About This Book
A parent would reach for this book when their teen is beginning to question the moral authority of the adults in their life or is grappling with the realization that history is often messier than textbooks suggest. Set in the immediate aftermath of Abraham Lincoln's assassination, the story follows fourteen-year-old Emily as she navigates a world of grief, suspicion, and medical ethics. After her mother's death, Emily is sent to live with her uncle, a physician whom she suspects of the era's grisly practice of body snatching for medical study. This historical thriller is deeply rooted in themes of integrity and the courage to seek the truth even when it involves those we love. While the medical descriptions are realistic and occasionally macabre, they serve a larger purpose of exploring the tension between scientific progress and human dignity. It is an excellent choice for mature middle schoolers and high schoolers who enjoy high-stakes historical fiction and are ready to discuss the complex gray areas of ethics and loyalty.
