A Drowned Maiden's Hair: a melodrama

Laura Amy Schlitz (author)

Candlewick Press, US: 2006; 390pp

ISBN: 9780763638122

Genres: adventure, gothic, historical fiction

Issues: crime, family, identity, trust

Rescued unexpectedly from the cold, filthy poverty of her orphan state by three elderly spinster sisters, Maud begins to believe that dreams really do come true.

Set in a time when most orphanages still had a Dickensian harshness, this novel is indeed a melodrama. The classic orphan heroine is a rebellious, willful, intelligent child called Maud Flynn. Being a bright child she is soon forced to recognise that fairytale godmothers don't usually hide their child from the neighbours and that keeping a deaf/mute as housekeeper/cook is equally unusual.

Maud has been adopted in order to play a role in her new family's somewhat unsavoury business. Although this requires her to be educated, dressed and fed far beyond orphanage standards, Maud realises that she will have to pay a high price for such luxuries. As her independent nature and strong sense of justice begin to assert themselves, Maud finds herself forced to make very adult decisions.

Very much a book about the nature of true, unconditional love, 'A Drowned Maiden's Hair' is a darkly imagined adventure that will appeal to gifted readers. Simpler in language and cast of characters though it is, the novel is reminiscent of Joan Aiken's ‘James the 3rd' series, and Maud has similar traits to Dido Twite.

Good reading.