Author: Diane Setterfield
Narrators: Bianca Amato & Jill Tanner
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Audio, New York, 2006
ISBN: 978-0-7435-6417-5
Interest Level: Young Adult to Adult
Genre: Fiction
Plot Summary: Aging, reclusive author Vida Winter, having given out multiple versions of her life story over the years, decides to finally set the record straight and engages Margaret Lea, a London bookseller's daughter, to write her biography, drawing the young woman into a tale of a governess, a ghost, a willful woman, feral twins, and a gothic mansion.
Themes/Tags: authors, hermits, twins, mystery, betrayal, England, gothic
Awards and Reviews: book reviews only: Alex Award 2007, Wilson's Senior High School 10/01/07, Library Journal 08/01/06, Publishers Weekly 06/26/06, Kirkus Review starred 07/15/06, Booklist 09/01/06
Library Journal (August 1, 2006) A ruined mansion in the English countryside, secret illegitimate children, a madwoman hidden in the attic, ghostly twin sisters-yep, it's a gothic novel, and it doesn't pretend to be anything fancier. But this one grabs the reader with its damp, icy fingers and doesn't let go until the last shocking secret has been revealed. Margaret Lea, an antiquarian bookseller and sometime biographer of obscure writers, receives a letter from Vida Winter, "the world's most famous living author." Vida has always invented pasts for herself in interviews, but now, on her deathbed, she at last has decided to tell the truth and has chosen Margaret to write her story. Now living at Vida's (spooky) country estate, Margaret finds herself spellbound by the tale of Vida's childhood some 70 years earlier...but is it really the truth? And will Vida live to finish the story? Setterfield's first novel is equally suited to a rainy afternoon on the couch or a summer day on the beach. For all public libraries.
Extensions: After reading the Thirteenth Tale, discuss the elements of gothic literature. Prepare a Power Point presentation with the history of the Gothic including the characteristics of Gothic literature (dark settings, strong imagery, damsels in distress, deep villains, dark themes about human nature, hidden secrets, etc.) Student will enjoy learning where things like vampires, Dracula, Frankenstein, etc come from. Have students will identify Gothic elements in some of their favorite movies and stories, brainstorming in class and the teacher will write ideas on the board. Direct students to looking at specific elements that create the mood and tone. Assess on students' abilty to identify various images and elements of discussed topics and classroom participation. (adapted from a lesson plan found on http://www.associatedcontent.com)
GPS ELA11LSV1 The student participates in student-to-teacher, student-to-student, and group verbal interactions. The student
a. Initiates new topics in addition to responding to adult-initiated topics . b. Asks relevant questions. c. Responds to questions with appropriate information. d. Actively solicits another person’s comments or opinion. e. Offers own opinion forcefully without domineering. f. Volunteers contributions and responds when directly solicited by teacher or discussion leader. g. Gives reasons in support of opinions expressed. h. Clarifies, illustrates, or expands on a response when asked to do so; asks classmates for similar expansions. i. Employ group decision-making techniques such as brainstorming or a problem-solving sequence (i.e., recognizes problem, defines problem, identifies possible solutions, selects optimal solution, implements solution, evaluates solution).j. Divides labor so as to achieve the overall group goal efficiently.
Terri's Review: ►►►► 4 Bean and Cheese Nachos (out of 5) A book for booklovers, especially those drawn to British mysteries, historical British literature, dark secrets, betrayals, lies, dysfunctional families, old rambling gothic mansions, and of course tea and cake. The two narrators bring realistic, consistent and believable voices to the two main characters. The book begins with mousy Margaret Lea, the classic spinster gal, who lives with her parents and helps run her father's rare bookstore. She is recruited by England's best-selling, yet reclusive author, Miss Winter, who is dying. The frail Mrs. Winter needs Margaret to write the story that has never been told (a.k.a The Thirteenth Tale). Mrs. Winter has been living under a false name for most of her life, and in a cathartic attempt to relieve her bitter soul, she must divulge her family secrets. What ensues is a gothic tale including allusions to incest (mature YA readers only), betrayal, lies, and half-truths, which sends Margaret out on some detective work of her own, because Mrs. Winter, for all her intent, can be vague and misleading with the details. This is a book that's hard to put down, especially if it's a cold rainy day, so fire up the teapot.
