
The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel by Diane Setterfield is a very satisfying gothic story in the manner of Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights. The story is more contempory though difficult to tell when it takes place (maybe 1960s?). I listened to it on my iPod and found myself losing track of time -- on the treadmill, doing housework, gardening. It is really several stories entwined into one sweeping saga.
First there is the tale of Margaret, a young woman who works in her father's antiquarian bookstore She reads mostly 19th century fiction and biographies and writes the occasional essay for publication. She harbors a secret tragedy from her past. A letter arrives the most popular novelist of the day whose pen name is Vida Winter. Miss Winter wants Margaret to write her true biography. Margaret who had never read any of Miss Winter's books hesitates to get involved.
Second, is Miss Winter's story as told to Margaret of the feral twins, Emmeline and Adeline, their mother, Isabelle; their uncle, Charles; the housekeeper; the governess, and the gardener; the strangeness, the neglect and the fateful, the secrets and the tragic fire that destroyed Angelfield estate, the family home.
Third, the story of Margaret and Vida Winter -- the revealing of their pasts, the intersecting and weaving of their stories, the forging of a bond, the unfolding secrets, the developing friendships.
Just when I started to think I had the story figured out it would take a new twist and I would have to rethink where it was going. This isn't a YA book by definition but we do have it in our YA collection. There is violence but not graphic, no sex, no inappropriate language. The emotional issues are complex. I don't think I would recommmend it for a precocious preteen. The themes are mature.