The Caged Graves by Dianne Salerni - OPTIONAL

Salerni, Dianne K. The Caged Graves, 329 p. Clarion (Houghton), 2013.  $17.  Violence: PG (threats, some blood).  

At 17, Verity is finally coming back to her hometown.  Since her mother died when she was 2, she has lived with relatives.  Now she has come back to marry a young man, Nate, who courted her through his letters.  Her first day, however, is filled with heartache and mystery, when Nate takes her to the town graveyard and she sees that not mother’s grave and her aunt’s grave are not only outside the cemetery walls, in unconsecrated soil, but they are also in cages – beautiful cages, but cages nonetheless.  Its been less than 100 years since the War of Independence from Britain (what we now call the American Revolution) and the town abounds with rumors of gold stolen from General Washington’s troops, plus Verity’s beautiful, dead, aunt was born into a family that seems to be cursed with illness and death.  Verity’s life might be in danger, but her heat is also at risk – she’s not so sure about Nate – does he want her, or just her father’s land?  And there is a handsome young doctor in town who is so easy to talk to.  When the danger comes, it is from both foreseeable and unforeseeable directions.  

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.  I don’t think that it will be a big seller, however. Not because of the author’s lack, but because of the audience’s lack of sophistication.  Historical fiction is a hard sell and the cover doesn’t really evoke the depth and danger within its pages.  

MS, HS - OPTIONAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher