Behind the Masks : the Diary of Angeline Reddy

I selected this book for two reasons, historical fiction is my favorite genre, and I have visited Bodie, California. The use of diary entries to tell the story, and the amount of historical detail included made it almost believable. The eerie description of the ghost encounters were extremely detailed and spooky. I could picture the scene each time. The reader of the story added to my enjoyment of the book.

I was a bit worried that the latest addition to Scholastic's Dear America series would fall to the stereotypes of the "Wild West," but Behind the Masks generally managed, as with the rest of the series, to rise above what is expected. Like the rest of the excellent series, it provides a tale rich in historical detail - albeit this time with a touch of mystery and ghostliness.

Having been a fan of Dear America since early elementary school, I found Behind the Masks to match the historical accuracy of the earlier books, bringing to life the time period and the characters for readers. Being a more discerning reader than I was in elementary school, I also found parts - mostly the mystery ones - to seem a little rushed and confusing. Other show more than that, however, the author presents a lifelike young voice from the time period. I learned quite a lot about California frontier life, especially its socio-political aspects, from reading this! I also appreciated that Angeline is not the all-perfect character; her "sidekicks" are as every bit as important to the uncovering of the Bodie mystery as is she. Behind the Masks is certainly a welcome and satisfactory addition to the series! show less

PSC REVIEW: The newest addition to the Dear America series doesn’t shy away from difficult subjects. Author Susan Patron returns to the California desert (Higher Power of Lucky) for this story about Angeline Reddy of Bodie in 1880. It opens with Angeline and her mother receiving word that her father has been killed. Angeline discovers this isn’t true when she sneaks into the mortuary and discovers another man in her father’s casket. The complex story includes the former brothel employee now married to the town butcher, a Chinese girl who finds Brodie residents hostile, and the vigilantes who threaten to take over the town so it’s run their way “the decent white” way. Patron writes in Victorian speech, so the characters may show more seem a little stilted to today’s readers but it is an authentic voice. This book may be to challenging for many Dear America readers, but the honesty of frontier life will be appreciated by more mature readers. show less

I remember liking this when I was younger (perhaps because I had an unhealthy interest in ghosts and scary things...). Now, this story simply seems unnecessarily harsh and inexplicably not like most historical fiction novels. I'm sure other people have already mentioned this, but the creepy ghost girl was not necessary in the story and simply serves to make everything else seem rather unrealistic.

Either way, I think everyone who has read this book can agree that Behind the Masks is the strangest (by far) of the Dear America series. I myself wouldn't recommend this book anymore, but it's worth a try if you're set on reading it. :) Still, the other Dear America books are certainly worth reading.

Content warnings: Mentions of brothels, gun show more fights, mining accidents, dead bodies, "curves" on a woman, blood and bleeding, drowning, and the 601 vigilantes. In one scene, a tiny ghost girl is seen drowning in a puddle. Even though this serves as a plot point, the scene may be quite disturbing to younger readers. I will elaborate more on this later.

Full review to come. show less

This entire series is a wonderful way to learn history or teach it to adolescents. I find today's generations seem to recall more when they learn through other people (pop songs, celebrity gossip, etc.), so what better way to teach history than through someone else's perspective? Yes, "authentic" diaries would be "better", but would the language really hold the modern student's attention? Did the diary writer know what WOULD be important in the context of history? Probably not.

Odd story, but I was able to imagine living in Bodie in 1880.