★★★★★ 5
Entertaining
Format: Kindle
I read this book on Kindle in about 3 days. Birdie Calhoun, one of the main narrators, has got to be one of the most likable main characters a book could create. She’s practical, God-fearing, driven, smart, and loyal. Meg, the second narrator, is witty and humorous to listen to, especially since you’re seeing things through the eyes of an eleven year old orphan. There are a few big reveals throughout the book, and around the midpoint there is a shift in storyline which will tell you how the book got its name. I saw some reviews say the book is a bit long, which doesn’t bother me. I see how the length may be necessary given the fact that the author had to bounce between two separate story lines and then merge them in the end. My only feedback about the length would be there is a lot of time and detail during the middle of the book (especially Meg’s time with her adoptive family) but less time spent on the ending, leaving things a bit rushed and many characters’ fate ambiguous. I found myself wanting more closure for characters Frances & Mrs. Tartt, as well as the boarders such as Flossy.
On a historical level, this book provides context for a dark time in America where society wanted to annex anyone deemed undesirable or peculiar, especially promiscuous women. Society was hyper focused on separating the pious from the “imbeciles” and punished anyone whose lives didn’t fit the perfect Christian mold. This caused characters like Frances and Mrs. Tartt to be obsessed with their reputation, and fear of tainted reputation is a huge factor in decision making amongst the main characters. Birdie, Meg, and Charlie seem to be the main characters willing to take huge risks and sacrifices for those that they love. This book inspired me to do some of my own research and I learned something new about American history.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2026
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