Erin Lindsay McCabe's quietly fierce debut transports readers back to 1862, a time when women in military uniforms were unthinkable, to meet a young bride who defies society to serve alongside the love of her life.
Rosetta has never fit the mold of a perfect lady: she's more interested in farm chores than womanly arts. She marries her longtime sweetheart, Jeremiah, because of his Union army enlistment--widowhood is better than spinsterhood should he not return. But when he's deployed, Rosetta realizes she doesn't just need marriage; she needs the husband she loves. The solution is to become a soldier herself; one haircut and one duped enlistment officer later, Rosetta is reborn as Ross and reunited with Jeremiah. However, she must continue the ruse every second or face possible accusations of treason if she's discovered, and all of their problems will seem beside the point if either she or Jeremiah falls in battle.
McCabe's strength clearly lies in creating characters of emotional depth and complexity. Rosetta's determination and frank yet graceful voice will mesmerize readers. Jeremiah struggles realistically between his love for Rosetta and desire to support her independent spirit and his sense that what she's done breaks all bounds of propriety--and is highly dangerous.
McCabe avoids turning Rosetta into an action hero, allowing both heroine and reader a close look at the pain and loss of war. Rather than victory, showy heroism or moral superiority, McCabe emphasizes a less direct bravery. --Jaclyn Fulwood, youth services manager, Latah County Library District; blogger at Infinite Reads