This book is crazy. Never have I ever read anything that combines nineteenth century England, ancient Egyptian artifacts (don't forget the mummies), and Napoleon Bonaparte. And I loved it!!
Let's start with the main character, Agnes Wilcox. This girl is hardcore. She can speak ten languages. She listens in on secret meetings. She wanders the streets of London in the wee hours of the morning. And she reads Jane Austen! The minute she was quoting the oh so famous first line from Pride and Prejudice in Italian, Russian, and Greek, this girl was my homey. I LOVE smart female characters. They are, in my not-so-humble opinion, rather difficult to come by. In addition, Agnes is saucy and rebellious and yet loving all at the same time. Plus, she has a great family, which is rare in Young Adult literature. I loved that.
The year is 1815, my friends. Napoleon Bonaparte has, shall we say, risen from the dead, and has escaped from exile on the island of Elba. In his lust to take over the world, Napoleon is after a most important artifact ... an artifact our young heroine is closely connected with.
Ah! I have you spooked, don't I? This book was SO much fun. And I am stoked to read more of Bradbury's novels. However, I did think at times that the writing could have been more eloquent. I found myself rereading sentences on more than a few occasions because the wording was a little unclear. There were also a few too many swear words than what I normally recommend. However, the book is so so so clean. I can't over emphasize this. It's a real gem, my friends. You won't want to miss it.
Appropriate for ages 15+
Okay, so I admit it. I am a sucker for regency romance novels. Give me stories where there are country estates, horses, potential highwaymen, and all kinds of secrets, and I am hooked. I will be reading it in the night until the birds start singing and I realize I really need to go to sleep for at least a few hours before I start my day.
Drops of Gold is just such a novel. After her father dies, Marion takes on the identity of Mary Wood in order to work as a governess. She is all that is cheery and spunky, but finds that the Meadows, where she is staying, has some peculiar secrets. And you can bet your life that those secrets have to do with the master of the house, the hardened and tormented Mr. Layton Jonquil.
This book flips back and forth between the two main characters' perspectives, which I loved. It is such a delight to get inside both of their heads. You understand everything on a much deeper level, and this was done remarkably well. The characters were also likable, and while the plot was somewhat predictable, I had a blast reading this book.
I would caution any potential readers who are fans of Jane Eyre, though. The story line in Drops of Gold is very similar to Charlotte Bronte's novel, only written for a more modern audience. There were also moments when the book felt a little redundant. But it was fun! And I am all about having fun, so indulge yourselves everyone, and slip into the Jane Austen time period! Why not, eh?
Appropriate for ages 16+
