Description:

One day, fifteen-year-old Emily Dickinson meets a mysterious, handsome young man. Surprisingly, he doesn't seem to know who she or her family is. And even more surprisingly, he playfully refuses to divulge his name. Emily enjoys her secret flirtation with Mr. "Nobody" until he turns up dead in her family's pond. She's stricken with guilt. Only Emily can discover who this enigmatic stranger was before he's condemned to be buried in an anonymous grave. Her investigation takes her deep into town secrets, blossoming romance, and deadly danger. Exquisitely written and meticulously researched, this novel celebrates Emily Dickinson's intellect and spunk in a page-turner of a book that will excite fans of mystery, romance, and poetry alike. Includes bonus material! - Book Club Discussion Guide - Sneak peek chapter from *Always Emily* by Michaela MacColl ** ### From School Library Journal Gr 7-10-When 15-year-old Emily Dickinson meets and flirts with a handsome stranger, she feels the first flicker of romance. Then the young man is found dead in her family's pond, and the budding poet is sure that he was a victim of foul play. Determined to see that justice is done, she and her younger sister, Vinnie, investigate and discover that he is James Wentworth, heir to a fortune from which his aunt and uncle have defrauded him. Suspecting murder, Emily sets out to solve the case, almost becoming a victim herself. Life in 1845 small-town Massachusetts is painstakingly portrayed throughout this suspenseful tale. Emily is extremely well drawn, revealing her enthusiasm for and intense curiosity about the smallest of life's details, while minor characters have just enough depth to provoke interest. The fast-moving plot makes this a well-crafted page-turner. The dialogue rings true, both to the historical time and to the chronological ages and social status of the characters. The full text of "I'm Nobody," as well as quotes from other poems, not only focus readers' thoughts but also provide an easy introduction to the recluse's poetry. The author's note explains which of the novel's details are based on fact. MacColl once again brings a strong female protagonist to life, revealing pertinent and interesting information about a literary figure.-Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, formerly at LaSalle Academy, Providence, RIα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. ### From Booklist In 1845, Emily Dickinson encounters a handsome young man she has never seen before in a field near Amherst, where her family is well known. Meeting someone she doesn’t know is a rare treat for the young Emily, and rather than exchange names, the two playfully refer to each other as Mr. and Miss Nobody. Emily does learn that Mr. Nobody is in town to resolve some family business, but a few days later, she is shocked when Mr. Nobody is found dead in the pond next to her family home. With only a few clues to work from, she tries to unravel the mystery behind Mr. Nobody’s death. MacColl, whose previous novels imagined the young lives of famous women, including Queen Victoria (Prisoners in the Palace, 2010), builds from Dickinson’s famous poem, “I’m Nobody! Who are you?,” in this imaginative take on the young poet. Several other Dickinson poems are skillfully woven in throughout the novel, which suggests itself easily for both classroom connections and personal reading. Grades 6-10. --Eve Gaus