Of the books I have read in the past year, this one is probably my favorite. Nancy Farmer takes a hot-button issue (cloning) and crafts a gripping story populated with characters you either love or love to hate. I want to say more, but this is one of those books where the less you know going in, the better off you are.

Will Strait

This is a riveting novel depicting life in traditional China. The novel leads the reader into the inner life of two young Chinese girls who have contrasting backgrounds but similar expectations. The extended process of foot-binding is shocking to a Western reader and is a true testimony to the courage and self-discipline of young Chinese girls. When separated, Snow Flower and Lily, the main characters, communicate through a secret language, nu shu, written on a silk fan. These girls maintain a unique relationship as they are challenged with marriage, loneliness, abuse, famine, childbirth, and death. The author reveals life in China through the development of characters and the overall theme of hope and female friendship.

--Libby Paul

In the spirit of Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and Rebecca, this gothic novel engages readers with a layered tale and an intriguing world of secrecy. In her masterful style Setterfield creates characters that are both memorable and original. The narrator is asked to write the biography of Vida Winters, a reclusive writer who has a history of revealing her past in small pieces, most of which are untrue. The secrets Vida reveals lead to an unexpected conclusion.

I really appreciated the beauty of Setterfield’s style almost as much as I enjoyed the plot. As Vida unfolded her story, I became absorbed in the tale and did not anticipate the twist at the end. I believe that this novel is a must-read for booklovers who enjoy mystery.

--Erin Grover

I have never read a novel that comes close to the depth and richness of this one. Every character good and bad is given complex treatment and, in fact, the “bad” characters become sympathetic because you begin to understand why they are the way they are. This story was a guide for me when I was in my twenties, and its examples informed my growth as an adult.

--David MacPherson