The Vespertine

Mitchell, Saundra. The Vespertine. Harcourt: 2011. ISBN: 9780547482477.

Summary:
It is 1899 and seventeen-year-old Amelia has been sent by her brother to Baltimore to find a respectable husband. Staying with her cousin Zora, is exciting and Amelia loves the city. The two girls go to dinners and other social engagements that mark the season. One night just as the sun is setting Amelia has a vision of Zora in a beautiful gown dancing with Thomas, the boy she is hopeful will propose. The girls just giggle and carry on until the vision becomes reality. Amelia begins having more and more visions, not all end happily. Unsure of how to use her 'gift' Amelia must face realities that are not of her choosing.

Evaluation:
This book is wonderfully written. The language flows and recalls the time and setting beautifully. Written in first person we see the action through Amelia's eyes. Amelia is thoughtful, caring, vulnerable and a bit rebellious, all at the same time. Her relationship to Zora is central to understanding Amelia. Both girls flirt with romance, it is not just a game, but a life altering experience. This book is a nice mix of historical fiction, romance and paranormal ability. The three blend together with ease.

Reader's Annotation:
The next time you feel the wind on your skin, you will think again.

Bibliotherapeutic Uses:
We all deal with guilt and feelings of regret whether they are deserved or not. Understanding that life has an ebb and flow of its own can release some of the tension we carry around.

Genre:
Historical Fiction, Romance, Paranormal

Why I Included This Book:
The cover really caught my eye, I am a sucker for costume dramas.