Calvert Library's Book Bites for Teens

Silhouette of a Sparrow by Molly Beth Griffin

Episode Summary

Silhouette of a Sparrow is set in the summer of 1926, where sixteen-year-old Garnet Richardson is sent to a lake resort to escape the polio epidemic in the city. But in the country, Garnet finds herself under the supervision of oppressive guardians--her father’s wealthy cousin and the matron’s stuck-up daughter. Only a liberating job in a hat shop, an intense, secret relationship with a daring and beautiful flapper, and faith in herself, can save her from the expectations placed on her by society, and her mother.

Episode Notes

Enjoy our presentation of Silhouette of a Sparrow written by Molly Beth Griffin and published by Milkweed Editions. 

Today’s story is set in the summer of 1926, where sixteen-year-old Garnet Richardson is sent to a lake resort to escape the polio epidemic in the city. But in the country, Garnet finds herself under the supervision of oppressive guardians--her father’s wealthy cousin and the matron’s stuck-up daughter. Only a liberating job in a hat shop, an intense, secret relationship with a daring and beautiful flapper, and faith in herself, can save her from the expectations placed on her by society, and her mother. 

Silhouette of a Sparrow won the Milkweed Prize for Children’s Literature, the 2013 Paterson Prize for Books for Young Readers and was an ALA Rainbow List recommended book. 

Silhouette of a Sparrow is recommended for ages 12 to 18. Some underage drinking occurs, and there is one scene with some sexual content. 

This title is available in ebook format through Hoopla: https://bit.ly/SparrowHooplaEbook 

Visit calvertlibrary.info for more information.

 

Music: Sad Clown (excerpt) by Orquesta Arrecife. Licensed under CC BY-SA 1.0 http://www.opsound.org/artist/orquestaarrecife/