This week: two YA historical fiction titles coming out early 2016. First up we have Salt to the Sea, the latest from critically acclaimed author Ruta Sepetys. I have not yet read Between Shades of Gray (I know!!) but I was absolutely taken with everything about Out of the Easy– I found Sepetys’ writing and narrative style is sophisticated and assured, and her characters so compelling. I look very much forward to Salt of the Sea, and hopefully will also get a chance to read her Between Shades of Gray soon (at least well before the movie adaptation comes out!). Next up this week is the second young adult novel from author Sharon Biggs Waller. I was fortunate enough to receive an opportunity to read an ARC of Waller’s strong debut, A Mad, Wicked Folly just around the time it came out. I was impressed with the novel as a whole, fascinated by its subject matter, and was thrilled to discover another historical fiction writer to look out for. The Forbidden Orchid sounds like it could be another winner, and my hopes are high for it!

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
Expected publication: February 2, 2016 by Philomel Books

In 1945, World War II is drawing to a close in East Prussia, and thousands of refugees are on a desperate trek toward freedom, almost all of them with something to hide. Among them are Joana, Emilia, and Florian, whose paths converge en route to the ship that promises salvation, the Wilhelm Gustloff. Forced by circumstance to unite, the three find their strength, courage, and trust in each other tested with each step closer toward safety.

Just when it seems freedom is within their grasp, tragedy strikes. Not country, nor culture, nor status matter as all ten thousand people aboard must fight for the same thing: survival.
 
 

The Forbidden Orchid by Sharon Biggs Waller
Expected publication: February 2, 2016 by Viking

Staid, responsible Elodie Buchanan is the eldest of ten sisters living in a small English market town in 1861. The girls’ father is a plant hunter, usually off adventuring through the jungles of China.
Then disaster strikes: Mr. Buchanan fails to collect an extremely rare and valuable orchid, meaning that he will be thrown into debtors’ prison and the girls will be sent to the orphanage or the poorhouse. Elodie’s father has one last chance to return to China, find the orchid, and save the family—and this time, thanks to an unforeseen twist of fate, Elodie is going with him. Elodie has never before left her village, but what starts as fear turns to wonder as she adapts to seafaring life aboard the tea clipper The Osprey, and later to the new sights, dangers, and romance of China.

But even if she can find the orchid, how can she find herself now that staid, responsible Elodie has seen how much the world has to offer?

My picks for top 5 children’s and top 5 YA fiction I read this year:

Murder Most Unladylike (Wells and Wong #1) by Robin Stevens

The Return of Zita the Spacegirl (Zita the Spacegirl #3) by Ben Hatke

Now Look What You’ve Done (Timmy Failure #2) by Stephen Pastis

We Meet Again (Timmy Failure #3) by Stephan Pastis

Emperor Pickletine Rides the Bus (Origami Yoda #6) by Tom Angleberger

The Sweetest Thing You Can Sing by C.K. Kelly Martin

Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour

All the Truth That’s in Me by Julie Berry

Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson

A Mad, Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller

*Note: These are titles I have read in 2014; titles may have been published in previous years. Rereads are not included on this list.

Source: ARC from Goodreads First Reads, provided by Penguin Group. Thank you!

Verdict:Very Good/Excellent

Book Description:

Welcome to the world of the fabulously wealthy in London, 1909, where dresses and houses are overwhelmingly opulent, social class means everything, and women are taught to be nothing more than wives and mothers. Into this world comes seventeen-year-old Victoria Darling, who wants only to be an artist—a nearly impossible dream for a girl.

After Vicky poses nude for her illicit art class, she is expelled from her French finishing school. Shamed and scandalized, her parents try to marry her off to the wealthy Edmund Carrick-Humphrey. But Vicky has other things on her mind: her clandestine application to the Royal College of Art; her participation in the suffragette movement; and her growing attraction to a working-class boy who may be her muse—or may be the love of her life. As the world of debutante balls, corsets, and high society obligations closes in around her, Vicky must figure out: just how much is she willing to sacrifice to pursue her dreams?

I was enchanted first by the melodic title, second by the book description. An historical YA novel set in London, early 20th century, revolving around art and the suffragette movement? It sounded wonderful, and debut novelist Sharon Biggs Waller truly delivered on the promise of a fantastic read.

Not quite knowing what to expect, I thought that the majority of the novel might center around Vicky’s love life and her promised marriage to wealthy Edmund, but this was not the case! At the heart of A Mad, Wicked Folly is Victoria’s fervor for her art, her desire to freely express herself through art, to pursue education, and to make a name for herself. All things, as we understand historically- circa 1909- were not an option for young women. While there is a wonderful distraction, muse, possible genuine love for Victoria by the name of Will- an engaging man who we meet early on- their relationship doesn’t overtake or dampen this very satisfying and rich story. In fact, I thought that Vicky and Will’s connection was made all the stronger because of our protagonist’s growing passions for the world around here.

In a few turns and revelations- some unanticipated!- the author kept me on my toes and did not take easy turns or outs with the story, or with the characters. For example, Edmund could have been made out to be an easy villain, an easy man to flat-out hate, so that we would sympathize entirely and only with Vicky and a new man. But not so! Moreover, the interplay between Vicky’s growing desperation for liberation and choice with that of the increasing uproar and menace regarding the women’s suffrage movement is, I think, very well done, and adds an even deeper layer to the story.

Overall, I found A Mad, Wicked Folly to be sensitively and passionately written and thoroughly enjoyable. I love the intense detail that have gone into everything from the fashion, to decor, to the artists and real-life advocates of suffrage. I also adore that Victoria started off such a full character and grew even more into an introspective, aware, driven, resourceful person; a character the author seems to adore very much. I would recommend this novel for those who enjoy historical fiction (of course!) be it YA or adult; fans of Katherine Longshore, Jessica Spotswood, Y.S. Lee, Michelle Cooper, Elizabeth Ross, or Jennifer McGowan. And if you’re not much of a historical fiction reader? Give this novel a try. A Mad, Wicked Folly is, simply put, a captivating story with compelling characters.

Note: This review, written by me, originally appeared on Fabbity Fab Book Reviews.