Members with This Book
Most Helpful Reviews
see all reviews
Liked It “An excellent historical fiction novel about a fascinating piece of historic truth. The author does an excellent job of making the non-linear plot easy to read.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
see all reviews-
“An excellent historical fiction novel about a fascinating piece of historic truth. The author does an excellent job of making the non-linear plot easy to read. ”
Emily B wrote this review 4 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Really interesting concept, enjoyed.”
Julie wrote this review 9 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“ Newes From the Dead by Mary Hooper
S. Eichelberger - HS Librarian wrote this review 13 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Roaring Book Press, 2008
ISBN: 978-1-59643-355-7
Fiction, grade 7-12
Revised review:
Can the dead tell tales? Anne, a 22 year old, regains consciousness in a coffin in the dark, unable to move. It’s England in 1650 and she has been hanged for murder. In the room with Anne are a team of doctors and medical students who are getting ready to dissect her body for research when suddenly there’s a slight eye flutter – or wasn’t there? Now the doctors have a dilemma: is she is dead or alive, and should they try to save her?
Anne was a servant for a wealthy family when the nephew of the landowner pursued her with words of love and promises of marriage. Her life was one of submission, subservience and hard work; she’s easily seduced. These are difficult times when women are treated badly, when there is a huge disparity between the gentry and the peasants, when medical treatments are very primitive and when prisons are deplorable.
Hooper based her fiction on a real event, envisioning what might have gone through Anne’s mind and depicting the doctors’ reaction to this miraculous survival. She includes a facsimile of a pamphlet from 1650 detailing the real story of the hanged girl who came back to life. The story moves swiftly, holding the reader’s interest. There is tension between the wealthy landowner and the doctors - just how guilty was Anne of the charge of murder, and does she deserve to survive?
Some of the characters, especially the gentility, are stereotypes. One of the most interesting characters is a young student with a severe stutter who first notices the eye movement, and who is committed to helping poor Anne. He is sympathetic and genuine, and we are touched by his efforts on Anne’s behalf. The most remarkable part of the book is the historical details that illustrate the harsh realities of the 17th Century. Author Notes plus a bibliography at the end of the book provide factual details and sources of historical information. This book truly brings history to life and adds an element of romance, bringing to mind Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles.
Original review:
It’s 1650 England and Anne, a 22 year old, slowly comes to consciousness in a coffin, unable to move. She wonders if she’s in limbo, already dead. Her mind struggles to make sense of how her life has progressed from an obedient daughter, to a hard working servant, to an object of lust and finally to an accused murderess. After she was hanged for murder, and her body was turned over for dissection, the physicians are stunned when they detect a slight eye movement. The procedure is halted and the debate begins: is she dead or not, and how should they proceed - save her life or must they turn her back over to the henchman? This assemblage of learned men includes a young student with a bad stutter. He adds a sympathetic touch to the bevy of doctors and he is moved by the plight of the condemned girl, just as the reader is moved by him. The author, Mary Hooper, takes us on an imaginary trip to an actual historic event. She has researched Anne's story as documented in pamphlets from the time, and even includes a facsimile of one pamphlet at the end of the book. Hooper envisions what might have gone through Anne’s mind and how the doctors approached this miraculous survival. The characters – especially the gentry - are somewhat stereotypical. It’s the attention to detail that gives the reader a real feel for the plight of 17th century women, of the disparity between the gentry and the peasants, of deplorable prison conditions and of early medical practices. One feels the harshness of the time and the reality of having no respite from the drudgeries of daily life for women and the poor. Author Notes plus a bibliography at the end of the book provide factual details and sources of historical information. This book truly brings history to life and adds an element of romance, bringing to mind Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles.
”
“I dont own this, but I love it!!”
Chloe D wrote this review Tuesday, September 29 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I thought Newes from the Dead was a good book, that added a good amount of questions and suspense.”
Neysa S wrote this review Sunday, September 13 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“An interesting book about a young girl who survived the hangman's noose.”
Heather wrote this review Thursday, July 30 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Isabelle S said: 4 stars
Play Book Tag Shelf wrote this review Friday, May 29 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
In December of 1651, a housemaid named Anne Green was hanged by the neck until dead for the crime of infanticide. It was the custom of the time that the medical college could claim a certain number of the bodies of executed criminals for dissection. It was Anne's great good fortune that hers was one of those bodies, because, as Miracle Max would say, she was only mostly dead - a fact that thankfully was noted before any surgery began.
From this true framework, Mary Hooper builds the story of Anne Green - her downfall, trial, execution and return to life. The story is told in alternating narration by Anne, who is thinking back over how she arrived at this juncture to distract herself from the possibility she's been buried alive; and Robert, one of the medical students present to watch the dissection. Anne explains how she first came to serve in the house of Sir Thomas Reade, and from Robert's perspective we get the consternation in the room at the first faint signs of life. Because in fact it took the physicians a while to determine that the girl really did live (and then to decide what to do about it), there is considerable tension on both sides of the narrative to the point where the story lines merge. An author's note and a reproduction of one of the original pamphlets telling Anne's story follow the text. I listened to the audio, read by Michael Page (Robert's parts) and Rosalyn Landor (as Anne). It's a very nice production.
It's labeled Young Adult (possibly because that's what Hooper usually writes - sort of like how The Book Thief is labeled Young Adult). If you're recommending it to a teen, know that pregnancy, miscarriage and various medical (and what passed for "medical" in the mid-17th century) procedures figure prominently.
”
“Based on the true account of the Hanging of Anne Greene and her ordeal of not truly being dead, but facing the possibility of dissection, Newes from the Dead keeps a reader's attention. While the book isn't as suspensful as one might hope, it still describes an interesting piece of history that hasn't been made widely known before. The book is told in alternating chapters. Anne - from the depth of her coma - relates how she came to be hanged. The other chapters are told from a third person view point about one of the medical students who will be called upon to dissect her. It's a bit jarring to go from chapters told in language you are used to hearing in the 21st century to the somewhat affected sounding wriitng of the first person narrative. But once the reader is into a few chapters, it doesn't seem so distracting.
Catherinesque wrote this review Saturday, May 16 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
I found the book to be engaging, but did find myself skipping over some of Anne's history. I was more interested in how she'd get out of this mess, and less in how she got into it. Also, once the climax of the book is reached, the last part of the book is more about tidying up the last bits of mess than actually securring a satisfying ending. I would reccomend this book to someone who has an interest in fictional accounts of true events. It's always interesting to give a voice to such incidences. Also, the addition of the original account of the event from a historical pamphlet was interesting; though the print was a bit difficult to read. I wouldn't have minded having it re-typed rather than scanned. I don't think people would have complained about not seeing to original text. ”
“Based on a true story! Anne Green has a decent life working as a maid in a nobleman's castle- until her master's nephew arrives. He is fascinated with poor Anne, and not in a good way. During his stay, he rapes Anne not once, but six times! When she discovers she's pregnant, does he do anything? Of course not, that would mean ruining his precious reputation. But her baby is born early and stillborn, and when she tells her master who the father is, well, he takes it badly. Accusing her of murdering her baby, though the evidence clearly says elsewise, and determined to hide what his nephew has done, he forces the court into sentencing Anne to hang for muder. After her execution, a team of doctors prepare to use the "murderess's" body to better understand the human anatomy. But one young student realizes something. Anne isn't dead...”
Elf Warrior Maiden wrote this review Sunday, April 19 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This is a weird book. What makes it even more strange is that it's based on a true story. Anne Green was hanged for killing her baby. Her body is used as a cadaver for medical students, however, she doesn't seem to be totally dead. Readers learn about Anne and the scientists through alternating chapters.
Cullengirl l wrote this review Monday, November 24 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
I thought the book was ok, but there is not much to discuss after you read it. ”
