An Acquaintance with Darkness, by Ann Rinaldi

This book, An Acquaintance with Darkness by Ann Rinaldi, talks about a 14-year old girl, Emily Pigbush, who became an orphan after the Civil War ended. Against her dead mother's wishes, she moved in with her Uncle Valentine, a prominent Washington, D.C doctor. Emily soons learns that her guardian is a grave robber. Appalled at this discovery she runs away. What will Emily do next? Emily's story plays out against Lincoln's assassination and its impact on her best friend, Annie Surratt, whose mother ran the boardinghouse where the conspirators met. This book was good. I liked it because the settings are after the Civil War and Lincoln's assassination. I like that it looks at grave robbers and how that furthers the cause of medicine. I recommend this book to all young adults of both genders.

Reviewed by AD, grade 9

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