The Fitter, Happier UnLibrarian's Blog of Young Adult Books: A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

Publisher: Random House Childrens Books
Publish Date: March 2005
ISBN: 0385732317
Page #: 432pp
Reading Level: Young Adult
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Historical Fiction/Fantasy

Series: The Gemma Doyle Series
A Great and Terrible Beauty (2005)
Rebel Angels (2006)
A Sweet Far Thing (2007)

Subjects: Boarding School, Death, Friendship, Ghosts, Gothic, Magic, Romance, Victorian.

Annotation:

It is the 19th century and Gemma Doyle has just witnessed her mother being killed by a strange shadowy creature-though Gemma was not there, this was seen through one of the many visions she has.

Summary:

Gemma Doyle is a sixteen-year-old British girl living in India with her mother and father. That is until the death of her mother, in which Gemma had a vision of. After losing her mother, she is sent to boarding school called Spence Academy in London. She quickly makes a friend in her roommate Ann and falls into the bad graces of the school's most powerful clique. To makes matters more intense Gemma notices a man she once met in India following her. When she starts getting strange visions, she is warned by the mysterious man to ignore them. Gemma does for a while, until her curiosity gets the best of her. Gemma is desperate to find out what this all means and who killed her mother.

Megan says:

Fantasy and historical fiction rolled into one, A Great and Terrible Beauty contains ghosts, mystery, suspense and magic all set in a 19th century all girls boarding school. Though it has all the fantastic elements ultimately it paints a beautiful picture about what life in the 1800's is like for young women and the choices they make along with the struggle to be more than what is expected. All of the characters are complex and intriguing. The supernatural twist to the story keeps you moving along at a steady pace. All in all, Ms. Bray takes you on a mystical quest that is both passionate and terror filled. Teens who love Gothic intrigue along with magical Realms will fall in love with this series.

Stars: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Libba Bray Website
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The Gemma Doyle Trilogy
A Great and Terrible Beauty Trailer

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