A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
A Great
and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray, Random House, New York, 2005. ISBN 978-0385732314
Plot
Summary
In 1895,
Gemma Doyle is a young woman enjoying her unconventional
life in
India. But when her mother is mysteriously killed on Gemma’s sixteenth
birthday, she is forced to leave India for the posh Spence
Academy boarding school in London. Fitting in with ‘proper’ ladies of
society is hard enough for Gemma and so is learning how to be a proper
lady herself.
Gemma is
also struggling with something the other girls aren’t: supernatural visions
like the one that foretold her mother’s death. A mysterious young man is
following Gemma’s every move and seems to know something about her
mother’s death. After becoming friends with popular Felicity, beautiful
Pippa, and her roommate, Ann, Gemma discovers a journal on the outskirts of the
school grounds. The journal details a secret order of girls that practiced
magic at Spence twenty-five years ago.
Suddenly
realizing there is more to life than just being a proper lady, Gemma and her
friends decide to start their own Order and begin practicing magic. But the
girls soon realize that even their safe little world has dark secrets, secrets
that could destroy them if they aren’t careful.
Critical
Evaluation
Bray
manages to combine historical fiction, fantasy, and paranormal themes together
seamlessly in this novel. The Victorian England setting and society’s
desire for the characters to act like ladies provide a nice contrast to the
girl’s true desires. The historical detail doesn’t derail from the
main focus of the characters trying to find their own identity. While the plot
does take place over a hundred years ago, readers today can still relate to the
emotions and desires of Gemma and her friends. The fantasy world and magic
doesn’t overshadow the rest of the plot and doesn’t come across as far-fetched.
Another
strong focus throughout the novel is Gemma’s personal journey. Gemma starts her
narrative confused about where her life will lead her. Her safe, secure life is
suddenly taken away from her after the death of her mother. While Gemma knows
she can’t follow the rules and expectations of society, she also has to try to
fit in the best she can. Trying to find her identity and her place in the world
is something many teens (and even adults) can relate to.
Reader’s
Annotation
After the
mysterious death of her mother, Gemma must find her own inner strength and
power, in order to survive her new life.
About the Author
“What is
it about writing an author bio that gives me that deer-in-headlights feeling?
It's not exactly like I'm going to say "I was born in Alabama..." and
somebody's going to jump up and snarl, "Oh yeah? Prove it!" At least
I hope not.
I think
what gets me feeling itchy is all that emphasis on the facts of a life, while
all the juicy, relevant, human oddity stuff gets left on the cutting room
floor. I could tell you the facts-I lived in Texas for most of my life; I live
in New York City with my husband and five-year-old son now; I have freckles and
a lopsided smile; I'm allergic to penicillin.
But that
doesn't really give you much insight into me. That doesn't tell you that I
stuck a bead up my nose while watching TV when I was four and thought I'd have
to go to the ER and have it cut out. Or that I once sang a punk version of
"Que Sera Sera" onstage in New York City. Or that I made everyone
call me "Bert" in ninth grade for no reason that I can think of. See
what I mean?”
Genres
Historical
Fiction
Fantasy/paranormal
Curriculum
Ties
Victorian
History
Booktalking
Ideas
1:
Which of the girls do you most identify with? Why?
2: If you
could create your own Realms, what would they look like?
Reading
Level/Interest Age
12+
Grades
7+
Challenge
Issues
Violence/Murder
Sexual
situations
Themes of
magic and psychics
Defense File
1—Ensure that policies such as “Freedom to Read,” “Collection
Development,” and “Challenged Materials” are available for patrons and staff to
read and research. Have list of awards and reviews for titles, as well as a
“Reconsideration Form” on hand at all branches.
2—Listen to challenges and complaints openly and without
judgment. Allow the patron to express their thoughts without inputting your own.
3—Have patron fill out reconsideration form. Provide
information and background on challenge material’s author and title.
Forward reconsideration form to appropriate supervisors.
PPLD’s Challenge Materials Policy:
http://ppld.org/challenged-materials-policy
PPLD’s Collection Development Policy:
http://ppld.org/collection-development-policy
Why included?
I included this book, because it is a
favorite of mine. It also has a good cross selection of genres and the
characters are strong, relatable young women that other teenagers would
identify with.
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