A Nothern Light was one of the best books I've ever read. Mattie, the main character, has a tough life. Her mother died and made her a keep a very difficult promise: no matter what, take care of the family. Mattie had her own dreams though. She was one of the two students to graduate from high school and be accepted by a college. Set in 1906, Mattie farmed, cooked, cleaned, took care of her three younger siblings, and went to school. A job was all she needed to be able to go to college. Her father was desperate to keep her at home and her mother's request haunted her every footsteps. Eventually she did get a job and she met a woman named Grace Brown. It wasn't that long after meeting her that Grace asked Mattie to burn a bundle of the letters at the next chance possible. Mattie was a busy girl and this proved difficult but before she was able to burn them, Grace Brown was found dead in the neighboring lake. She had been hit in the head and drowned in the water. The man she had been with wasn't there with her at the bottom of the lake. At this time as well, Mattie was being courted by a peer named Royal who was also her neighbor. Mattie was having a tough time making decisions. Marry Royal or not, burn the letters or read them to find the mystery, keep her promise to her mother and stay with her dad, or go to college and get the chance to learn how to write professionally. This book was full of choices, mistakes, and dreams controlling a young 16 year old's life. This is her story. After finishing the book I realized how easy life is now. At this school, college seems like the normal future but for Mattie, school was an opportunity to leave the farming life and live her own and even then, the possibilities and promises keeping her at home was also important. Tough choice. I would give this book an 8 because even though it was a wonderful story with fabulous writing (she used strong voice and imagery), the order got a tad confusing. The author would sometimes switch between her future and past self. I got the hang of it towards the end but at the beginning of the first switch, I was utterly confused. A quirk that really developed the story though was Mattie. Everyday, Mattie would have a sibling open the dictionary and give her a word of the day. By looking at the words given to Mattie, one could try to predict what would happen in the chapter. It was good fun. Fabulouso book!!!!! (not a typo)
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