists in the story and the reader is kept in suspense until the very end of the book. Although the book is recommended for fourteen and up, it would be suitable for middle and junior high. The language is simple and direct, making it a quick read even at almost 500 pages.--Ellen Frank. 496p. VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES, c2015. |
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9780385737654,dl.it[0].title
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