A Gathering Light

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What to expect

An astounding novel about a girl's coming-of-age interwoven with a real-life murder that rocked turn-of-the-century America. WINNER OF THE CARNEGIE MEDAL 2003.

'A breathtakingly good novel' Daily Mail

When Mattie Gokey is given a bundle of letters to burn by Grace Brown, she fully intends to do so. But when Grace is found drowned the next day, Mattie finds that it is not as easy to get rid of those letters as she had thought. And, as she reads, a riveting story emerges - not only revealing Grace's secrets but also Mattie's hopes and ambitions for the future and her relationships with her friends and family.

Published to widespread acclaim this part murder-mystery and part coming-of-age story is an astounding and accomplished novel.

Critics Review

  • ‘A GATHERING LIGHT is a remarkable debut, a book that sweeps across the genre boundaries of murder, mystery, romance, and historical fiction – resulting in an original novel that is both gripping and touching.’

    Scott Turow

  • ‘If ever a book deserved to cross over, this is it…this is a wonderfully rich, involving and beautifully written book.’

    Adele Geras, Guardian

  • ‘The wonderfully confident debut by Jennifer Donnelly.’

    Lindsay Fraser, Sunday Herald

  • ‘Part history, part compelling murder mystery, Jennifer Donnelly’s A GATHERING LIGHT brings the past to powerful and vivid life.’

    Celia Rees

  • The best teen read of the year? Character-rich, atmospheric coming-of-age novel

    The Sunday Times

  • An exquisitely compelling book

    Heat

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Narrator

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