The Girl from the Papers
Jennifer L. Wright’s exciting novel The Girl from the Papers is filled with robberies, revenge, and redemption.
Beatrice used to be a star, but she now lives in poverty. She fled from her abusive stepfather and is desperate for fame and affection. Her world brightens when she meets charismatic, attentive Jack. But Jack draws her into his world of crime. Torn between Jack’s promises of a glamorous life and the example of her friend Alli’s quiet, enduring faith, Beatrice decides what she values most.
Beatrice narrates, moving between her past and present to share information about what led to her final, deadly crime. There are exciting scenes, as with a bank robbery, but also moments of quiet and reflection, as when Beatrice wrestles with the question of whether her actions are justifiable. Tragedies and hope both appear as Beatrice works to choose between faith and notoriety.
Achieving a delicate balance between showing the importance of forgiveness and grace and illustrating the consequences of wrongdoing, the story’s progression relies on the whims and principles of its colorful cast. Jack loves Beatrice, but he is unable to see past his twisted views of justice. In contrast, his sister-in-law, Alli, is the picture of goodness and piety. She challenges Beatrice’s negative perceptions of faith, which were tainted by her cruel stepfather, without judging Beatrice’s skepticism.
In the active but contemplative historical novel The Girl from the Papers, a woman reckons with forgiveness and repentance. Though inspired by the lives of the infamous outlaws Bonnie and Clyde, this novel aims toward a more uplifting conclusion.
Reviewed by
Vivian Turnbull
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