I don’t usually read YA fiction but after reading the synopsis and seeing it was only 99p for Kindle, I couldn’t resist Things A Bright Girl Can Do.
Things A Bright Girl Can Do is a historical fiction novel written by Sally Nicholls. It was Shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal 2019, National Book Award, Books Are My Bag Readers’ Awards and the YA Book Prize.
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Plot
Things A Bright Girl Can Do tells the story of three young women living through the suffrage movement in London. They all believe passionately in the cause but have differing views on almost everything else.
The three women have completely different upbringings, from Evelyn’s seemingly privileged life as a rich and clever seventeen year old, to Nell, a girl who has been brought up in poverty and hardship. May, meanwhile, believes enthusiastically in the cause but believes that violence is never the answer. As the first world war looms, the women discover just how much are they willing to sacrifice in the fight for freedom.
Things A Bright Girl Can Do Book Review
Things A Bright Girl Can Do is a brilliant story that really does make you feel thankful for the rights we have today. Each of the characters are brought to life as we read each chapter from differing points of view. All three women are completely different and yet all are so relatable. I particularly loved May and her mum and their devotion to their principles.
The book has some lighter moments as somehow, amongst the fighting (both for the vote and in the war), there’s also room for romance and humour. The conversations between Evelyn and her betrothed, Teddy, were particularly heartwarming.
I also appreciated the book featured women from different social classes and experiences. The suffering and deprivation Nell’s family endured, particularly at the start of the war are hard to read. It really highlighted how hard the war was, not only for those fighting on the frontline but also for those left behind.
The book was so much more than just a story about the suffragettes. Whilst suffrage is the ultimate theme of the story and goal of all three women, there are also other important issues covered. Pacifism, lesbianism and grief are just some of the issues that weren’t openly discovered in the early 1900s.
It was a really humbling read that will stay with me and I’d definitely read more by Sally Nicholls.