Awards/Selection Lists:
- Printz Honor 2010
- National Book Award finalist 2010
- L.A. Times Book Prize Young Adult Literature Finalist
- YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction 2010
- CCBC Choices List 2010
- Oprah's Book Club 2010 Kids' Reading List: 12 and Up
- New York Times Editor's Choice
Brief Summary: Through and through, this is the love story of Charles and Emma Darwin, literally kissing cousins who married and had a typical Victorian family, typical except that Charles was shaking up the world by redefining the world's view of creation, nature and the origin of man. Being mildly spiritual, where his wife was incredibly devout, after losing her sister, it became a gulf between then, that they had to span by a leap of faith. Together they endured tragedy, controversy, devastation, ill health, strife, and Emma's growing concern that she wouldn't meet her beloved husband in the after-life, yet they still came out together, still in love and still devoted, with a good tale to tell.
Personal Reaction: I had a difficult time finishing this book. In fact I had to pick it up and put it down twice. While the story of Charles and Emma Darwin is really interesting, I was constantly distracted by the constant interference of Christianity in their story. I understand the context of this element. In England, during the time period, it was extremely common for Victorian women to be incredibly devout, and for religion to rule the roost, and also I understand the strife and heartache it caused Emma. However, at some point during the story, it, and the difference between their two faiths, started to sound more like a nagging presence rather than an obstacle to be overcome and I found myself annoyed. I wanted to learn more about their dynamic, the trials and tribulations they went through, his work, his family, and while I understand that religion and the moral views of the time period were intertwined, I wish they hadn't upstaged his incredible journey.
Front/Back Matter: Title Page, copyright page with dedication, table of contents, foreword, content, acknowledgements, family trees, source notes, selected bibliography, index.
Content Evaluation: The tone could be a little dry, though certainly you can tell that the author was interested in her subject. While a selected bibliography is less superior than a full one, the source notes, which take up more than 14 pages, are excellent, and arranged by page number and occurrence. I would have liked to have seen more illustrations and photos of the Darwins and Charles' work. I think it would have helped carry the story and immersed the reader in the world.
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