Salerni, Dianne K. The Caged Graves.

Salerni, Dianne K.  The Caged Graves.     Houghton Mifflin/Clarion  2013  328p  ISBN 978-0-547-86853-0      ms/hs  Hardback      VG-BN  Historical fiction   

In post Civil War-era Catawissa, Pennsylvania, there are two grave sites that are surrounded by cages.  When Verity Boone returns to Catawissa to live with her father and to meet her betrothed, she discovers that her mother’s grave is one of the enclosed.  As she attempts to uncover the reason for this, she becomes embroiled in family secrets that point to rumors of witchcraft and hidden gold.  Verity studies her mother’s diaries and is disconcerted when, on more than one occasion, she returns from an outing to find the diary open to a certain page.  She knows that her mother was a beloved wife who provided her skills as midwife to the town, so how could she have become the victim of so much animosity?  As Verity gets to know her betrothed, the handsome Nate, she becomes infatuated with the town doctor as well.  This addition to an already interesting plot adds to the book’s allure for young female readers, who will be eager to find out who Verity loves when she, herself, does not know.  Author Dianne Salerni captures the voice of her protagonist perfectly and tells Verity’s story by providing her with contradictory character traits -- for she is simultaneously innocent and tenacious, dynamic and naïve.  Eager readers will find a surprise twist at the end of the book that is sublime.  The resolutions to each conflict are right under Verity’s nose, yet she cannot figure them out!  Salerni’s story is well-written, the plot is engagingly mysterious with multiple conflicts, and the resolution is action-packed!  Young female readers who search for historical fiction combined with mystery will enjoy this book.  Both middle- and high-school libraries should stock a copy!

Summary: When Verity returns to her hometown to meet her betrothed, she discovers a fountain of secrets about her mother’s death and burial that turns her into a detective.  Small towns breed mysteries, secrets and surprises that make them good settings for books like this. 

Historical fiction, Mystery and suspense-Fiction            --Martha Squaresky